http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=16206
It looks great, the horses that play her look exactly like her. I can't wait until it's released!
"Mares are from Venus, Stallions are from Mars, and Geldings are from Heaven."
i watched the movie preview and it looks really wonderful. i'm so excited to see it! thank you for your contribution.
shareThank you for posting the link.
The only thing that makes me a little annoyed is the stunt coordinator's comment about it being hard to sell Ruffian's story because she was so dominating. Hollywood is obsessed with head-to-head battles and slow-mo, anti-climactic finishes.
When are they going to learn that, while dead heat is exciting, there is nothing more exhilarating and breathtaking than a racehorse drawing away from the pack? Why do they think people were so amazed by Ruffian, Secretariat, Man O' War? Affirmed and Alydar's battle for supremacy did have appeal, but it's not nearly as exciting--at least not to me.
I'm in tears every time I see footage of the 1973 Belmont Stakes. IMHO, there is nothing more amazing and moving than watching that kind of victory. If Hollywood would figure that out, horse racing films would be so much more exhilarating--that and eliminating the slow-mo finishes. Honestly, how long do they think the finish needs to be?
Thank you very much for the link--I hope this movie stays true to Ruffian's amazing performances.
-waseom
Well, I think what he meant was that EVERY race of hers was dominating. If there was one or two races that showed her drawing off by breathtaking margins, that'd be fantastic to see, but basically every race has her drawing off. I'm looking forward to it, though I have a feeling some people will feel like they're watching the same thing over and over again. I won't feel that way, though, I can't wait to get a visual perspective on what each race was like (I've seen all her races on tape, but you know what I mean... Not a standard "this is what happened," but a kind of story to each race). I'm wondering if the writers and director might take some liberties with the film, though, like have a couple of races with her really battling with somebody. I hope not, though, that would kind of spoil that for me, lol
"Mares are from Venus, Stallions are from Mars, and Geldings are from Heaven."
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Thanks for posting the link. I watched the Breeders Cup today and was nauseated all over again at Pine Island's fatal injury. I remember like it was yesterday, watching Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure in that match race. I was only 11 years old, but I cried like a baby and I can never forget the image of that ravaged leg flopping unnaturally...I wonder how they will depict Ruffian's injury in the movie?
If anyone reading this has not read "Burning From the Start", try to do so before the movie is released. It's every bit as compelling as "Seabiscuit".
thanks for posting the link. I saw just a bit of it during the Breeders Cup telecast last Saturday, and admittedly got excited. I remeber the day vividly, watching it on television. I wish I could find a copy of the actual television pre-race show to fill out my memorabilia collection of a mint program, buttons for both horses, racing form, race video of all her races, win tickets on both horses. It was a both a great and sad day for horse racing. I hope they portray the excitement of it all.
shareEvery year when I go to the Belmont Stakes, I make a point of going to see Ruffians burial site and just imagine what could have been. The trailer brings back many memories of this great horse. I'm hoping that the movie does her justice.
shareIs it possible to go into the infield to see Ruffian's grave? I consider Ruffian to be arguably the greatest Thoroughbred of all time, and would really like to visit her grave if I ever get to New York.
shareI believe you can in the off season. You can't miss it, it's near the finish line next to a flag pole. Usually on Stakes day they have it decorated.
Here's a site that shows the marker:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=912
Thank you. I've always wondered whether Belmont Park ever let ordinary people (i.e., those who didn't have a personal connection to Ruffian or the industry) go into the infield to see the grave close-up. Strangely enough, her grave is also the grave of the ex-jockey Mary Bacon, who was cremated and scattered over that site about 16 years ago. I am familiar with Find-A-Grave; I'll have to check to see whether they've added Mary Bacon. She wasn't on their list the last time I checked, which was some time ago.
I've always felt that Ruffian would have had a good chance to be saved if:
1. The recovery raft at New Bolton Center had been available to her (it was in the experimental stage at that time, according to what I've read).
2. She had not had surgery on the same day as her injury. You might have heard one of the vets on the Breeders' Cup telecast last Saturday say that it's not good to operate on the same day of the injury (the horse's last memory is of being in the race, and that makes them even more likely to thrash when coming out of anesthesia).
On the day of her injury, there wasn't even a horse hospital that was open near Belmont Park. As you may know, after her injury, she was for a time kept in a stall that wasn't even remotely sterile. They were almost totally unprepared for what happened that day. They also allowed Dr. Alex Harthill, a vet who wasn't even licensed in New York, to work on her there.
clev wrote: Thank you. I've always wondered whether Belmont Park ever let ordinary people (i.e., those who didn't have a personal connection to Ruffian or the industry) go into the infield to see the grave close-up. Strangely enough, her grave is also the grave of the ex-jockey Mary Bacon, who was cremated and scattered over that site about 16 years ago. I am familiar with Find-A-Grave; I'll have to check to see whether they've added Mary Bacon. She wasn't on their list the last time I checked, which was some time ago.
clev wrote:I've always felt that Ruffian would have had a good chance to be saved if:
1. The recovery raft at New Bolton Center had been available to her (it was in the experimental stage at that time, according to what I've read).
2. She had not had surgery on the same day as her injury. You might have heard one of the vets on the Breeders' Cup telecast last Saturday say that it's not good to operate on the same day of the injury (the horse's last memory is of being in the race, and that makes them even more likely to thrash when coming out of anesthesia).
On the day of her injury, there wasn't even a horse hospital that was open near Belmont Park. As you may know, after her injury, she was for a time kept in a stall that wasn't even remotely sterile. They were almost totally unprepared for what happened that day. They also allowed Dr. Alex Harthill, a vet who wasn't even licensed in New York, to work on her there.