Copious Notes

For "Seabiscuit" filming Nov. 17, 2002, at Keeneland, extras wore Depression-era garb. "Secretariat" will have a 1970s vibe. Photo by Frank Anderson | Herald-Leader.

Secretariat will film Monday and Tuesday at Keenelend, and Central Kentuckians are invited to come out and party like it’s 1973 — minus any Derby Infield-like libations.

A flyer from Leonard Lusky of Secretariat.com touts “Disney’s ‘Secretariat’ 70’s Happening!” and invites all ages and types of people to come out in 1970s clothing (must find my old leisure suit). Sign in is at 8 a.m. Monday and Tuesday. Participants are directed to enter Keeneland at Gate 2 and follow “Chestnut” signs to park and “Win by a mile extras” signs to enter the facility.

The flyer also says to bring snacks and drinks, but no alcohol, and a good book, indicating the hurry up and wait nature of filmmaking that extras experienced when Seabiscuit filmed at Keeneland in 2002.

There is no word yet on what specific scenes will be filmed on Monday and Tuesday and whether film star Diane Lane, who plays Secretariat owner Penny Chenery, will be presented. We’ll keep you posted.

Also, don’t forget Secretariat filmmakers will be at the Bourbon County Secretariat Festival Saturday, and one horse from the festival’s Secretariat look-alike contest could end up in the movie.

UPDATE: John Malkovich has joined the cast as Secretariat’s trainer, Lucien Laurin.

2008 Secretariat look-a-like contest winner Trolley Boy is held by owner Angela Walker as he gets a pat from former Secretariat exercise riders Jim Gaffney and Charlie Davis at the Bourbon Co. Secretariat Festival Sept. 20, 2008. Photo by Matt Goins.

Filmmakers working on Disney’s Secretariat movie in Kentucky will be at the Bourbon County Secretariat Festival on Saturday, and one lucky horse might just fill a final slot in the stable of thoroughbreds playing the super horse.

The film’s lead wrangler, Rusty Hendrickson, will be a judge in the annual Secretariat look-alike contest along with Secretariat’s exercise riders Charlie Davis and Jim Gaffney and Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat to his Triple Crown victory in 1973. Three horses out of a field of 20 will share the $5,000 prize in the competition and one horse could be selected to be in the movie.

Hendrickson has already chosen four horses out of a field of more than 700 hopefuls for the film.

Horse films typically use a stable of horses to portray equine characters because they can tire from multiple takes and some horses are better at portraying certain types of scenes than others. The horse that looks great streaking to the finish line may not portray relaxing in the stable or interacting with people as well. When Seabiscuit filmed in Central Kentucky in 2002, there were more than half-a-dozen horses each to portray the title character and War Admiral when their historic match race at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course was recreated at Keeneland.

In addition to the look-alike contest, Secretariat producers Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures will attend the festival along with a film crew working on a behind-the-scenes feature about the film.

“We are thrilled to be going to the Secretariat Festival this year,” Ciardi said in a news release. “It is an exciting opportunity for us to not only be able to talk about this film and its compelling story with Secretariat’s most devoted fans but it will also be delightful to share in the enduring enthusiasm for this magnificent star athlete in the heart of horse country.”

Gates open for the Bourbon County Secretariat Festival at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Paris, Ky. The look-alike contest is 4 to 6 p.m.

The Secretariat folks sent out a new casting notice this morning, following Saturday’s open extras casting call.

Laurie Shear of Dayton, Ohio, came dressed for the part of a l970

We are currently in need of adult males of all types: golfers, businessmen, and other clean-cut professionals. We are also seeking males with special skills such as those with military experience, law enforcement backgrounds, jockeys, horse handlers, as well as any other specialized track positions. Send Current Photo/Snapshot (may be printed at home) and contact information listing: Name, Phone numbers, Email address, Height, Weight, Clothing and Shoe sizes, Availability, and any other information you would like to add.

Mail to:

Griffin Gate Resort

Fast Track Productions-Attn: Extras Casting

1800 Newton Pike

Lexington, KY 40511

Or email secretariatcasting@gmail.com

The release also said that “promotional days” will be announced soon when people can show up in their best 1973 duds — this could be a scary thought — for filming. Filming at Keeneland is set for Sept. 28. Stay tuned.

In November 2002, extras cheered at Keeneland as "Seabiscuit" filmmkers recreated the famous match race between the title horse and War Admiral. "Secretariat" will be casting extras next week for filming in Central Kentucky late this month. Photo by Frank Anderson | Herald-Leader.

Central Kentucky, get ready for another close-up. Producers of Secretariat, Disney’s movie about the 1973 Triple Crown winner, will cast for extras next week in preparation for filming in the state for two weeks late this month and in early October.

Oscar nominee Diane Lane will play Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery.

Secretariat will cast for extras in Lexington and Louisville, and the call is open to anyone, even folks with no acting experience.

Louisville: Show up anytime 3 to 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at Churchill Downs, 700 Central Avenue. Park at the Longfield lot, enter at Gate 10, and report to the fourth floor.

Lexington: Show up anytime 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa, 1800 Newton Pike. Use the north entrance and go to Salon H and G.

Griffin Gate was also the site for extras casting for Seabiscuit in 2002 and Elizabethtown in 2004.

The casting notice says directors are looking for all ages and types. You will need to bring a non-returnable photo of yourself. Computer printouts of snapshots are OK. No photos will be taken on site.

The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has approved an application for film incentives by Fast Track Productions for Secretariat, Tuesday.

Jockey Ron Turcotte rides Secretariat to win the Belmont Stakes and capture the triple crown in this June 9, 1973. AP Photo.

That makes the story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner the first film to receive incentives under the new package approved by the General Assembly in June.

According to the application, Fast Track, a subsidiary of Disney Studios, estimates it will spend $4 million in Kentucky, making it eligible for up to $800,000 in tax credits. The bill extended a 20 percent credit on approved expenditures to feature films that spend more than $500,000 in the state. There were also provisions for other types of films and Broadway shows that are produced in Kentucky.

“This is a great way to kick off Kentucky’s new film incentive package,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in a news release. “I think it’s appropriate that a state known for thoroughbred racing be a part of a film about one of the most well-known horses in racing history.”

Leonard Lusky, president of Secretariat.com, said last week that incentives were a key to getting filmmakers to shoot part of the movie in Kentucky. In the past decade, tax incentives have increasingly become a key to luring film productions to shoot on location.

Secretariat, which will tell the story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner and his owner, Penny Chenery, is expected to begin filming in late September. Locations and details have yet to be announced. Diane Lane will star as Chenery and the film will be directed by Randall Wallace.