Secretariat Advance Screening Press Release
THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OCTOBER 3, 2010, OF THE UPCOMING MOTION PICTURE “SECRETARIAT”
TO BENEFIT THE SECRETARIAT FOUNDATION
Tickets to the Kentucky event available at secretariat.com starting Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010
BURBANK, Calif. (Sept. 20, 2010) – The Walt Disney Studios announced plans today for a special advance screening of the upcoming motion picture “Secretariat” to benefit the Secretariat Foundation. The Oct. 3, 2010, event, which takes place five days before the film’s Oct. 8 release date, will be held at the Kentucky Theater in Lexington, Ky., with a cocktail reception following the screening at Lexington’s Portofino Restaurant.
“Secretariat’s victories have stirred people’s emotions for decades, but with this film, we’ve been swept up again with the incredible story of this horse and its owner, Penny Chenery,” said Rich Ross, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “In reliving Secretariat’s extraordinary achievements, we can all appreciate Penny’s passion and determination, and the need to support her efforts on behalf of the Secretariat Foundation.”
“It gives me great pleasure that the advance screening of ‘Secretariat’ in Kentucky will help benefit the Secretariat Foundation,” said Chenery. “Though I now reside in Colorado, Kentucky is still ‘home’ to me. I am just delighted that the many friends and fans there can enjoy this wonderful film while directly supporting the industry-related causes dearest to me.”
The film, shot on location in Kentucky and Louisiana, captures a host of fan favorite locales, including Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear will attend special advance screening. “The spectacular story of Secretariat is tightly woven into the horse legacy of Kentucky – truly, this film could not have been made anywhere else but here in the horse capital of the world,” said Governor Beshear. “I worked hard to create film credits as part of our new economic development incentives package that will attract movie projects like Secretariat, and our efforts have clearly paid off. I speak for the citizens of the Commonwealth when I say we can’t wait to see Big Red on the big screen.”
Tickets, starting at $125 per person, include general admission to the screening and cocktail reception. The $250 per person ticket also includes reserved seating at the screening and reception. Tickets can be purchased beginning Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, at secretariat.com or by calling 502-893-7997.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery – with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) – manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time. For more information check out Disney.com/Secretariat, like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/Secretariat, and follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/SecretariatFilm.
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ABOUT THE SECRETARIAT FOUNDATION
The Secretariat Foundation was created by Penny Chenery to serve as a non-profit charitable organization within the Thoroughbred and equine-related industries. Long a supporter of many charities and research programs, Mrs. Chenery named the Foundation after her great champion with a specific purpose – to use Secretariat’s enduring appeal to bring greater awareness to the many causes that help horses and the people who care for them. The mission of the Secretariat Foundation is to assist and support various charities and organizations that meet the Thoroughbred racing community’s needs including:
• Veterinary research
• Thoroughbred retirement and rehabilitation facilities
• Therapeutic equestrian programs
• General funding for related established charitable programs
By joining under the banner of Secretariat’s incredible legacy, the Secretariat Foundation will work to enhance the welfare of the Thoroughbred community. By achieving this, the Secretariat Foundation will enrich the racing industry, promoting the same level of excellence embodied by Big Red’s stellar career within the sport he defined.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Julianne Reisenfeld
The Owens Group
513-521-7500
julianne@theowensgroup.net
