Last week, I had the pleasure of attending an intimate New York screening of “Secretariat” (Disney, 10/8, trailer) with someone who was uniquely acquainted with the film’s Triple Crown winning title character: Jorge Velasquez, one of only three jockeys who ever rode a horse to victory over “Secretariat” in a race. Today, I had the opportunity to speak with him about it — as you can hear for yourself by clicking here — and we discussed what it got right (most things), what it got wrong (its depiction of the jockey for “Sham” — a.k.a. him — as a cocky trash-talker, when in fact his nickname at the track was “Gentleman George”), where it ranks in the pantheon of horse-related films (he has a soft spot for “Seabiscuit”), and much more.
Velasquez, a native of Panama, came to the United States in 1965, won five Nyra titles (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, and 1978), achieved two “perfect days” (going...
Velasquez, a native of Panama, came to the United States in 1965, won five Nyra titles (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, and 1978), achieved two “perfect days” (going...
- 10/13/2010
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
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