If you can’t see the embedded video, a behind-the-scenes look at HBO’s series “Luck,” click here.

HBO gave us a sneak-peek in December at the first episode of its new series “Luck.” This episode will air again when the series begins its run on Jan. 29.

“Luck” is set at and around Santa Anita. Dustin Hoffman plays a gangster just out of prison. Nick Nolte plays an Kentucky hardboot trying to keep his potential Derby horse under wraps. As a bonus, performances from jockeys like Gary Stevens and Chantal Sutherland are so smooth, you’ll do a double-take when you see them.

Still, “Luck” is not a “sunny skies and mint julep” view of horse racing. I don’t think anyone expected that anyway.

Spoilers ahead – and dark humor

The thing is? Of all those characters? The ones I like, I’m worried half sick about. The ones I don’t? They seem to have leading roles.

Bet on it

In the first episode, a Pick Six is the Holy Grail. As well as the dream that a certain horse will come along and be The One and transform your life like a bolt of lightning on the road to Damascus.

Plus, I suspect the show will explore the delicate nature of winning – does it really answer prayers or cause bigger problems, even heartbreak?

Gritty side of racing

An early scene of Jill Hennessy’s veterinarian character pulling on the long rubber glove to check a colicky horse sets some of the tone, in more ways than one.

We see crafty trainers. Hungry or jaded jockeys.Bullies and sycophants. Criminals and innocents.

Then, we see a socially clumsy jockey who’s a genius in the irons. A jockey who might take a second chance. A gambling addict who looks up from the tip sheets long enough to spot a quality horse and marvel in a nearly spiritual reverie.

As with “John from Cincinnati,” the production team mixes the sacred with the profane, although the characters sometimes make me wonder if it isn’t the other way around. Because there’s certainly a lot of “profane.”

Viewer adrift

Viewers and readers like to identify with a sympathetic character who’ll be an “avatar” through a story.  That viewpoint character should be someone we can root for, someone we care about.

So, should we root for the resentful gangster who seems to be the lead character? I admit I’m curious how he plans his return to glory, but I don’t think I’d invite him to my barn party. I’d be too scared to ask him to leave.

The crusty old horse trainer? I’m scared witless for his horse.

I sense redemption coming for one of the bettors, but he’s got to conquer his addiction and, judging from the promos for the next episode, climb out of a steep dive. Talk about long odds.

Atmosphere vs clarity?

A little bit of jargon goes a long way. I’m all for building atmosphere with jargon, but clarity is important, too. Achieving atmosphere while confusing viewers/readers is risky, like betting the mortgage money to Win.

Through film editing, newbies to racing might pick up the gist of the conversation. Maybe. When and if you watch “Luck,” you’ll need to know that a “bug” is an apprentice jockey. A “peach” is a good horse. Or maybe it’s not? Everyone talks so fast, I had trouble keeping up.

Also, if you know nothing about horses, you’re liable to miss the whole point of the constipated horse subplot. In all the fast-paced, snappy dialogue, no one points out the dangers – states the stakes – of a colicky, constipated racehorse. Frankly, the entire subplot just comes off as an excuse for potty humor.

Yet, we horse lovers know this horse’s life is at risk, either from the condition itself worsening or from a character who’s tired of vet bills and looking for an insurance payout to take up the slack.

After all, in the cynical world of “Luck,” no holds are barred.

Can horse-lovers handle it?

If you had a problem watching “War Horse,” you’ll go into shock watching the first episode of “Luck.” In “War Horse,” Spielberg left the gore to our imaginations. “Luck” doesn’t.

Three quarters of the way through the episode, in the second race sequence, is a breakdown scene that will remind you of Ruffian, Barbaro, Eight Belles and thousands of nameless horses who’ve taken a final bad step on the track.

The “Luck” difference? Afterward, we go Behind the Privacy Screen. We watch “the light go out” of the horse’s eyes.

Granted, it could have been much, much worse. The spill could have taken out more horses. Jockeys could have been thrown and trampled. There’s a reason why an ambulance follows the field on the track – and an equine ambulance waits by the gate.

Many tender-hearted horse lovers who find the calculated risks of racing unacceptable won’t care that “the breakdown” could have been much, much worse.

If you’re not a race fan already – or if you just watch the Kentucky Derby for the hats and the flowers – you won’t be eager to take a trip to the track after watching “Luck.”

Will I watch it again?

God help me – yes. When I understand the dialogue, it’s smart and crackling. I may cringe at what’s being said, yet I can’t help but  admire the craft.

The jockey’s agent played by Richard Kind is creepy to watch but delivers some clever puns and lines I’ve caught myself using in real life.

And I want to see, despite the views of the dark side of racing, the spiritual side of seeing a” peach” zoom past the clocker’s stand. That the thunder of hooves passing your spot is like a heartbeat drumming through your toes. That this is why people love the sport they insist on calling “The Game.”

Even though the guys chasing the Pick Six are the ones paying the bills.

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One of my pet peeves about Rose Parade coverage on TV is that producers tend to cut away from the equestrian units. Not this year, by cracky. Especially if you have access to RFD-TV.

In celebration of Roy Rogers’s 100th birthday in 2012, the TV network’s float will feature their stuffed Trigger and Bullet, bought at the Christie’s auction of Roy Rogers memorabilia last year.

Uh, they’re not gonna cover them nose-to-tail with flowers, are they??

Rose Parade floats are famous for being covered with plant material. Surely not --

Never fear. The parade committed granted permission to use the real, uh, preserved Trigger and Bullet.

The RFD-TV site refers to them as “the actual preserved remains.” Um, okay, but I would have used a different phrase, a little less funereal but less casual than “stuffed,” a word I admit I’ve used.

The Rose Parade float will be led by a color guard of 100 golden palominos and will include Roy Jr. and his son Dusty singing “Happy Trails.”

RFD-TV is all over this one

I admit I’m a little jealous. My cable system doesn’t offer RFD-TV, so I’m going to miss a lot of the fun, like

• Equestfest (a program presented by all the equestrian units appearing in the parade) – Dec. 30 from 3 to 5 pm EST (Yes, I realize that’s today. My bad. I just found out about this story late last night.)
• A pre-parade broadcast – January 2 (note the date!)- from 10 to 11 am EST.
• The Tournament of Roses Parade – January 2 (again, it’s not on New Year’s Day) – starting at 11 am to 1 pm EST.

Come to find out, the RFD-TV site will live stream the parade and pre-parade show on Jan. 2, if you’re a subscriber.

I’m guessing parade coverage will begin around 11 am EST for other less-equestrian networks?

Even other networks besides RFD-TV are liable to cover this float, too, considering Roy’s status as a Boomer icon, if only for the nostalgia factor.

How I really feel

The whole preservation-of-remains thing has me a little creeped out, but as a worshipper of the First Ammendment, I understand. As a pet lover and owner, I also understand.

Yet, I also see “remains” as sacred, even though the spirit/energy/lifeforce is gone.  That’s why people come to pay their respects when RFD puts them on tour.

I also reckon I’m jingoistic enough to be glad Trigger and Bullet are still on American soil.

Still, I’d rather remember movie star Trigger gleaming and dancing in the California sun. No wonder Roy loved him too much to truly let him go. And no wonder we still love Trigger, too.

Then there’s Trigger Jr.

I also wish I knew where Trigger Jr., the registered Tennessee Walking Horse of the two, ended up. The preserved Trigger Jr. sold for $18,750 – about half of what RFD-TV paid for the preserved Bullet – to an undisclosed buyer.

If you happen to see Trigger Jr. somewhere along the way or know where he went, please give me a shout-out.

Even if the reality creeps us out, the “remains” of our icons hold meaning.

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Anyway, all you regular readers know I’d be all over this movie like chocolate-coated popcorn, no matter what.

If you can’t see the embedded video, click on this link.

Late last week, I had the delightful good fortune to attend a special advance screening of “War Horse,” thanks to my above-mentioned connection. ESPN offered employees and family free tickets to a special advance screening.

FWIW, I have to pay attention to some ground rules.

Security at the theater

We were asked not to carry our smartphones or any recording device into the theater. Blue-jacketed dudes wanded us and glanced into handbags in case we forgot.

The dark-jacketed dudes were pleasant and serious, but informed us they’d be watching us watch the movies, except they’d be using night-vision goggles. I saw two guys each flanking the screen and facing out to the audience. I couldn’t tell if they wore NVs or not. I didn’t want to tear my eyes from the screen long enough to pay much attention to them.

That I not review the film before release has been requested, although all sorts of folks have been Twittering and Facebooking away with their comments.

Plus, I would like to point out that some movie reviewers have already posted their reviews, but I won’t. Not yet.

Tidbits I can share

I will tell you what I’ve Tweeted, Facebooked (weird what words have become verbs these days) and said to others in conversation:

That “War Horse” is as good as everything I’d heard.

The movie is rated PG-13, not G, for a reason. There’s no gore, but the loss portrayed can feel intense.

After the movie, I overheard a man outside the theater say, “It was the only horse movie I ever liked.”

I didn’t need my three – yup, three – packets of tissues, but I went in emotionally steeled and with some prior knowledge of the story thanks to having seen the play.

Spielberg kept some things but changed up a few, too. Sorry. Not blabbing.

I also read the book after seeing the movie. Nope. Still not blabbing.

Some gifts aren’t meant to be opened til Christmas.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop talking about “War Horse.”

Many people have told me they’re worried about their ability to deal with the emotional subject matter. How’s that for euphemistically saying, “They want to see the movie, but they’re worried about getting too upset.”

I thought of another way to address that issue – more “Sad Movie Survival Tips” – which will be in my next post in a few days.

Stay tuned.

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If you can’t see the embedded “War Horse” Trailer video, click here.

Brace yourselves. I’m going to write several posts about the upcoming major motion picture version of “War Horse.” Here’s the first. BTW, I have no connection whatsoever to the production. This is all my own opinion.

In the world of horses and culture, the release of “War Horse” directed by Hollywood visionary Stephen Spielberg is a Very Big Deal. Like, a “Dick Francis Passes Away” kind of Big Deal.

I’m talking headlines, kids. Horses in the spotlight. Maybe not on the red carpet, but in the forefront of cultural consciousness at a point other than Kentucky Derby week.

So this is our chance. Our chance to show that good movies about horses will draw crowds and make money. And I’m going to tell you why that’s so important.

Mr. Spielberg has met us halfway. By all reports I’ve heard from advance screenings and the Oscar buzz I’ve seen, he and his team have made a good movie. A really good movie.

So, I think we should look at our calendars and pick out an afternoon or evening to go see “War Horse” pretty much as soon as we can. Don’t pencil it in. Write it in ink.

Especially in that first week

Pick out a day as soon as you can right after the movie opens. Opening day is always preferable, but for many horse people I know, problematic. “War Horse” opens on Christmas Day.

The Bean Counters who determine our choices for entertainment want to see who’s thirsting to see a movie, according to this blog post by marketing guru Seth Godin. If you’ve ever noticed on the news, the movie that had the biggest opening of the weekend is mentioned in the financial report, along with the amount of money made.

That said, I’m not sure how the bean counters determine the impact of a movie’s opening day when that day is a Sunday, pretty much at the end of the weekend. Usually, the box office for a first weekend is crucial.

Impress the Bean Counters

Still, the Powers That Be in entertainment make many decisions about what we’ll see in the future over the numbers they see during those few days of opening. Period.

Is it about making a fast buck? Sure. Bean counters, especially in this nervous economy, want to know that a market for a product or a movie or a book exists.

Even with books, there’s a term called “sales velocity.” If you want to help your favorite author, buy their books as soon as they come out. Even better? Reserve them before the publication date. Publishers give a book three months. Tops. Decisions about a movie? Made in that first weekend.

A career can depend on it. As can our choices of what to watch and read.

It’s all about the Timing

We’ve all remarked at one time or another about how we wanted to see a movie but that it left theaters before we got a chance to go.

The old rules of “I’ll wait to go see it” don’t apply anymore. Not if you want to see more of that kind of entertainment.

If we want to see more horses in the movies and entertainment, we need to make time to go see “War Horse” and as soon as we can after it opens. We also need tell our friends. Except we’ll tell them how good the movie is.

We vote with our dollars

Let’s show Hollywood that movies featuring horses are important to us.

So, the bottom line? We have more power than we ever imagined.

What’s next in my series about the “War Horse” movie? Talking about movies and our emotions. If you’re afraid to see “War Horse” because you don’t want to cry, you’ll want to read my next post.

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If you can’t see the embedded video, click here for the Luck trailer.

“Please, God, let me be wrong,” but “Luck” looks a bit like “John from Cincinnati” Goes to the Track.

“John From Cincinnati” was a gritty HBO series about surfers. Except America expects to see, when someone mentions surfers, blue skies, bikini babes and blond hunks.  Not a bunch of sad sacks yelling and swearing at each other while eking out a hand-to-mouth existence with occasional forays into spirituality.

Believe it or not, I still liked JFC, but I think there were maybe a dozen of us who did. John and his friends gave us land-locked folks a taste of what attracts people to surfing, but the show sure didn’t make surfing look cool.

And don’t get me started that the “Luck’s” promo features older stars like Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, who I love for their talent and grace. But that’s the point. I love them. I’m at that awkward age – too old to swoon over Justin Bieber, but too young to be cool like Betty White.

If you want to grow racing’s audience, you need to appeal to the youth and young families.  Keep reading below because I have some ideas.

What got me all riled up

The Blood Horse recently ran an article reporting a discussion of TV execs at the International Simulcast Conference held in Scottsdale, AZ. The article’s title was “Racing Needs Smarter, Not More, TV Coverage.”

As a matter of fact, I did hold my breath as I read it. Actually, you should read it, too. Go up, click on the link and come back. We’ll wait.

I have to admit I agree. Yes, racing’s audience is aging. Yes, racing must look toward the younger fans.

But the TV networks covering racing are also giving us a product that could use some tweaking.

I used to work in TV sports as part of the production crew. In the interest of presenting a disclaimer as well as my bona fides, I used to work for ESPN, and my husband still does.

So I know that a lot of the issues I see with TV coverage go back to budget and money, which is all determined by audience size.

Still, here are some fixes that could interest more viewers and shouldn’t be too expensive.

Too much chitchat among the announcers

“Who do you like?” “Who’s your pick?”

We do want to know which horses the announcers think will win. We really aren’t interested if they keep repeating it. Sorry, guys. I love ya, Laffit and Randy and Gary and Mike and Tom, but please give me info, not conjecture.

Betting and the money that changes hands is what makes the world go round. Keeps us in food and shelter, too. We’re interested in where most people at the track are parking their money because that reflects where the public has its confidence. Talk about social proof.

I think TV should spend more time on feature stories. Introduce people to the athletes, both human and equine. Explain some of the tack. The track conditions. Please give us information. Just like we “meet” the Olympic athletes and get a little lesson about the sport before we watch cycling.

Frankly, racing is a simple sport. The horse that crosses the finish line first wins. If a lot of people didn’t expect that horse to win, but some did, those “true believers” can win a lot of money from a $2 bet. See? Easy peasy.

Yes, show us the turf. Show us life in the back stretch. Yet, I know that showing already micced guys yakking is cheaper than having a roving camera crew, but I think more feature stories will help a show’s numbers which will bring in higher ratings. Still, I know – chicken/egg. Show me the numbers – preferably with dollar signs.

Stop using races as promo ops for other shows

Didja ever notice that the celebs you see on TV coverage tend to be associated with the network with the rights to air the race?

I bet Jerry O’Connell, former Louisvillian and often-NBC star goes to the Kentucky Derby  every year, but we never see him unless he’s got a series on the air.

Likewise, let’s say Neil Patrick Harris or Ashton Kutscher, two CBS stars, show up at the Kentucky Derby? Or Saratoga on a summer day? CBS rarely ever airs racing, so we’ll never see Neil or Ashton looking debonair at the track on TV.

BTW, core race fans probably don’t care if Suzy Starlet picks a horse because he’s named after her favorite candy, but you bet the general public loves seeing her at the race, all dolled up in a gorgeous dress and giddy with fun.

Why do I keep going on about the Derby and celebs? Back in the day, Churchill Downs promoter Matt Winn had the foresight to get glamorous movie stars to his race to be photographed, thus making the Kentucky Derby THE place to be and be seen.

Granted, the Derby’s not the cultural event it used to be, but keep in mind that, before there were Super Bowl parties, people held Kentucky Derby parties. And still do today.

Run the “lower thirds” of the post parade vertically along the side of the screen

Hokay. This is for the audience niche that wants to see how the horse moves during the post parade. Granted, we need all that info about the jockey, the horse’s record, its blanket number, current odds and owner, but let’s put it someplace else in the screen. Like vertically along the side of the screen, preferably behind the horse.

The technical director back in the TV truck can send an effects preview line back to the camera operator’s monitor.  That way, the camera op can line up the shot with room to see both the stats and the horse/jockey team.

Lots of youngsters are pretty good horsemen. They do dressage or reining or jump or trail ride. Heck, the horse they ride may have even come off the track.  That audience definitely wants to see how a horse moves.

And those TV announcers who know horses? They can tell A Lot about a horse’s mental state during that little glimpse during the walk to the gate. I’d like to hear that. They could even tell us if that walk changes their minds about who they like in the race.

In fairness, I see Donna Brothers do that from her spot aboard one of the ponies. She comments on how the horses and jockeys do on the way to the starting gate.

Ask the audience you want what they want

I like the idea of sending the desired demographic out with YouTube cameras to the track – if for no other reason than to see what they find interesting.

My bet is that they’ll be interested in the stories. People watching. And stuff like “Zenyatta dances” and “Uncle Mo digs Pirate’s Booty” and even the old guy with one horse that’s going for The Big Race. That’s what catches the attention of people of all ages and walks of life.

And, yes, they’ll want to know if Mike and Chantal are still a couple? They’re not. But the audience of Animal Planet’s show “Jockeys” got wrapped up in their competitive romance, enough so that Santa Anita staged a match race for them, the Battle of the Exes. Two years after the show ended. Think about it.

Bottom line

The racetrack needs to be “cool” again. It needs to be someplace people can feel proud about posting to social media – and not just us horsey or handicapping types.

Some tracks are better at attracting families and youth than others. Keeneland and Saratoga have their breakfast programs. Churchill has its Junior Jockey Club.

But the elusive market is the youth market – sensitive to eco-needs, animal welfare (how many vegans and vegetarians do you know under 35?) and “giving back.”  Yet, for all their admirable passions and causes, they’re still influenced by the celebs they adore.

So, get Lady Gaga to the track. Get the stars of “True Blood,” too, while you’re at it. And if Justin Bieber shows up at a race? That’d be dope.

What do you think could be changed about horse racing on TV? If you’re 40 or under, what – if anything – interests you about racing and what might get you to the track? What do you like to see on TV coverage of racing? What bugs you? Please let us know. You never know who might be reading this blog post – and paying attention.

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Who doesn't remember THIS feeling? Photo by archives of iStockPhoto

I’m a horse blogger, but I don’t know everything about horses. Shocking, huh?

Even worse, I don’t think anyone can know everything there is to know about horses.

Not even That Guy (or Gal) Who’s Forgotten More About Horses Than You (or I) Will Ever Know. I bet you know who I’m talking about.

The thing is, the world of horses is just so vast. From horse care and training to equestrian culture to all the breeds and disciplines plus all the people who, to paraphrase the old real estate slogan that used to hang on the wall at Bluegrass Airport, honor the land and revere the horse.

I like to, as Ferris Bueller advises, take a look around.

Even then, I still have a case of Horseman’s Myopia myself.

What the heck is that anyway? And, if we find out we have it, what can we do about it?

Horseman’s Myopia?

Well, let’s start with how it develops. We know what we’re exposed to. More often, we really don’t have time to seek anything else much out.

Life has its demands, obligations and necessities. If we’re lucky, those things bring us joy more often than they give us agita. (Italian for heartburn.)

Also, if you’re lucky enough to have a horse or lease a horse, that horse – or those horses – will take up much of your “free” time and money. Maybe “take up” is imprecise? You happily devote your time. And, yeah, sometimes agita shadows the bliss.

After all, if for no other reason than to improve and be proficient at something , you have to spend a lot of time doing it. If you want to be an expert, expect to spend about 10,000 hours.

When you do socialize, you gravitate toward other horse people who do what you do. You know trail riders or saddlebred people or hunter folk. You may not know any racetrack people, Arabian breeders or vaulters.

Unless, of course, you live in Kentucky or Ocala, one of the several “horse country” regions, where the same stretch of road can include, say, a thoroughbred farm, a saddlebred farm and a Tennessee Walking Horse farm, among others. (I’m thinking Paris Pike, aka US-27, in Lexington, KY, specifically for my example.)

But what usually happens is that each breed or equestrian discipline usually keeps to their own.

Frankly, this applies to pretty much any interest, from golf to scrapbooking, to sports team fandom to choir.

That’s the root of what I call “horseman’s myopia.” You know a lot about what you know, but have a hazy notion about other things. Or you used to be involved in Some Other Thing to do with horses, but that was a long time ago and you’ve lost touch, but your memories remain encased and protected by the shadow box of Time.

Even though I grew up in Kentucky exposed to several equestrian disciplines, I’m subject to “horsemen’s myopia” too. But this blog, which just passed its third birthday, gives me an excuse to “look around.”

I’ve stomped divots at polo and filled in as a veterinarian’s clerk at an endurance ride. I’ve been to an Arabian horse breeder’s show (Haven’t I written about that yet???) and watched Olympic-quality vaulting.  I’ve stuck my hands in goop destined for Tennessee Walking Horse legs and ended up buying a jar for myself to ease my chapped hands. (I should write about that, too, even though that adventure happened a couple of years before this blog.) And I’ve sipped morning tea while watching live show streams from all over the world thanks to the Internet.

Plus, my work with Glenfiddich Explorers opens my mind to a world of horses. If nothing else, watching the Breeders Cup races this year will be even more fun.

Will jockey Frankie Dettori do another flying dismount in the winner’s circle?

Will Goldikova make it a four-peat with the BC Mile?

Will Richard Hughes show up and tower over the rest of the jock’s room?

Will Frankel come across the pond to face Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty in the Breeder’s Cup Classic?

More cures for Horseman’s Myopia

In the right hand column of this website is the Blogroll. You’ll find all sorts of links to to other bloggers who show us the world of horses. Some of them are more personal, and some are more general and “take a look around:”

Fran Jurga’s two blogs, her hoof and her horse health blogs which aren’t just about trims and treatments and don’t only appeal to horse owners.

Check out and covet the that latest in equestrian style for home and wardrobe with Dappled Grey .

Wanna check out the most famous trail rides all over the world? Or even hit the trails yourself? Darley Newman of the TV show Equitrekking has the info on her website which includes her blog.

Susie Blackmon takes Twitter through its paces and turned me onto Frankel.

These are just a few of the horse bloggers I’ve found. If you think the horse world is “vast,” wait till you dive into the World Wide Web.

See? Now we can all “take a look around” – thanks to the magic of the Internet.

Take it away, Ferris.

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The Michalow State Stud Farm mares, all eleven World and/or International Champion Mares wearing their roses and posed with their trophy saddles. They are, from L to R: El Dorada, Georgia, Emmona, Egzonera, Palmira, Pistoria, Espadrilla, Emanda, Emandoria, Zagrobla & Galilea. Photo courtesy Horsefly Films.

If you love to look at sleek Arabian horses prancing, running and posing …

And if, as far as you’re concerned, history lost its “story” long ago in a jumbled wake of dates and names …

Have I got a DVD for you.

“Path to Glory” is a 2011 documentary that’s both a history and a celebration of  Arabian horses bred in Poland for almost 500 years.  

Since 1522

Ottoman Turks invaded Poland in 1522. Their beautiful, nimble horses made such a favorable impression that Polish noblemen mounted trading expeditions to the East for new stock.

Photo courtesy Horsefly Films

Much of the early part of the film shows Poland’s troubled past with aggressive invaders. For several centuries, horses served as cavalry mounts, refugees or pawns.

But not all the war stories are dire. A stubborn mare inspired resistance fighters. A devoted groom protected his charges during one of World War II’s most famous air raids in a scene reminiscent of the 1963 Disney flick “The Miracle of the White Stallions.”

Between wars and especially after World War II during the Communist regime, economic woes buffeted the Polish state stud farms. Westerners mounted their own east-bound horse-buying expeditions East – but to Poland.

Polish Arabian horses in recent decades and around the world

After the tales of tragedy, loss and privation, the interviews with devotees of the Polish Arabian feel like refreshing sweet tea.

Filmmakers Jen Miller and Sophie Pegrum of Horsefly Films were granted unprecedented access to the state stud farms of Poland.

Jen Miller and Sophie Pegrum of Horsefly Films surrounded by some of their subjects, colts at Poland's Michalow State Stud Farm / Photo courtesy Horsefly Films

Arabian horse fanciers in both the US and Poland, ranging from legendary Arabian horse breeder Roman Pankiewicz to Las Vegas headliner Wayne Newton, granted interviews and offer oral histories with insights into the impact of the horses on their lives.

The film also includes rare, almost lost forever, footage of Polish Arabians imported to middle Tennessee by J.M. Dickinson in 1937.

Extended interviews on second DVD

“Path to Glory” costs $49.95, which may freak out the budget-minded buyer, but an additional disc in the box is loaded with extended interviews.

By “extended,” I mean “generous” with Scott Benjamin, Wayne Newton, Roman Pankiewicz, George Zbyszewski  (aka “George Z) and a short “blooper reel.”

A lot of material.

And, yes, I borrowed the title of this post from the Special Features disc that comes with the movie.

Some observations about the DVD

If you’re an Arabian horse enthusiast or “just” a horse lover, “Path to Glory” is a fascinating survey through western (as in, European and US) Arabian horse history.

The DVD, available through the film’s website,  would make a great holiday or birthday gift for any horse lover, no matter their favorite breed or equestrian discipline. The photography, especially at the Polish stud farms, is lush and dramatic.

For my readers who worry

The DVD is suitable for all ages. The wartime sequences could upset the very soft-hearted, although no graphic images are shown. The only picture that truly comes close is an old black-and-white news photo of a horse who’d died in battle. Also, one of the modern Polish horses portrays a historic horse by wearing some fake movie blood on its front leg.

The movie trailer below gives you an idea of what to expect:

If you can’t watch the video embedded above, click on this link for the movie trailer for “Path to Glory.”
For your convenience, if you’d like to order, click on the link to the  “Path to Glory” website.

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On one of my trips to Kentucky in the past couple of years, I chatted a bit with a friendly thoroughbred trainer. At least, he started out friendly.  I’m not sure which statement of mine soured his mood the most.

My first faux pas was admitting that I was from Connecticut. A standard question first asked of visitors is “Where are you from?” So, I told the truth.

Later, after I’d told my husband about the incident, he shook his head. “When you’re in Kentucky,” he said, “you’re from Williamstown (a small town in northern KY where I grew up.) You only live in Connecticut.”

Yeah, well. Hindsight. And two brains are better than one, ya know?

But what cooked my goose was my question. Of all the questions about racing that a lady from Connecticut might have asked, I’m sure he never expected this one.

Too spontaneous

I hadn’t planned to ask my question. Otherwise, I would have drafted a version of it and then memorized it. And I would have researched points to support my claim.

Peter Falk as TV's Columbo/Photo from Wikipedia

Back when I was a newspaper reporter, my approach was less Lesley Stahl and more Lt. Columbo. I’d offer up a lot of “softball” questions before slipping in the tough one. Preceding that hard question would be a little deferential tap-dancing.

“Okay. My boss will kill me if I don’t ask this question. You know how it is to get sweated from the top down. He’ll send me right back here, so let’s save us both some time … ”

Too bad I was out of practice when I went to Kentucky. My question for the horse trainer just dribbed out in bits and pieces. I started out with about how racing is so international, especially these days, and that Australia’s two-mile long Melbourne Cup was then just around the corner. (I was in KY in October. The Melbourne Cup is run in November.)

So, came the question, if we’re having trouble getting Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners across the finish line first in the Belmont, then maybe we should start breeding to some of these Melbourne Cup winners? Some of these, and I used the term, “stayers?”

And, with a bright smile, I waited for the answer. Because I was asking for an opinion, a variation on a question I’ve seen discussed in the racing press. Were American horse breeders concentrating too much on early speed? Was that the reason why we weren’t getting Triple Crown winners anymore?

Little did I know that I’d apparently asked the verbal equivalent of firing a mortar at the twin spires of Churchill Downs.

His face flashed a florid red, and he went off on a rant about how Kentucky horses have the finest pedigrees in the world. About how Queen Elizabeth brings mares to breed to Kentucky stallions. About how Arab sheiks and princes, as well as Irish racing corporations, all have farms in Kentucky’s Bluegrass.

While he ranted and his face got redder, I shrank a little. Because, after all, I’m from polite-small-town Williamstown, Kentucky, not in-your-face, three-hours-from “Noo Yawk” City central Connecticut.

So, he basically said as he wrapped up, those Australians can have their stayers because we have the best horses in the world. Right here. It’s all about pedigree. Next question!

While someone asked what a gelding is, or some other horse-world basic, I stepped back into the shadows to catch my breath.

Hindsight is great. Because I should have countered with:  “So, why do YOU think we haven’t had a Triple Crown winner in thirty years?”

Because that’s what I really wish I’d asked. And the essence of what I meant to say.

Preaching to the choir

Of course, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that he was preaching to the choir.

For a decades-long Connecticut Yankee, I’m proud of Kentucky’s horses. The Kentucky Derby is akin to a religious holiday in my house, so demands on my time on the First Saturday in May are not taken lightly. Every so often, I go to pay homage to Kentucky’s horses in person. My trips to the Bluegrass might well be considered a pilgrimage.

Not only that, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I won’t identify where I was or disclose the identity of the trainer. After all, although he’s a northerner by birth, he’s a Kentuckian now, so we are paisan.

I felt stung that, because I’d shown enough respect for thoroughbred racing to have asked such a thoughtful a question demonstrating how much I think about the sport, he’d retaliate and blow me off like that.

Of course, a Connecticut Yankee probably could have taken it. Out-of-practice, or not.

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Maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe you haven’t? But maybe you’re wondering if you want to read it? Maybe you dig novels by Dick Francis or Jane Smiley or my mystery-writing pals Sasscer Hill, Kit Ehrman and Susan Schreyer? Maybe you want to know what all the fuss is about?

And maybe you’re a little nervous because you’ve heard it’s about a grubby little track with a lot of low-level claiming races – and you know what can happen to those horses.

Maybe I can help you decide if you want to read the book. I can give you some ideas of what you might find in those pages, yet try not to ruin any surprises, aka “spoilers.”

LORD OF MISRULE turned out to be both everything I’d hoped and everything I’d feared.

Set in what the dust cover flap describes as “the rock-bottom end of the sport of kings,” Jaimy Gordon’s novel takes place at the fictional Indian Mounds Downs of Wheeling, West Virginia in the early 1970s.

Despite all that, I did find things I liked.

I cared about the characters

Not just equine characters, but the dreadfully flawed human characters, too. I both exulted and despaired over Two-Tie the loan shark. I fretted over Maggie, the innocent who had the bad judgment to fall in love with the horses and lousy judgment about men. I even liked Medicine Ed, whose special talent you can probably guess from his name.

Vivid descriptions

Some descriptions are even gorgeous. Here are some sentences describing the horses:

“The Mahdi even pranced, in all his big red cheer, wearing his burnished chest like a Torah breastplate.”

“He has speed all right – and it is an exact amount coiled up in him the way a black snake will live snug under your well cover all winter.”

“Little Spinoza wakes out of his dream and runs, bounds, leaps like a holy fool after the Devil and his harrower.”

Voice

Gordon manages to maintain a consistent tone among viewpoint characters with different backgrounds and speech patterns. Although, I have to admit, that sometimes, I had trouble keeping track of whose eyes were showing us the scene at first. But I wasn’t confused for long.

My personal observations

The two female characters in the book represent my mother’s worst fears about my possible future with horses.

Mom’s most immediate worry was that I’d turn out like Maggie – so dazzled by a hunky trainer that I’d slave away the days shoveling manure for him. Mom also fretted that I’d grow old like Deucey with a buzzcut and no other deep connections except for a teensy string of sad-sack horses.

Frankly, I spent 2/3 of the book waiting for the “kill truck” to show up. What does happen instead, IMO, is much, much worse, yet haunting – an inner circle of hell that could only have been dreamt up by a woman who’s seen such sights. There’s no telling what all author Gordon saw when she did similar grunt work at a racetrack, as described in this NY Times blog post.

Those moments that change everything, including a dark night of the soul toward the end of the book, are powerful, disturbing, dramatic and – geez, I wish I didn’t have them replaying so vividly inside my head.

Often, I finish a book or a movie and can’t remember the ending, like that feeling at 3 pm after having eaten chicken chow mein for lunch. This book, I’ll carry with me inside my mind for a long time to come.

I admire that kind of writing and storytelling skill. But part of me feels as if I just read “Indian Mound Downs: SVU.”

That said, despite what I liked about this book, here come my caveats. This powerful novel is not for everyone. So …

You’re wondering: “Will I like this book?”

If you have delicate sensibilities and are easily offended, you’d best not read it. Let’s just say that the film version, if it’s ever made, will push the boundaries of the R-rating.

If you feel a deep companionship with a horse, you’ll likely find it disturbing. I don’t think I’m blabbing much of a spoiler in saying that disaster lies in wait for many of the claimers. But just how, you won’t anticipate.

If you like a happy ending, with everyone getting their “just desserts” and you closing the book with a sense of secure satisfaction that “all’s right with the world,” this probably isn’t the read for you. One of the hallmarks of literary fiction is that a happy ending is not guaranteed.

If you love horse racing and worry about the sport’s future, considering its shadier practices and elements, you’ll likely experience a bad night’s sleep, even though turf writers Andy Beyer, Joe Drape and Jane Smiley gave it good reviews.

As I’ve said in other posts on this blog, loving horses is not for the faint-of-heart.

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Click for video of the 2011 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial featuring the Clydesdales.

Did you blink while you watched the commercial? If so, you missed seeing the Clydesdales. Click and watch it again.

I don’t know about you, but I feel cheated. Especially after all the fanfare.

I didn’t see all the Super Bowl and thought I’d missed the other one. The better one. Weren’t there supposed to be two?

After all, there was a sneak peak during one of the conference championship games leading up to the Super Bowl.

And the press:

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch , sort of the “hometown” paper for Anheuser-Busch, released the news and other news organizations picked it up.

Jackie at Regarding Horses blogged about it.

After the game, the Wall Street Journal reported that ad executives said that the Wild West commercial needed more of the horses. Ya hear that?

Hey, Budweiser – y’all had me a little confused. For a while there, I thought y’all were pitching for Wells Fargo:

And don’t get me started on “Tiny Dancer.” I don’t think they’re singing about the Tennessee Walking Horse named “Tiny Dancer,” from a past episode of MTV’s “My Sweet Sixteen.”

Anyone else out there in horsey land miffed, too? Or were you just grateful to even just glimpse the Clydes? If you are, it’s okay. I understand. I was excited to see them, too. And then I thought about it …

From better days:

A look back at many Super Bowl Clydesdales commercials

The “acting coach” for the Clydesdales

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