Rating of
3/4
The Greatest Race Horse Ever!
MovieAddict - wrote on 04/01/12
A Denver housewife Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane) takes over her father's (Scott Glenn) horse racing empire when he falls ill, commuting to Virginia to take care of the farm which is almost bankrupt. Having grown up in the racing world, she knows about bloodlines and believes that her young colt Big Red later renamed Secretariat is blessed with both speed and endurance, and destined to be a champion. She spends most of her time in Virginia, away from her growing family, and misses important events in their lives much of the dismay of her husband Jack Tweedy (Dylan Walsh) who was very convincing as a husband tired of having his wife far from him and their children. She hires an eccentric French Canadian horse trainer Lucien Laurin (a delightful John Malkovich) and the horse is soon headed for the Triple Crown. Diane Lane is stunning as the strong willed owner who refuses to sell out. Other actors that stood out to me was Nelsan Ellis as Eddie Sweat, the groom, Margo Martindale as Miss Ham and an actual jockey Otto Thorwarth as Ronnie Turcott.
The movie does an awesome job of capturing Secretariat's spirit and promoting the message of following your instincts and dreams. You will find yourself cheering for the horse and feeling pride when he wins. In 1973 Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in the same year and the horse racing's Triple Crown.
