Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Love horses — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:01:20 GMT

I watched Secretariat's Belmont Stakes race on television in Puerto Rico, my country of origin. I was 11 years old at the time. My family was very fond of horse races and everybody got together to watch it. I still get goosebumps remembering that historic race. I loved the Disney movie very much, in part because it reminds me how rare and special it was to have lived that particular moment in time. I wish Ron all the best! Thanks for being always so gracious in sharing your memories of your time with Secretariat.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

morgan — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:18:40 GMT

dear ron love was a wife and will

have kids together

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Harold Silver — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:24:46 GMT

My wife and I saw Secretariat today. Thoroughly enjoyed the film. Excellent casting with John Makovich

stealing every scene he is in. Made us curious as to what happened to the principals as well as to Secretariat and saddened as to what happened to the jockey afterwards.

Did not anticipate the drama involved nor the expertise demonstrated in the film making.Definitely a go see movie.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

sarah — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:18:39 GMT

the movie was good about secreatriat but charlie davis was only shown 2 time

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

JIM — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 03:34:34 GMT

My wife and I saw Secretariat run the Preakness. We still have a photo on the wall of our den she took of him during the post parade while she was sitting on my shoulders. He was a beautiful shiny red in the late afternoon sun. We just saw the movie and loved it. The stretch run at The Belmont still sends chills down my spine.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Esther Marr — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:57:56 GMT

Thanks for all your comments, everyone...I've enjoyed hearing all your thoughts, positive and negative:)

I was just thinking about how I had the pleasure of interviewing Diane Lane on the red carpet at this year's Kentucky Derby. Here's the video if you haven't already seen it:

www.youtube.com/watch

Love her!

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

DEB — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:00:16 GMT

Sorry everyone there is one thing that I would like to mention. Before everyone goes off on the deep end here... Do some research on this famous horse.

When he died there was an autospy done on him... Like I said, this horse is one of a kind and here is why.

This is quoted from the St. Petersburg Times, published December 19, 1999

Dr. Thomas Swerczek, a professor of veterinary science at the University of Kentucky, performed the autopsy.

All of Secretariat's vital organs were normal in size except for the heart. The typical horse's heart weighs 81/2 pounds. Secretariat's weighed 22 pounds.

"This was a heart completely out of anybody's league," Swerczek said. "Looking back to what he had done, it was easy to put a connection to it. ... The heart was perfect. There were no problems with it. It was just this huge engine."

This just gives anyone that is interested a little insite.

I still think it was a GREAT movie and if given the opportunity I would love to meet the actual people in this horses life. I know that some have since passed but the ones that are still with us I would love to meet.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

DEB — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:40:58 GMT

All true stories that are made into movies are going to have some if not a lot of inaccuracies…but:

As an avid horse lover and owner – I saw the movie today 10.24.2010 and thought it was a great movie. After the movie I did some research on the movie. Finding out that they did use actual footage of Secretariat’s races, I did this research because all through the movie I could not figure out how they could duplcate this. Granted there are computer generated movies and inhancements so I had to try to find out if they did this in this movie.

Copied from the article from which everyone is comenting on: The writer of this article says: ““Secretariat” does use television footage from the 1973 Preakness Stakes and part of announcer Chic Anderson's call of the Belmont, including his famous line, “He is moving like a tremendous machine,” as Secretariat pulled away from the field.”

This was a great movie and sort of kept to the life and time of this One and Only Great racehorse that ever lived. Yes I agree they did focus a lot on Penny about being a housewife and this and that but remember she also became the first lady of Thoroughbred racing. Back in the day it was all about the men that owned thoroughbreds. However, I do feel they touch on the most important parts of this horses life.

I remember actually watching this horse on TV running all three races in 1973. I believe that there will NEVER be another horse to do what Secretariat did. This horse had a BIG heart and willingness like no other. The movie is great for any audience. However, if someone doesn’t know about horses or horseracing they might be a little lost in understanding what Secretariat is all about. I do recommend this movie and if you are not familiar with horseracing or the Great Secretariat – do research before going and seeing it.

I believe if they went on and on about everything that happened during the course of this horses life the movie would have been extremly long and would have lost interest of people. Granted Secretariat lived until he was 19 years of age and if they had put all that into a movie with all his races after the triple crown up to his death and attempting to explain laminitis to someone that doesn’t know horses would not have held the interest of everyone that goes to see it. The place that I saw the movie everyone that was there throughly enjoyed it.

Secretariat will always be a name that everyone will remember because his still holds to this day all three tract records. There will never be another horse like him.

Thought it was very well done.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

needler in Virginia — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 03:27:36 GMT

If anyone believes that Ms Chenery gave that "pep talk" to the horse, you need to get a grip; she had more than enough to do before the races, as the press had her smothered from dawn to dawn and there were no free moments for solitude OR a talk with the Big Red One. Poor woman had enough on her plate, but then again, this IS Disney, so why am I NOT surprised? And to those complaining about not enough horse: it's tough to tell a horse story without seeing and hearing the connections that got the horse to the track. The ONLY time a "talking" horse has worked was in "Black Beauty" (THE BOOK) and the talking part didn't work in any of the movies. Big Red did all his talking on the track and we all remember how well he spoke to us!

While I can barely speak about the portrayal of Sham as villain...you REALLY don't want me going on THAT........the one thing that really bugs me the most is the Belmont as portrayed.... Keeneland? I LOVE Keeneland, but Belmont it is NOT. Second, why not just show us the horse and let us hear the heartbeats and the hoof beats WITHOUT that ridiculous song??? Who needs it? Ask Mr Turcotte what HE remembers, and I'd bet he'd say "my heart beating and the sound of Red's hooves........that's about it."

Color me snarky tonight; I just have a load of trouble with Disney falsifying a story that so many of us clearly remember. It might have been better if this were the story of horse that none of us had seen and loved....maybe one from 100 years ago. That way NO ONE could complain about what Disney got wrong. Again, I ask......what is wrong with the REAL story??? Ye Gods!!

OK, rant over......

Cheers and safe trips.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Gary — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:03:31 GMT

My wife and I saw the movie yesterday and I have to say it was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Diane Lane always does a good job and in this movie she was great. The critics in the Chicago Tribune, some of whom gave the movie 1 and 1/2 stars must have been watching some other movie. It is a 3 1/2 star movie, glad we seen it.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Tommy — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:43:15 GMT

I notice that there is only one criticism of the use of Oh Happy Day as the song heralding the impending victory of Big Red at Belmont. It may not be traditional racing music but it is a song I have always loved and found very emotionally uplifting. It served that purpose here in signaling a most happy day for a great set of characters in the history of horse racing.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Barbara W — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:34:21 GMT

I've just seen the movie for the second time and loved it just as much. Everyone I have dragged with me has loved it as well.

I do agree that Sham should not have been made a villain, but I think the relationship of Red with Eddie Sweat was tenderly portrayed. Trying to tell a horse AND human story at the same time can be a daunting task, given the attention spans of most viewers. I say, "Job well done!"

I own the books by Bill Nack and Kate, but I've not bought Eddie's yet. Has anyone read it?

So glad to see Ron Turcotte looking so good.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Peggy — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:49:19 GMT

I saw the movie with my granddaughters (age 4 and 7). I wanted them to know and love one of my heroes, Secretariat. Unfortunately, the movie was too long on dialogue and too short on the actual horse story. I agree with the prior bloggers who said that the relationship between Eddie Sweat and Secretariat should have been shown rather than have Eddie at Meadow Farm (where he never worked). He appears to be an employee of Penny Chenery when actually he worked for Lucien Lauren at Belmont. The foaling scene bothered me too. It doesn't make sense to even non-horse people that Penny, Eddie and Lucien would be there for that, especially Penny flying from Denver for it.

The measure of the movie will ultimately be how many people will go to see it. I think that the hard core Secretariat fans will go, but I don't think that it will create a new generation of fans like the Seabiscuit movie did.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Rachel — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:40:06 GMT

I agree with Ron Turcotte, though, that the portrayal of Pancho Martin was very hurtful (and Sham, too) and undeserved. That's why I won't give my $$$ to this movie...I despise character assasination.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

philco — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 02:33:58 GMT

Saw the movie and really enjoyed it. As others have mentioned, the Belmont sequence (filmed at Keeneland) was blasphemous. The inconic still photo of the Belmont should have been incorporated as well. And i totally agree with Shauna H; a better, kickin' montage of historical photos set to better music would been a nice capper.

Still, this film moved me a lot and that to me...are what movies are supposed to do. And Diane Lane was OUTSTANDING as usual.

Eddie Sweat's solo, but confident pronouncement on the dawn of Derby Day was my favorite moment in this movie. The groom/horse relationship remains the most special and sacred in the game in my humble opinion.

I give the film a solid B

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Dwight New — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:49:54 GMT

The movie was great, I'm in it.

But, the stars are that most magnificent Thoroughbred, Secretariat and his owner, the sweet, Penny Chenery.

Diane Lane does a wonderful job portraiting her.I recommend the movie to everyone, not just horse racing fans.

Dwight

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Cleone — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:34:07 GMT

Penny also did a much shorter interview with the "Colorado Morning News" show on the same station, which you can hear here:

850koa.com/.../cmn.html

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Convene — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:46:34 GMT

I loved it! I was watching the day he won the Belmont and it still puts chills down my spine. He was the Man o' War of my lifetime and I am so blessed to have seen him. Okay, there was some artistic licence with the film but it did not taint the true values and the true glory of the story. It was what it was. I think maybe we all need to remember what Penny said to Secretariat before the Belmont (and those of us who are females old enough to recall that time when we weren't really capable people - well, not QUITE anyway) can understand everything she meant when she told the horse, "I didn't give up. I ran my race. Now you run yours." As someone who has changed just a little of the world north of the border (in one field anyway), it's something I've always believed in too. Just because it's impossible doesn't mean you shouldn't go all out to get it done. Penny did - and the rest is history. Many cheers for this wonderful movie of such a cherished part of my life too. I'm on my way out to look for the DVD because this movie is a memory well portrayed.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Terri — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:26:05 GMT

I seen the movie when it first came out. I enjoyed it very much. Also, reading with fans thoughts and reviews about the movie you can not please every one. The movie follows the Secretariat's Team and how they made him a Champion. A woman in a mans world..Without Penny Chenery we might not have Secretariat. We should be very thankful to her.

Secretariat was a horse the nation looked up to as a hero. There was alot going on in the world at that time...Vietnam War...Watergate...Secretariat was the horse what would take us away of what was going on in our nation and what was happening around the world.

I have read articles and reviews about the movie...especially Penny Chenery..she loved the movie and hope the public likes it as well. How many of you know that Penny was on the set when the movie was made and even in the movie along with her daughter Katy who also loved the movie and saw it more than once...I feel these are the people that really counts on how the movie turned out...the Secretariat Team.

I had the opportunity to hear the author of the book Secretariat- William Nack talk about the horse and the movie. He also enjoyed the movie. He was at the premier at Lexington. Mr Nack knew Secetariat inside out...amazing stories he told about "Big Red".

Keep a open mind when you see the movie...enjoy it. When you watch it see if you can spot Penny Chenery and her daughter Katy in the movie....they were extras in the movie.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

nina — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:36:19 GMT

Loved the movie. I think they should have included the 2 TC victories of the great Riva Ridge since it makes Penny's story more formidable. It will be a long long time before anyone wins 5 TC races in successive years.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

K-Mustang — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:22:00 GMT

No one yet has mentioned the fact that the producers of this film made Sham into a villain. I read that in Steve Haskin's account of this film a few weeks ago. And that is the number one reason I will not waste either my time or my money to watch this film now or buy it when it comes out on DVD. There was absolutely no need for that foolishness. Sham would've won the 1973 Kentucky Derby--and set a record--if he hadn't the misfortune of running against Big Red. Sham was a tough, honest horse who ran with two broken teeth in that Derby and ran his guts out in all three '73 Triple Crown races. He never raced again after the Belmont. When Sham was retired in July 1973 he had nothing left to give--or prove. He had truly left it all on the track. I love Secretariat. He is my all-time favorite, along with John Henry, Ruffian, and Spectacular Bid. But I will not bother with the antics of these so-called "artists" who never let truth get in the way of a good story. At least give credit where credit is due. RIP, Big Red, and your worthy rival, Sham.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Ted from LA — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:53:42 GMT

Patricia,

I agree with you 100%. What you fail to understand is that most Americans are idiots. They love sap and guns. If they could have trained the horse to shoot a gun, they would have.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Paula Higgins — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:32:52 GMT

I think the movie was great and close enough to the reality of the situation when all is said and done. Penny Chenery had plenty of challenges during that period. Sure she was a strong person, but sacrifices and tough decisions were made. Since Penny is very happy with the film and Ron Turcotte is happy with the film, that is good enough for me.

Ron Turcotte looks great for 69! He is indeed a very fine person and that pciture is a hoot with the three of you. Frankly, I think the real Ron Turcotte radiated more personality than his movie counterpart.

As for Eddie Sweat, I agree that he should have been more prominent. They had an incredible relationship. I do think they tried, but it wasn't integral to the story they were trying to tell and the movie was only so long. But for those of us that know the true story, we know how important Eddie and Secretariat were to each other.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

cfoxo — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:33:42 GMT

Big Red didn't have a four year old campaign Patricia.

re: Ron Turcotte Meeting and Thoughts on 'Secretariat'

Barbara — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:23:29 GMT

Sappy, did NOT do Secretariat himself justice. He was more like an afterthought. Yes, Somthingroyal is foaling, but I can fly to Virginia from Denver and still see Him being born??? Gospel music in the stretch of the Belmont?? Did the Disney people ever hear of RIVA RIDGE??? C'mon, make a movie ABOUT the HORSE! Not the Chenerys, (no disrespect meant to Penny, would just rather it be about Secretariat if it's called SECRETARIAT). I DID like the real William Nack palying a reporter, and Penny herself, and Mike Battaglia. In my humble opinion, it did not showcase the greatness of Himself.