"Ronny, don't fall off!" (movie Secretariat)

[welsummerchicks]

This was a really enjoyable movie with great photography. The actors seemed to catch the character of many of the people around Secretariat. But the race scenes, they were really the best and that 'jockey helmet cam' was really super, you get to watch Ron Turcotte get completely pelted with dirt as the horse breaks dead last and then passes every horse in the race.

The 'Ronny don't fall off' line was Lucien Lauren, to the jockey Ron Turcotte, at the point where Secretariat was about 25 lengths ahead of Sham, and Sham, I don't even KNOW how far ahead of the pack he was. Meaning, the only possible way Secretariat could have lost that day was if Ron Turcotte just FELL...OFF...that was the Belmont.

I remember watching that race when I was young and having the same reaction - wondering how what I was seeing, could even be possible. I think I cried my eyes out through that whole race, it was just - it was not possible what that horse did.

There was a funny scene at the start of the race where Sham's jockey says, 'You're going to eat dirt today', and Ron Turcotte says, 'I don't think so'.

That day Secretariate won by 31 lengths. Another great thing I got to witness in my lifetime.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I was also a youngster that could not believe what had just happened. Amazing horse it was!

 

[booker81]

I wasn't around then, but my mom went to the Derby the year Riva Ridge won (the year before Secretariat).

The video though. Just....wow.

"He is moving like a TREMENDOUS machine!"

I love Chic Anderson's calling

 

[michickenwrangler]

Would love to see that movie. I did get to see Winning Colors be the 3rd filly to win the derby

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Wow, booker, I just watched the video & got goosebumps just like I did at 16 years old when I watched the race! TOO COOL!!!

 

[kla37]

This was an absolutely fabulous movie! I just loved it!

 

[joedie]

I just saw the movie Sat night with the grandkids, they said "That was awesome"! I used to own a granddaughter of Secretariat, a 2 yr old 17 HH filly. She was great running the long distances but as a 2 yr old couldn't do it. I didn't have the money at the time to keep her in training for another year.

 

[Cetawin]

welsummerchicks, I was at that race with my grandfather. I remember as he approached the last turn I began crying and telling my Grandfather "Don't let Secretariat die Don't let him die". No movie clip or replay of that race can evoke the feelings of being there that day. God was riding him that day.


Ronnie said after the race that when he got curious in the straight away and looked back just to see where everyone else was that he scared himself.


The factual reason he was superhorse and there will be no other like him...Secretariat's heart was twice the size of a normal horse's heart. It was a huge healthy heart that allowed him to process oxygen more efficiently that the normal heart. Years later, they discovered that the huge heart came from his grandsire, who gave it to his Dam who in turn gave it to her son, Secretariat. It goes from sire down to his daughter down to her son. It is unknown as of yet, if any of Secretariat's grandsons have this heart...time will tell.


I cannot wait to see the movie myself, some of it was filmed here in lexington at Keenland as well as Churchill Down in Louisville.

 

[texasgal]

Quote:
I read that and got chill bumps .. then my eyes welled up with tears ..

I never get tired of seeing this horse run .....

*sigh*

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
I read that and got chill bumps .. then my eyes welled up with tears ..

I never get tired of seeing this horse run .....

*sigh*

That and when he says "he's all alone"