How to make a grown man cry.

[Under The Radar]

[Phoenix61]

1. I love that movie! nt

[Karadeniz]

7. Did you read the book? Fabulous!!! She goes into so much detail about other important things

At that time, you feel like you really understand all the context.
Anyone who likes history would love the book!!!

[Phoenix61]

9. That was one of the things I loved about the movie.

The old news reel footage and the way it explained what was happening in the country at that time.

[George II]

2. Historically racing movies are generally pretty lame. This was one of the better movies....

Now, as a lifelong (50+ years) horseracing fan, I knew right away that that race wasn't filmed at the track where he last races, Santa Anita. I recognized that as Keeneland Race Track in Lexington Kentucky (I've been to both many times).

Not that it takes away from the scene, though.

[Under The Radar]

4. So the palm trees in the background were CGI?

[George II]

5. Some of the segments of the race were filmed at Santa Anita, those with the mountains in....

....in the background and the palm trees were obviously there. But other segments were at Keeneland - there are fleeting views of the Keeneland grandstand. They're both similar in construction and color. They also used several other racetracks in the filming, notably older tracks at the time - Saratoga and now closed Pomona (not far from Santa Anita)

Being a degenerate, I'm either proud or ashamed to say that I've been to all of them!!!

BTW, the jockey that was talking to Red Pollard during the race, George Woolf, wasn't an actor. He was actually jockey Gary Stevens, one of the best in history.

[George II]

3. Follow up - here's the film of the actual 1940 Santa Anita Handicap. Love these historic films...

...of old time horse races:

[Karadeniz]

6. Thanks!

[Bayard]

8. I'm trying to remember how he got so far behind at the start....

Gate malfunction? Its been awhile since I've read the book or seen the movie. I did remember Gary Stevens was in it.

Such a terrific story!

[3Hotdogs]

10. All's I remember, is that Warner Brothers had a cartoon featuring Teabiscuit.