Does anyone have information on Sonjador?

Question

We are watching Dreamer. They make mention of running Sonjador at Bluegrass Downs. Do you know if there is more than one Bluegrass Downs Racetrack or are they referring to the track in Paducah, KY?

Answer 1

The closest thing to reality that you will see in Dreamer is that there is horses in it and horses are actuall animals.  It's a nice story for young people who might be interested in horses and/or racing.  There are 5 thoroughbred tracks in Kentucky, Keeneland (home of the Bluegrass Stakes) in Lexington, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Turfway Park in Florence, Ellis Park in Henderson and Kentucky Downs in Franklin (I think the town its in is Franklin, it's right on the KY/TEN border).  As for the nonsense on how the horse was aquired and the filly beating the boys way as big of a fairy tale they could write.  It was extremely loosely based on Mariahs Storm who is the mare of leading sire Giant's Causeway (whose stud fee is $300,000) as well as Freud, and I think 2 other studs.  Yes she had a break and returned to win a stakes race, but she finshed near the back of the pack in the Breeders Cup Distaff (against only fillies).  No filly has ever won the Classic, let alone one who broke down was given away then ran in a claiming race then following a long layoff and lots of love from a child actress beat the boys after the Breeders Cup committee laughed at the young girl for entering the horse and then having a sheiks brother be happy that they won.  The only thing missing from that movie was Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy showing up in the winners circle to hand out the trophy.

The real world of horse racing has many other great human and equine stories of overcoming physical and personal troubles, it's too bad they can't give a more realistic portrail of the greatest sport in the world.

Answer 2

They were referring to the one in KY.  That's where they took her to run the claiming race and she got claimed and then Dakota Fanning got all upset.  It's kinda a local track for them...  they said they live in Versailles.  (well, 3 hours away isn't really local, but I think they opted for a smaller track where she might be more able to win something...  or maybe the movie people got permission to film there and nowhere else;o) )

Although Dreamer says that it's based on a true story, it's not actually the story of Sonador...  the movie was all thought up and planned out.  then they went to KY to do research and plan how they would film it and they found out that it was a lot like Mariah Storm's story...  she is the real horse who broke down and came back to make a big win against Serena's Song who was a great filly of that time.  They created the story of the filly returning to beat the boys in her first major race after breaking down...  There still hasn't been a filly beat the boys in the BC Classic...  but it's certainly an entertaining thing in the movie!

Answer 3

If you're interested in visiting the tracks from "Dreamer," Keeneland is much nicer than Bluegrass Downs. It's also where a scene from "Seabiscuit" was filmed.