In a change of pace, I decided to watch this inspirational true-life story of a woman's deciding to keep the title character horse in ownership instead of selling to the highest bidder because of the animal's potential and not the usual comedy films I view with my movie theatre working friend. We both enjoyed those race scenes that involved Secretariat that showcased both his struggles and triumphs. On the drama front, while there are some compellingly played scenes of quiet desperation and of occasional conflict, it's the uplifting parts that really gets to the heart of the matter. Only thing I really have a quibble with is some of the lines betray the time period like that character played by Fred Dalton Thompson wouldn't compare something to Super Fly since that movie came out in 1972 and his scene takes place in 1969. And how about the kids not noticeably aging during the four-year setting. Otherwise, Secretariat is a quality feel-good movie that one always expects from The Disney Company and is recommended.

The students of horse racing history might dispute this film calling Secretariat the greatest race horse in history. After Man O' War still has some very strong adherents out there though there are not too many people left alive who saw him race in the 1919 and 1920 seasons. There are a few very strong similarities between these equine giants.

First of all both of them were red in color and in fact any number of folks also called Man O' War, Big Red in his time. Both never raced beyond their 3 year old season, the stud fees commanded were too great to pass up. In line with that both were very successful breeders, siring any number of future racing stakes winners. And both even had a black groom who became something of a quotable figure himself. In Man O' War's case, the character of Eddie Sweat as played by Nelsan Ellis had a counterpart in Will Harbut who was as devoted to his stallion as Sweat was to his.

But I do agree with another reviewer that the story is just as much Penny Chennery Tweedy's as the horse's. As played by Diane Lane, Penny is a woman who has had the responsibility of her father's horse breeding farm thrust upon her with her father's age and illness after her mother has died which is where the film opens. She has a husband and family out in Denver, far from the Kentucky Blue Grass country who make some not unreasonable demands on her. But Lane will not see her father's work go down the toilet and wants to realize his dream of owning a truly great racing champion.

She recruits as a new trainer John Malkovich a rather flamboyant French Canadian character who has also had the dream of training one unforgettable champion and has spent his life around the racetracks in the hopes of finding one.

Lane and Malkovich are unforgettable as a pair who realize a dream and overcome all odds. The odds against them are mostly financial. Horse racing is not called The Sport Of Kings for nothing. Only the very rich and royalty can afford to indulge in it beyond the betting windows at the track or at Off Track Betting parlors.

Two supporting performances really standout in this film. One is by Margaret Martindale as Ms. Ham who was something of a girl Friday to Scott Glenn as Lane's father and who is a real rock of support for the Secretariat team. The second is by Nelson Serrano who plays the trash talking trainer of Secretariat's rival Sham. The man thinks he's the Muhammed Ali of racing, but he sounds more like one of Vince McMahon's stable from the WWE. A guy you really love to hate.

In 1973 Secretariat became only the 9th horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in the same year, horse racing's vaunted Triple Crown. He was the first since Citation 25 years earlier in 1948 and who also has an interesting racing story if anyone wants to film it. Later in the Seventies, Seattle Slew and Affirmed also won the Triple Crown, but no one has since.

It remains a daunting challenge for any three year old thoroughbred, but the one who does it will have a story like Secretariat to tell.

Housewife Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) has to take over her family's Meadow Stables from her sick father after her mother's death. She's the quintessential underdog in the world of horse breeding. With the help of trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich),she produces the most important horse in recent history ultimately the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

There are some questions about the truth in this movie. Although I have sympathies for the complaint, modern audiences have to set aside their naivety. Unless the movie is labeled a documentary, there isn't any good complaining about authenticity.

This is a very good traditional underdog movie. Of course, everything is against them. I'm sure Disney has smooth out all the rough edges. I'm sure they just plain thrown out the rough edges. Diane Lane is great as the smart gutsy heroine. All the basics of David versus Goliath are properly included. There is nothing unsuspected to derail this.