Gulfstream Park, Disney celebrate 'Secretariat' release

Gulfstream Park announced on Friday that it will team up with Walt Disney Studios

on January 29 to be the first to publicly celebrate the Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD

and Movie Download of Disney's "Secretariat," which is scheduled for

release on Tuesday. The launch will include

giveaways, memorabilia and a chance to meet members of the "Secretariat" family.

Otto Thorwarth, who portrayed Secretariat's jockey, Ron Turcotte, in the movie

will be in attendance beginning at 8:30 a.m. (EST) during Breakfast at

Gulfstream and will be available for autographs between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

in the walking ring.

Joining Thorwarth in the walking ring will be Kate Chenery

Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery and the author of "Secretariat's Meadow: The

Land. The Family. The Legend." The book illustrates how the 1973 Triple

Crown winner represented the culmination of two centuries of history, a direct

legacy of both the land on which Secretariat was born and of the people who bred

and raised him.

Fans will also be able to meet Charlie Davis, one

of Secretariat's exercise riders.

"We're honored to partner with Disney to celebrate the movie 'Secretariat'

and welcome Otto Thorwarth and Kate Chenery Tweedy," Gulfstream President and GM

Steve Calabro said.

Gulfstream and Disney will hold giveaways for

Secretariat movie posters, DVDs, and photographer Bob Coglianese's award-winning

photo of Secretariat winning the Belmont S. (G1).

The festivities will begin

during Breakfast at Gulfstream, where the first 100 fans purchasing the buffet

breakfast will receive a Secretariat movie poster and a Sunshine Millions cap.

Breakfast at Gulfstream, which allows fans to meet trainers and jockeys and

watch morning workouts, runs from 7-10 a.m.

The Secretariat celebration will be part of an exciting weekend at

Gulfstream. The track will co-host the $1.8 million Sunshine Millions with Santa

Anita on January 29 and Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls will begin their journey on

the Triple Crown trail in the January 30 Holy Bull S. (G3), which is also the

first race in the Preakness 5.5 bonus series.