On DVD or VHS: This ULTRA VINTAGE 1950's FILM from Racing's GOLDEN AGE - A LOST CLASSIC!!

 

What is sports greatest thrill - the home run, the knockout punch, the touchdown? They're all wonderful moments in sports but to millions of fans last year, as indicated by their patronage of Thoroughbred racetracks, they chose the excitement of battling horses and jockeys down the home stretch. Heeerrreee they come, in a typical final thrilling drive for the golden glory of Hollywood Park; a 45+ year-old nostalgic feature which looks back at the decade of the 1950's. A glimpse behind the scenes at the backside, a visit to the jockeys' room, to the color room where Thoroughbred owners' silks are cared for, and at some of the preparation necessary to earn a trip to the winner's circle.

 

Great horses like SWAPS have made Hollywood Park known as the racetrack of champions; in 1958 the Hollywood Turf Club honored the gallant Thoroughbreds who raced there by erecting a life-size beautiful bronze statue of the incomparable SWAPS in full stride. Those who saw SWAPS in his record-breaking races will never forget the tremendous bursts of speed he could summon so effortlessly or the terrific power he showed in his long ground-eating strides. Some of his finest exploits are recalled: his world record time of 1:39 in the 1956 Inglewood, 1956 Hollywood Gold Cup, and his 2:38.1 world record time in the 1956 Sunset Handicap packing 130 lbs. for 1-5/8 miles.

 

Majestic paddock scenes of NATIVE DANCER and DETERMINE in retirement are also included.

 

At Hollywood Park the finest jockeys in the world are regular performers and their contrasting styles have earned them loyal followers: LONGDEN, SHOEMAKER, and ARCARO.

 

And for you SEABISCUIT and WAR ADMIRAL fans out there....here's a rare treat indeed: see the thrilling and legendary match race between SEABISCUIT and WAR ADMIRAL in the 1938 Pimlico Special...IN IT'S ENTIRETY!! See the actual walk-up start at Pimlico as both horses are sent away in one of the most exciting and most talked about match races in the history of the sport; it's West vs. East as the underdog, SEABISCUIT, owned by Charles S. Howard of California, surprises the fans and his rival by rushing away to an early lead - but down the stretch the great Eastern favorite, WAR ADMIRAL, draws alongside to challenge the flying SEABISCUIT, stride for stride the champions race as one; head to head and nose to nose for over a 1/2-mile and as they swing into the stretch it's apparent that SEABISCUIT will not give up his lead...and with less than a furlong to go, "THE BISCUIT" surges ahead and drives on to an amazing victory under the masterful ride of GEORGE WOOLF.

 

Other great races shown include the 1960 Argonaut Handicap with ROUND TABLE, the 1957 Starlet Stakes with OLD PUEBLO, STRONG RULER, and FLEET NASRULLAH, WHIRLAWAY's 1941 Kentucky Derby, the 1958 Westerner (later re-named the Hollywood Derby) with HILLSDALE and STRONG BAY, and GALLANT MAN in the 1958 Hollywood Gold Cup.

 

In the final drive of the homestretch - the secret to racing's amazing popularity and why it is the #1 spectator sport today: from the day a Thoroughbred is foaled, it's ultimate goal is supremacy in the home stretch; how he loves to race and is born with a desire to win. His breeding and training are devoted to building his speed, stamina and courage which he will proudly display on the racetrack. His supreme moment is the all-out battle down to the wire, the classic climax of a great sport. There's no greater thrill than that moment when a Thoroughbred's born and bred to give their best meet in that final testing ground of speed and courage - THE HOME STRETCH!

 

 

AS AN ADDED BONUS...A priceless segment on the immortal NATIVE DANCER is shown after the main feature ends; every single horse entered for the 2005 Travers Stakes was directly descended to NATIVE DANCER - his legacy is still very much alive and kicking to this very day!!

 

IN ADDITION TO THIS....also included is a treasure-trove of a find...an unearthed 10-minute relic mini-documentary showing several of the entries for the 1956 Garden State Trial for two-year-olds - at that time the richest race in the world! See very rare footage of CALIFORNIA KID (trained by Mesch Tenney and ridden by Willie Shoemaker), Calumet Farm's BARBIZON and IRON LIEGE, MR. JIVE, CLEM, and the eventual winner, FEDERAL HILL. Also included is footage of Calumet Farm's  trainer, Jimmy Jones, shown on horseback supervising his string of horses for their daily workouts and an exclusive interview with him before the race. Next shown is newsreel footage of the 1956 Kentucky Derby with footage of Calumet lead trainer, Ben Jones and his Derby hopeful and eventual winner, HILL GAIL.

 

BUT WAIT...as if all this ISN'T ENOUGH...a lengthy 10-minute segment on NATIVE DANCER and his owner, Alfred G. Vanderbilt's Sagamore Farm is showcased through the eyes of his son, Alfred G. Vanderbilt the III. The younger Vanderbilt re-lives tales of his childhood living at the fabled Sagamore Farm with rare footage from family archival films of NATIVE DANCER; how the farm was run as a full breeding and racing operation; how all the farm's personal trainers would show up before big race days loading all the horses on the family's private rail system en route to tracks all around the country and how Sagamore Farm was ultimately sold in the 1980's when his father felt the racing industry had changed so much that he was outdated in a commercial-racing game motivated only by profit and not love of the game. Sagamore Farm would eventually fall into the wrong hands through the years and fall victim to neglect and disrepair until just recently as a new owner has vowed to re-build and renovate Sagamore back to its storied glory days...very promising indeed!

 

 

50 Minutes.

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