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The movie world and the horse racing world is in mourning after a beloved actor horse, Popcorn Deelites, who played Seabiscuit in the 2003 film, passed away.
The horse passed from complications from colic at 24 years of age, it was announced by the Old Friends Farm on Twitter and in a press release.
‘We are deeply saddened to report that Seabiscuit movie star POPCORN DEELITES (24) died this morning,’ the farm said on Thursday.
R.I.P.: The movie world and the horse racing world is in mourning after a beloved actor horse, Popcorn Deelites, who played Seabiscuit in the 2003 film, passed away
Twitter: The horse passed from complications from colic at 24 years of age, it was announced by the Old Friends Farm on Twitter and in a press release
‘A 17-year OF resident, his paddock-mate for all of those years, Special Ring, is devastated, as are we. Pops will always be a shining star in our hearts,’ they added
Popcorn Deelites appeared in numerous scenes in the Seabiscuit film, which starred Tobey Maguire as jockey Red Pollard.
He most prominently appeared in the thrilling race scenes between Seabiscuit and Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
Click image to watch Seabisuit trailer
Tobey: Popcorn Deelites appeared in numerous scenes in the Seabiscuit film, which starred Tobey Maguire as jockey Red Pollard
Race: He most prominently appeared in the thrilling race scenes between Seabiscuit and Triple Crown winner War Admiral
After filming Seabiscuit, Popcorn Deelites returned to the racing world for owner David Hoffman and conditioner Pricilla Leon.
He won 11 of 58 races with career earnings totaling $56,880, before retiring and moving to the Old Friends Farm, a ‘thoroughbred retirement farm’ in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he’s been since 2005, where he was pensioned next to his sire, Afternoon Deelites.
Seabiscuit star and legendary Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who played George Woolf in the film, remembered the horse fondly in a statement.
Racing: After filming Seabiscuit, Popcorn Deelites returned to the racing world for owner David Hoffman and conditioner Pricilla Leon
Sire: He won 11 of 58 races with career earnings totaling $56,880, before retiring and moving to the Old Friends Farm, a ‘thoroughbred retirement farm’ in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he’s been since 2005, where he was pensioned next to his sire, Afternoon Deelites
‘Popcorn Deelites was a star in Seabiscuit. He was my go-to guy in all the big scenes,’ said Stevens, who now works as a racing analyst for Fox News.
‘He not only won real races multiple times, but he won the famous match race playing Seabiscuit,’ Stevens added.
‘He was kind, fast, and a great friend that lived out his life at Old Friends in the paddock next to my other buddy, Silver Charm,’ Stevens added, referring to the horse he piloted to a win in the 1997 Kentucky Derby, who is also an Old Friends retiree. ‘RIP, Popcorn.’
Go-to: ‘Popcorn Deelites was a star in Seabiscuit. He was my go-to guy in all the big scenes,’ said Stevens, who now works as a racing analyst for Fox News
Winner: ‘He not only won real races multiple times, but he won the famous match race playing Seabiscuit,’ Stevens added
Michael Blowen, Old Friends’ founder and president, added, ‘Pop’s Hollywood history made him an enormous fan favorite, of course.’
‘But what really won people over was his warm personality and friendly demeanor. Fans adored him and he adored the fans. He will be sorely missed here on the farm,’ Blowen continued. B
Blowen concluded by stating that, ‘I’m sure that his old pal and paddock mate, Special Ring, will miss him the most.’
Fan favorite: Michael Blowen, Old Friends’ founder and president, added, ‘Pop’s Hollywood history made him an enormous fan favorite, of course.
Friendly: ‘But what really won people over was his warm personality and friendly demeanor. Fans adored him and he adored the fans. He will be sorely missed here on the farm,’ Blowen continued.
Yes, I visited Seabisuit’s grave and wrote about it a while ago. Yes, I do understand all the byproducts of racing nowadays. Very sad. Have also written about nurse mare foals. Glad you got to hear some wonderful stories!!
Though not a racing fan (yes the horses usually love to run, my gripe is what humans have done to the horses and to the sport itself with the corruption and cruelty), I am not immune to the romance part. Dawn, do you know the mystery story about where the real Seabiscuit was buried in northern California? It’s quite a tale!
When I was a very young kid, the very old equine vet who helped us with our pasture ponies was a semi-retired racetrack veterinarian whose professional life had mostly been at the former Longacres racetrack south of Seattle. That track long ago became a business park which tells you how far back this goes. This vet had, in his travels as a young man, actually seen some of the Seabiscuit races and loved to tell us those stories.