SECRETARIAT MOVIE OPENS TODAY

But, you probably already knew that.

But did you know that the 1973 Triple Crown winner was born in Virginia?  Down in Doswell, not far from Richmond and the Strawberry Hill Steeplechase races you may or may not have attended.

While he died many years ago, his name lives on in the pedigree of many Thoroughbreds -- some of which may be running next Saturday at the International Gold Cup.

They never tried Big Red over jumps as he was way to valuable to risk a fall or injury.  But had they, he would have given all of them -- even the great Gold Cup champion Saluter -- one heck of a race.

Here are some reviews of SECRETARIAT starring Diane Lane and John Malcovich.

Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post admitted to Tony Kornheiser on the radio this week that she is a sucker for a sports movie and she loved Secretariat -- the horse and the movie.

To read her review, click here.

Andy Beyer, who is portrayed in the film, in the Washington Post: Just about every turf writer who has previewed "Secretariat" - which opens nationwide on Friday - has pointed out historical inaccuracies and significant omissions in the film. Having followed Secretariat's career as a journalist, I found some of the omissions distracting (particularly the expurgation of his Kentucky Derby-winning stablemate Riva Ridge.) But the filmmakers had to take some liberties in order to make this movie. Secretariat's real-life story didn't have a triumph-of-the-underdog theme that is a staple of sports movies. Nor were the people surrounding him especially colorful or lovable.

To read the review, click here.

Manohla Dargis of the New York Times: It's a pleasurable, seductive fantasy partly because, as we have known from the start of cinema, the sight of a running horse is a beautiful thing.

To read the review, click here.

Richard Roeper: This is a very predictable but thoroughly entertaining take on the greatest horse of all time.

To see the video of Roeper’s review, click here.

Clint O’Connor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
In that golden span of great sports from the mid-'60s to the mid-'70s, Muhammad Ali was king, but Secretariat was a contender for the throne of sports majesty. He even out-Springsteened Springsteen, landing on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated.

To read the review, click here.