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Santa Anita – Statuary

Training great Charlie Whittingham and his dog Toby.

All-time Santa Anita stakes winner John Henry, humble of origin, plain of form, fleet of foot, and evil of temper.

Breeder’s Cup championships will be held here in November, and I am to be there.

The immortal “people’s horse”, Seabiscuit.

Zenyatta, the Queen of Racing. Saw her in person many times. There will never be another like her.

Santa Anita – Pretty Horsies

One of the carriage horses that carries the stewards to their posts. He wanted candy, but I only had carrots. Can’t you sense his disappointment?

Headed to the paddock to get saddled.

Looking ready for a race.

On his toes.

Friendly lead pony would only eat mints. He rejected the carrot I offered. Can you sense his disappointment?

Photo op featuring a cardboard cutout of the great Flightline and Flavien Prat.

Flightline rejected my carrot also.

Santa Anita – Architecture

Santa Anita – built in the mid-1930s – is pure art deco heaven…

Look at those beautiful friezes and those curves….

Grandstand windows and wonderful wrought iron detailing…

The clubhouse…

Also the clubhouse…

Another look at the friezes. I’ve always loved them.

Entrance to the paddock and beyond, the jockey’s room.

2023 Movie Diary, Part 10

28. DINOSAURUS (1960)

Bad acting, worse writing, brain-dead plotting, mediocre stop motion dinosaurs, and schlocky caveman antics all in one movie!  It’s Dinosaurus!  What more can you ask for?  Well, how about a climactic duel between a T-Rex and an excavator.  How about a character named Dumpy?  Tempted now?  You should be!  
Verdict: I love movies like this. I don’t care who knows it.
See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxsX1iT6260

29. SPACE MUTINY (1988)

A fun bad movie catapulted to immortality by the greatest of all MST3K episodes. That’s it. That’s my review. Put your faith in Blast Hardcheese and watch it.
Verdict: The Mystery Science Theatre 3000 version is an Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame. There, I said it. You know what movie will never be in my Hall of Fame? Casablanca. I refuse to apologize.
See It Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa42pxJyq64

30. MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

One of the greatest, most immersive movies ever made.  Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin novels, which serve as the source material, are probably unfilmable as written, at least in motion picture form, and the differences between books and movie are significant. But it’s so beautifully crafted and acted, and so breathtaking in scale yet intimate and nuanced that it’s just miraculous. I will say it again: this is one of the best movies ever made.
Verdict: Inductee, Laurie’s Cinematic Hall of Fame