"50 to 1" (NM's Greatest Horse Story Now a Movie)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | March 16, 2014 | Adrian Gomez

[CedarDave]

Mine That Bird beat the odds 50 to 1 when the gelding came from behind to win the Kentucky Derby in 2009.

The win thrust the horse into the national spotlight, along with his New Mexico-based owners and trainer.

Five years later, there is more spotlight on the way as Oscar-winner Jim Wilson and Faith Conroy are bringing the story to the big screen with the film “50 to 1.”

“50 to 1″ is the story of Mark Allen, from Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, who bought the Canadian gelding in late 2008 with his business partner Dr. Leonard Blach. The duo later enlisted Raton-born Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. to train the horse.

Woolley has operated a stable based at Sunland Park Racetrack in southern New Mexico since 1991.

The film, which was made largely in New Mexico, will have its world premiere at the KiMo Theatre on Wednesday and Mine That Bird will be there.

The Derby winner is now retired and living in Roswell.

The stars of the film, Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane, William Devane, Todd Lowe, Conroy and Wilson, as well as jockey Calvin Borel, who plays himself in the film, will attend the premiere. The group is riding across the country – from California to Kentucky – in a bus where they are screening the film and meeting fans.

[CedarDave]

Trailer:

50 to 1 the movie - Official Trailer

"50 to 1" is about a misfit group of New Mexico cowboys who find themselves on the journey of a lifetime when their crooked-footed racehorse qualifies for the Kentucky Derby. Based on the inspiring true story of Mine That Bird, the cowboys face a series of mishaps on their way to Churchill Downs, becoming the ultimate underdogs in a final showdown with the world's racing elite.

Actual Derby footage.

2009 Kentucky Derby - Mine That Bird (2nd biggest upset in Derby history)

If you go “50 to 1″ will open in theaters across New Mexico on Friday, March 21. Visit 50to1themovie.com for a complete listing of theaters.

Rated PG for "some suggestive material and a bar brawl." Still sounds like a great movie to see.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Sea Biscuit II. Whatever sells...

[CedarDave]

Maybe, but don’t have to go back 75+ years.

[ConservativeStatement]

Tom Durkin, the race caller, is a terrific talent but he struggled with that race. It was noticeable but such a great race. He didn’t mention the winner until it was too late in a sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_jAM7vBJY4

[CedarDave]

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[Pearls Before Swine]

I’m not disapproving, mind you, just philosophically non-committal. It’s an excuse for a feel-good story, probably with some exaggeration, and it’s usually a commercially viable genre.

[Yaelle]

Can’t wait to see it. I bet on that race with my young son (in my name) and he won big bucks. So fun. Borel playing himself is great, who else could do it, and maybe William Devane can stop selling reverse mortgages and catheters?

[Segovia]

Oh, lighten up; the world needs a good horse story!

[CedarDave]

You nailed it - from Producer-Director Wilson:

“This is a story that inspires many people,” Wilson says. “It’s about overcoming the odds and finding a new path. We tried to keep the movie as close to real life as we could. Of course there are some embellishments, but the story remains pretty close to the real thing.”

[SatinDoll]

Umm...I think that refers to Exterminator. He was a gelding, too. Won in 1918.

[berdie]

I won on that race, too. It was a fun race!

[Twotone]

Not much else you can do with a gelding. ;-)

[CedarDave]

Often fame is fleeting - after winning the Derby and coming in as a top three winner in the other two Triple Crown races, Woolley was replaced as trainer in May 2010 (one year after the Derby win):

'Mine That Bird' Gets New Trainer .

It is about the money, after all. Hopefully Woolley gets a cut of the earnings from the movie.

[Liberty Valance]

bump

[Rodamala]

I went to the races a couple times at Zia Park in Hobbs a few years back... never saw quarterhorses racing before... now THAT was fun!

[martin_fierro]

"50 to 1" is about a misfit group of New Mexico cowboys

And really ... IS THERE ANY OTHER KIND OF NM COWBOY?

[berdie]

Is that a Land Shark? Or a Land Dolphin which favors desert regions? :)

[berdie]

I love watching horses race. I must say I prefer thoroughbreds over quarterhorses, but either will do in a pinch.

[leapfrog0202]

Thanks for the ping Dave! Hubby heard them discussing the movie on the Stig show the other evening and thought it sounded good. I think we’ll go see it!

[Rusty0604]

I placed a small bet on MTB as I normally do on the longshot. Net my win against the losses on my other bets, I didn’t come away with much. But it makes the race more fun. Can’t wait to see the movie!