Ex-Racehorse Stars in War Horse

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Ex-racehorse stars in War Horse

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