On DVD or VHS: (Picture above is of RON TURCOTTE aboard the great NORTHERN DANCER)
The theory that, "a good big horse will beat a good little horse every time" was shattered in the 1964 Kentucky Derby, when the diminutive NORTHERN DANCER defeated the big Californian colt, HILL RISE, in record time. Standing less than 15.2 hands and weighing a mere 950 lbs., the son of NEARCTIC-NATALMA by NATIVE DANCER became the first Kentucky Derby winner in a quarter of a century to win the Classic before reaching his third birthday. When NORTHERN DANCER won the Kentucky Derby in the spring of 1964, Canadians poured into the streets to celebrate...yet the excitement generated by this remarkable animal had only just begun.
Born on May 27, 1961, at his owner, E.P. TAYLOR's Windfields Farm in Canada, NORTHERN DANCER was put up for sale as a yearling but did not make his reserve price of $25,000 so he was broken and sent to trainer, HORATIO LURO, to begin serious training with high expectations. He exceeded all expectations by winning five American classic races in a row and was named Canadian Horse-of-the-Year and America's Three-Year-Old Eclipse Champion in 1964; he was never unplaced in eighteen starts and accumulated $580,805 while equaling track records and setting new ones.
NORTHERN DANCER was born of Taylor's dream that; contrary to popular opinion, great racehorses could be born and raised in Canada. The story of NORTHERN DANCER is the stuff of legend; he was a little horse dismissed time and time again because of his size - short and stocky. Yet whatever NORTHERN DANCER lacked in height he more than made up for in heart. Still, no one could have predicted that as a sire, NORTHERN DANCER would eclipse all other stallions in modern history.
His descendents' dominance of Thoroughbred racing and breeding the world over is unprecedented. He was pensioned in 1987 at the age of 26: by this time he had established himself as undisputedly the greatest sire of the past three centuries. Not only was he the sire of top-class runners, NORTHERN DANCER was a rare sire of sires.
This superb documentary chronicles the life and career of one of racing's most beloved champions...NORTHERN DANCER... loaded with racing segments and rare scenes of him through the years at Windfields Farm in Maryland up until his death in 1990 plus interviews with some of the turf's most notable journalists from that era and some farm personnel who were glad to reminisce about the noble steed who once resided there.
NORTHERN DANCER must be regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, sire of all time. It is incredible that such a small horse should have achieved so much success and carved such a niche for himself in the modern history of the Thoroughbred.
NORTHERN DANCER passed away at Windfields Farm in Maryland in the Fall of 1990. He traveled back once more to his birthplace in Canada...this time to be buried...to again fly without wings!
AS AN ADDED BONUS...A rare and priceless lengthy segment is included after the main feature as news breaks around the world of the death of legend - NORTHERN DANCER at the age of 29-years-old in December, 1990. The entire racing world mourns the passing of an equine icon whose accomplishments on-track were more than surpassed by his overwhelming contributions to the breeding industry where he revolutionized it and became the standard for the most sought-after bloodlines. In addition, his legacy will forever flourish and be fortified as countless NORTHERN DANCER sons and grandsons currently stand stud at farms all around the world; generous footage of many of NORTHERN DANCER's most famous progeny are shown retired from the track at their respective residences: THE MINSTREL, LOCAL TALENT, SADLER'S WELLS, STORM BIRD, BE MY GUEST, NUREYEV, DANZIG, SOVEREIGN DANCER, LYPHARD, NIJINSKY II, SNAAFI DANCER and SHAREEF DANCER.
55 Minutes.
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