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Ex-racehorse stars in War Horse

Posted: Monday, December 19, 2011 3:44 PM

WAR HORSE

photo courtesy of David Appleby/DreamWorks II Distribution Co. LLC

by Liane Crossley

As a racehorse, Finders Key was a failure. In his second career, he is a phenomenon as one of the stars of Steven Spielberg's highly anticipated screen adaptation of the hit play War Horse, set to open on December 25.

Hollywood horse master Bobby Lovgren recognized Finders Key as an exceptional talent during filming for Seabiscuit and purchased him when the project was completed. He was so confident in the 12-year-old California-bred’s exceptional ability that he had him flown to England for the taping of War Horse.

“He is the best horse I’ve ever had,” Lovgren told Cowboys & Indians. “He’s truly amazing. The wilder looking things he’s so very good at—the fast things that make you believe the horse is scared or panicked. Those kinds of situations are very hard to train—the emotions—and he’s very good and believable at portraying them. He has so much animation and personality. It just brings much more to the table. He’s very confident.”

War Horse is set in Europe during World War I and centers on the bond between a farmer’s young son and his horse, Joey. The two are separated when Joey is sold as a cavalry mount, but the boy vows they will reunite.

Before being recruited for Seabiscuit, Finders Key was unplaced in three starts for a $2,500 claiming price at Los Alamitos as a juvenile in 2002. He campaigned for Vincent Timphony—best known as the trainer of inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Wild Again—and his wife, Scarlett and was trained by Arthur Curly Ortiz. By the Roberto stallion Lindsey’s Roberto, he is out of the winning Key to the Mint mare, Thru the Keyhole. Finders Key was bred in California by James J. Linsdey.

Liane Crossley is a freelance writer based in Lexington

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by: C, Kubiak, CA on January 05, 2012 at 10:09 PM

It's a wonderful ending that is so rare! Santa anita had "rescued tb's ) what a crock, all saved by insiders who picked them over others, I have a perfectly sound freshly turned 4 yr old, kid kind that no one will take, so to avoid giving to a unsafe home ending in a trip to slaughter out of this country she has to be paid for waiting for a home, if none found a humane ending...remember pretty sound ky bred. Hate the hypocrisy, shame on making fans believe there is always a happy ending

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Posted by: LCarver, Pensacola, FL on December 27, 2011 at 04:30 PM

How do I contact or comment to War Horse the Movie? I would like to ask them to donate profits of this movie to Horse and TB horse rescue, adoption, and retirement! We need to end horse slaughter in this and other countries and I think their profits could help this cause.

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Posted by: RobIn, Potomac, MD on December 22, 2011 at 06:49 PM

Absolutely no horses more wonderful than OTTBs, smart, athletic, willing and beautiful.

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Posted by: Thoroughbred Placement and Rescue, Upper Marlboro, MD on December 22, 2011 at 12:53 PM

Congratulations! It doesn't amaze us in the least that an OTTB has the leading role. They are amazing and talented athletes.

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Posted by: Mike, Portland, OR on December 20, 2011 at 12:18 PM

I read this article and the comments and decided to goggle the trainers name. very interesting article on Deals4Dummies. You guys ought to read it. There were several horses involved including foals, yearlings, and adult horses. It was interesting to hear how this "finder" also played the foals "mother". I guess they couldnt use the foals real mother as of they could have never had the foal and real mom together on the set as of they could have never seperated them and been able to shoot the scenes. This trainer Bobby Lovgren sounds like a very astute horsemen. It was also interesting to read his comments on how he has to think less like a real trainer and more like a film-maker. How cool that probably was for him to get to work with a master like Speilberg. Looking forward to xmas day. Sounds like a great family thing to do after presents and dinner to me.

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