Tag Archives: Mine that bird movie

HEY ALBUQUERQUE! THE MINE THAT BIRD MOVIE: ’50 TO 1′ is opening in your home town MARCH 21ST!






So the cover of this month’s COWBOYS AND INDIANS MAGAZINE is a shot from the upcoming movie, ’50 to 1′ – the story of Mine That Bird and his road to the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

This is the cover of my Cowboys and Indians Magazine with '50 to 1' on the cover.
This is the cover of my Cowboys and Indians Magazine with ’50 to 1′ on the cover.

DID you watch Mine That Bird win the Kentucky Derby in 2009?

Did you watch the replay of it?

If you didn’t, you need to…

Click this link to watch the video of the 2009 Derby:

Click link to watch Mine that Bird win the Kentucky Derby!

Click link to watch Mine that Bird win the Kentucky Derby!

ANNOUNCER RETIRED AFTER THIS KENTUCKY DERBY …

The veteran race announcer retired after this Derby because he felt so badly for the way he called it – totally missing Mine That Bird coming up on the inside – from dead last – to pass everybody.

I cry every single time I watch the rerun.

Amazing.

Such a David and Goliath story.

Veteran jockey, Calvin Borel, riding the heck out of that horse!

Veteran jockey, Calvin Borel, riding the heck out of that horse!  Look at the face on that boy!

Famous win photo from the 2009 Derby.  Look how far ahead the 'nobody horse' finished!

Famous win photo from the 2009 Derby. Look how far ahead the ‘nobody horse’ finished!

calvin-on-minethatbird-650x432

Such a great shot of Calvin Borel. Can you imagine the thrill he was feeling just then?

WHY YOU NEED TO SEE THE MOVIE

We all saw ‘Secretariat’ even though we knew the outcome.

We all loved ‘Secretariat’.

This ’50 to 1′ story is different… because it wasn’t a rivalry between two winners…

The odds were 50 to 1.

50 to 1!!

NOBODY knew this horse and nobody was rooting for him.

When the bell rang and the horses were off, Mine That Bird was running in L-A-S-T place.

Mine That Bird was a true underdog.

That is why you have to see this movie.  Watching the underdog win never gets old.

(Oh, and Calvin Borel plays himself in the movie.  For that alone, to watch him ride up close and personal, would be worth it to me!  The horse playing MIne That Bird is a Canadian TB named Sunday Rest.  Yay for him and I’ll write about Sunday Rest later…).

I grabbed this still from the trailer because I loved how the horse is misbehaving in the background!  Click image to watch the trailer!

I grabbed this still from the trailer because I loved how the horse is misbehaving in the background! Click image to watch the trailer!

THE OTHER REASON WHY  YOU NEED TO SEE THE MOVIE

Besides the fact that the story is great and the video moves me to tears every time I watch it… I read in the COWBOYS AND INDIANS MAGAZINE article that the Director is releasing the movie himself.

He had to put up the money because no studio would back it – why?…Because they said that we all know the outcome…

Just like we did for the ‘Secretariat’ movie.

Oy.  It isn’t the ending… it is the GETTING THERE that is the tear jerker!

Oh yeah, and don’t forget, the last time they didn’t help Producer Jim Wilson, he cleaned up at the Oscars with DANCES WITH WOLVES.

So, go see it, Albuquerque… and then Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas!  Look it up and see where it is playing!

HOLLYWOOD, CA — “50 to 1,” the new major motion picture about Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, opens theatrically in roll-out fashion beginning in New Mexico March 21, followed by Texas and Louisiana April 4, Oklahoma and Arkansas April 11, Tennessee and Kentucky April 18, and will then expand across the country, says producer, director, co-writer and racehorse owner Jim Wilson, Oscar®-winning producer of “Dances With Wolves.”

LOOK FOR IT in your town!

LOOK FOR IT in your town!

Here is Mine That Birds Facebook Page to follow him and the movie!

newruleI have another piece of jewelry to offer to help pay MT’s hospital bill.

This one has a story…  My Sundance necklace.

SOLD!  THANK YOU, LINDA!  I’M GLAD IT HAS A NEW HOME!!

My Sundance (heartbreak) necklace... 5 strands of high quality turquiose... that breaks my heart every time I look at it.

My Sundance (heartbreak) necklace… 5 strands of high quality turquiose… that breaks my heart every time I look at it.

Twelve years ago, I was flown out to Sundance Resort to meet with Robert Redford (he was on the  phone, not in the room) his son and the Board of Directors of his Sundance Brand.

This meeting  came about because of a chance meeting that I can say had to have the hand of God upon it.  You see, I accidentally met the man in charge of Marketing for Sundance and I just happened to open my mouth and tell him what I would do if it were my blah blah blah – and he liked what I said.

A week later, I was being flown to Utah to meet with them all and present to them.

It was dreamy.  I was flown first class, they put me up in their wonderful hotel… and, while there, I stopped into the quaint Sundance shop and purchased this necklace so “I would always remember this unbelievable happenstance and opportunity”.

However, I didn’t get the job.

And, it broke my heart.

You can imagine how cool and fantastic it was to be in that room, delivering my best stuff to them…

And they didn’t bite.  The job went to someone else.

Crushed.

I felt like I had so blown this wonderful opportunity…

And I’ve never been able to look at the necklace without feeling that disappointment.

However, the necklace isn’t to blame – it is of extremely high quality and lovely… and deserves a home where it will be worn and loved.

I paid $500 for this necklace.  I don’t have any of the papers anymore.  I just know it was handmade by Native Americans from top quality turquiose of several colors.

I am happy to sell it for MT to a more fitting and loving home for $299.

Screen Shot 2014-03-01 at 3.01.13 PM

So, I keep it locked away… Better to sell it for MT and let it live outside of a box!




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Mine That Bird going to Hollywood!






Well, it’s official… they are making a movie out of the Mine That Bird “he came from nowhere!” 2009 Kentucky Derby story.

I think this can only help boost awareness of the horse in general and garner sympathies/accolades, perhaps, and new fans for this horse in particular.  And, even though some of you may not agree with some horse racing behind the scenes tactics (I’m one of them), I am totally behind a “come from behind” winner who is a gelding (ha!), was trained in an unusual way, by not mainstream horse racing folk, and was retired while still healthy.  A GREAT formula for a ‘feel good’ movie!

Movie poster

For any of you who are not familiar, Mine that Bird was famously hauled from New Mexico, by his trainer in a basic trailer and pickup, with no fanfare and a non-stop trip, to run in the Kentucky Derby.   He won the race by more than six lengths at 50-1.

For me, I never get tired of watching the race video.  OMG!  Talk about exhilarating!

The second best part is that the announcer is scrambling to figure out the name of the horse with the #8!  I love it!

Click to Watch the Derby!

THE MOVIE

The fun news is that they are planning on shooting as much as possible in New Mexico which is wonderful since I’m sure NM need the income and of course, that is where most of the meat of the story takes place.

Who is “they”?   Well, Jim Wilson, Academy Award-winning producer of “Dances With Wolves” and many other films, such as “The Bodyguard,” “Wyatt Earp,” and “Message In a Bottle,” is the film’s producer/director.

From where I sit, producer/director is a very tough job…  Any movie production creates volumes of information  for any producer or director to masticate but to have one person do both roles is really a lot to chew (pardon the horrible pun – not enough coffee this morning).

What I think is also interesting is that all of the movies mentioned above included Kevin Costner.  Interesting.  He is not mentioned in any article I’ve read so he is probably not involved with this one.  However, I wonder if he is anywhere behind the scenes… Just asking.

Another interesting point here is that they are making another HORSE movie.  ??  I guess the recent SeaBiscuit and Secretariat movies did well enough that this MINE THAT BIRD movie was green lighted.  Truly, no studio is going to back a bad formula on purpose.

This also makes me wonder if there is a Zenyatta movie on the drafting table?…

Anyway, they plan on using the real Mine That Bird in his movie as often as possible!  Wow!  Fun… he didn’t retire in vain!

Love this!

RETIREMENT

Mine That Bird was retired on November 29th of this year at Churchill Downs.  He was presented with the ceremonial blanket and cheered by thousands of fans.

Mine That Bird has spent the past three weeks making the transition from racehorse to retiree at his new home, Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, N.M.

“We’re still hand walking him to let him down,” said Leonard Blach, who co-owns the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner with Mark Allen. “He’s really relaxing and really settled in.

“He’s had quite a few visitors.”

MTB peeks out of his stall the day after the Derby

NOT SO GREAT OF A RECORD…

Yup, it is true.  Mine That Bird was less than remarkable in his races after the 2009 Derby.  However, those in the know cut him some slack with these words:

To be fair to the horse, that eight-race losing streak is riddled with legitimate excuses. In the eight races since the Derby, Mine That Bird has had five jockey changes, a trainer change, traffic in the Preakness and a bad ride in the Belmont. Two starts came at Santa Anita over a synthetic surface he obviously did not like and his first start this year was a last-second entry into the Firecracker Handicap on turf. In the Woodward he again ran with a new jockey, and blinkers for the first time, and a failed attempt at a new, closer-to-the-pace running style.

And, let’s not forget, he is a gelding (running against stallions). The little horse from New Mexico won five of 18 career starts with more than $2 million in earnings.

I have to hand it to his owners… I like this quote regarding his retirement:

“He just doesn’t have that kick anymore, for whatever reason,” Blach told Daily Racing Form. “He’s sound and we’ve never had to so much as inject one joint. He’s done what he’s needed to do so, before he gets hurt, we just thought it was time to go on and bring him home. We don’t want to hurt him or disgrace him anymore.”

Mine That Bird in his Churchill Downs retirement blanket

FROM WHAT I’VE READ…

From what I’ve read, there are many articles on the Internet that say MTB shouldn’t really retire.  He should just take a break and then start training again with his now famous trainer, Chip Woolley.  It seems to be many peoples’ opinion that MTB is very talented, just had a series of unfortunate mishaps.

They go on to say that maybe he shouldn’t race in the 1’s but perhaps settle into the circuit just below.

Hmmmm.  I guess we’ll see…  Maybe this movie will be just the ticket to bring him out of retirement.

Atta Boy!

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INSTANT KARMA DO-GOODING! Our December Bucket Fund

HELP AND GET A PAYBACK!!   Donation Gift Certificates are here (link)!  Yup, if you donate to help Tullie (the burned horse), Gump (the ugly horse), Dixie (the starved and sick horse) or the Wild Mustangs/Burros (the gathered horses), you can now get  “A Donation has been made in Your Honor” certificates to give as gifts!  You can give them to coworkers, family, friends or even in lost pets’ names… for this Holiday Season. Yay!  INSTANT KARMA!

Click to order your certificate!




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