GRANT WHITACRE EYES MARYLAND MILLION CLASSIC ENCORE WITH MOVIE DEBUT JUST DAYS AWAY
LAUREL, MD. 09-22-10---Grant Whitacre always knew he was going to be a jockey so how did he end up rubbing elbows with Emmy Award winner John Malkovich and Hollywood starlet Diane Lane?
Whitacre will portray Paul Feliciano in the upcoming movie “Secretariat”, which opens in theatres Friday, Oct. 8. Feliciano was aboard the 1973 Triple Crown winner in his first two career starts as an apprentice rider, before the connections turned to the more experienced Ron Turcotte.
Whitacre spent a week in Louisiana last October for filming, just weeks after the signature win of his career aboard former claimer Sumacha’hot in the Jim McKay Maryland Million Classic.
“I am probably in the movie for about five minutes,” Whitacre said. “It is a little different seeing myself on the big screen but it is pretty cool.”
A Walt Disney Pictures film, “Secretariat” tells the story of Penny Chenery, portrayed by Lane, and her superstar colt who captured the nation by becoming the first horse in 25 years to earn the Triple Crown by winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes during a six-week period as a 3-year-old. Malkovich plays the role of trainer Lucien Laurin.
“I never dreamed this would happen,” added Whitacre, the grandson of jockey Jesse Davidson, son of former rider Gordon Whitacre and the younger brother of Charles Town-based rider Brandon Whitacre. “The last couple weeks they have been playing the trailer and during the Cowboys-Redskins game on the opening of the NFL season a bunch of my friends saw me in it and called. That was pretty neat. I am hoping everyone checks it out. It is getting some positive reviews.”
Feliciano, then a contract rider for Laurin, was aboard the son of Bold Ruler when he made his debut at Aqueduct on July 4, 1972. The duo had a troubled trip and finished fourth, the only time Secretariat would finish off the board in 21 career starts. Laurin wheeled his star back 11 days later and this time it was an easy six-length maiden victory.
However, Disney did not let facts get in the way of a good story and had Turcotte, not Feliciano, break Secretariat’s maiden.
“Obviously I would have liked them showing me winning on the horse but the movie is about Secretariat’s relationship with Penny and isn’t 100 percent accurate,” Whitacre said. “But I love the movie. It is a feel good story for the entire family.”
The change from reality did lead to a big scene between Whitacre and Malkovich.
“Without giving too much of the story away, his character gets upset with mine and he definitely lets me know,” said Whitacre, who will have watched three advanced screenings before attending a premier in Lexington, KY on Oct. 3.
Feliciano is the younger brother of Whitacre’s agent Ben Feliciano Sr., who rode Torsion against Secretariat in the Preakness.
“Benny wasn’t even my agent last summer but recommended me to the producers for the Ron Turcotte role,” Whitacre said.
Secretariat raced two times in Maryland. In addition to his Preakness victory, he captured the Laurel Futurity as a 2-year-old.
Next Saturday will be the 20th race in the state for Sumacha’hot, who will look to become the first horse since Docent (2002-03) to win the Maryland Million Classic in back-to-back years. Owned and trained by Butch Cave, the 5-year-old is two-for-five this year, including a pair of victories at Penn National in June.
“He was doing really well at Penn over the summer,” said his rider. “Butch is pointing for the Classic and we are hoping for a repeat performance.”
The 2009 campaign was a breakout year for the former Atholton High School baseball player. After battling injuries for the first three years of his career, Whitacre established himself as a reliable rider ranking seventh in the overall standings at Pimlico and Laurel Park.
“It was a terrific year,” said the rider. “I won the Maryland Million Classic, which helped business, and landed a part in this movie, which was the experience of a lifetime.”
The first week of October puts the spotlight on Grant Whitacre.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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