October 20, 2010–The movie “Secretariat,” which was released in theaters in early October, is the story of perhaps the greatest Thoroughbred racehorse ever. But an American Quarter Horse helps tell the tale. In the October issue of America’s Horse, movie wrangler Rusty Hendrickson tells of Copper Locks, a racing American Quarter Horse who is used in some of the movie’s scenes when Secretariat has to show quick bursts of speed passing other horses on the track.
“Running Quarter Horses are much better at that than the Thoroughbreds,” Rusty says of the quick speed. “They’re sprinters.”
Copper Locks is a 4-year-old chestnut gelding whose white markings resembled those of Secretariat, and his dam, the Thoroughbred Lip Locked, is a great-granddaughter of Bold Ruler, the famous sire of Secretariat. Copper Locks was bred by Alvin “Bubba” Brossette, AQHA’s all-time leading jockey by number of wins, and he won his last out for Bubba, an 870-yard claiming race at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana.
Two of Rusty’s other American Quarter Horses, Plumb Twisted and Drifts Wood, make appearances in the movie as pony horses.
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Also in the October issue of America’s Horse, you’ll find training advice from ranch cowboy and clinician Buster McLaury, a look at the America’s Horse in Art Show and Sale that is ongoing at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, and the next installment of our year-long series on preparing your horse for Training Level dressage.
America’s Horse is all about helping AQHA members enjoy their horses — whether that’s by acknowledging Quarter Horses who make it to the big screen or by providing training tips and horse health advice that ensures a better relationship between horse and human. We know horses are your lifestyle, and they’re ours, too.
Check out Copper Locks’ pedigree at aqhamembers.com. You’ll be surprised by what well-known line his paternal grandsire is from. As a hint, this horse’s progeny have earned more than $73 million on the racetrack.
