The LA Times reports that Disney’s upcoming movie about the great filly Ruffian have been marred by controversy, as a jockey and trainer claim they were not consulted about the details of her life:
The complaint alleges violations of trademarks held by Jacinto Vasquez, Ruffian’s jockey, and trainer Frank Whiteley. The movie, set for release Saturday, is falsely billed as a true story, according to the complaint. Ruffian’s caretakers also claim the movie purports to rely on their insider experience and intimate knowledge when they had nothing to do with the production.
“Defendants seek to give credibility to the film as a docudrama by falsely claiming actual knowledge of the details of what happened to Ruffian in her last race that led to her death,” the suit said. “The content can only be a fictionalized account because none of the still-living members of the Ruffian inner circle agreed to participate and/or cooperate in the production.”
The suit seeks an order to halt broadcast of the film and unspecified damages from Disney.
I just hope it isn’t a maudlin piece of crap like Seabiscuit was–am I the only one who absolutely hated that movie? (Hat tip to Raincoaster, btw)
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Bridlepath 
You weren’t the only one who disliked Seabiscuit.
I loved it actually, but the book was better.
I find it hard to believe they’re suing because the Disney film doesn’t know what happened to Ruffian; I was a subscriber to Equus at the time, and it was covered extensively over a six month period, with X rays and all. They wouldn’t need to talk to those people.
I loved it too and I liked the book. don’t know how they could have cramed all that book into one movie however, As for Ruffian, it aired, so they musta somethin’! lol
I did not care for the movie Seabiscuit. I only saw it once, and never cared to see it again. It could have been a great movie.
As for the movie about Ruffian, I did not see it. However, if the story about Ruffian was not about the true life of that great filly, then I doubt that I would like it either.
When a film is based on a true story, the producers and directors should stick to the truth. Ex: The movie about Johnny Cash and June Carter was terrible!
I would not watch Seabiscuit because the advertisements were “maudlin pieces of crap”. However, the flurry of documentaries that came out in the same period were fine. ( I also have Seabiscuits sweat scraper! Well, my mother always swore it had scraped sweat off the great horse himself. She got it from a trainer who worked for the Howards in the 40’s. She absolutely treasured it, always used it on the horses. I always believed it, but who knows? It’s not like his name is stamped on it. I still use it too.)