Oct 08, 2010 secretariat comes into the world in a stable, on a bed of hay resembling a manger, while wise men and women watch in awe. He had grown up as a groom in stables around chicago, attended his. Author william nack, whose book was the source material for the movie, told the story well. He was a great american prose stylist, wrote ebert in 2008, part of long homage to nacks erudition and his love of books and words. William nack is the definitive biographer of secretariat, and he earned this honorable position by pouring his heart and soul into this book and his essays about the horse. The making of a champion, which crist termed the definitive biography of the colt, as their main source, crist notes that the films marketing says the film is suggested by the book, rather than based on or adapted from. But the horse will be back in the limelight thanks to the movie, which is based on a book by sportswriter william. The film chronicles the life of thoroughbred race horse secretariat, winner of the triple crown in 1973. William nack passed away in washington, district of columbia.
Disney film tells story of legendary secretariat and his owner. Bill nack, who chronicled secretariat, developed a love of. Nack s eloquent obituary tribute to secretariat in sports illustrated is included in this book. Apr 16, 2018 bill nack, whose book turnedfilm on 1973 triple crown winner secretariat was a classic of turf insight and eloquence, died of cancer friday at his home in washington, d. During her time at newsday, which spanned more than a quarter century, chepak worked with reporters who went on to become book authors, including former newsday sportswriter william nack, who wrote secretariat. Secretariats run to be celebrated in film news houma. William nack eulogy for penny chenery memorial service of the many remembrances that ive got hidden away in my penny chenery memory bank, the one that keeps insistently floating to the surface took place the first day i saw her in 1973on march 14th to be exactthree days before secretariat was to launch his historic charge for the. Nack is also survived by daughters rachel, emily and amy, his son william, a sister, dorothy cosnigny, and six grandchildren. Nack, who primarily covered boxing and horse racing during his career, called secretariats belmont win the greatest sporting event up to its time. William nack obituary washington, dc the washington post. Based on the book by william nack, secretariat follows the horses spectacular run through the eyes of his owner, penny chenery tweedy diane lane a colorado housewife who agreed to. Stewart brandborg, longtime leader of wilderness society.
William bill nack, a renowned sports journalist and author, died. Nack s reporting for newsday of secretariat s triple crown season in 1973 led to his first book, secretariat. One of the best sportswriters in the history of the genre, william nack. Nacks eloquent obituarytribute to secretariat in sports illustrated is included in this book.
The headline refers to the fact that in 1999 espn counted down the top 50 athletes of the 20th century and secretariat was ranked 35th. Read the obituary matt winkelmeyergetty images for warner music. Bill nack, whose bookturnedfilm on 1973 triple crown winner. It is the remarkable true story of one of americas finest racehorses. Secretariat won the derby, of course, on his way to the triple. And the possessive is key here, because as the times kenneth turan points out, this film is merely suggested by william nack s nonfiction work rather than the customary based on. Bill is william nack, a writer for sports illustrated and author of secretariat. In 1973, secretariat, the greatest champion in horseracing history, won the triple crown. Not even close, says william nack, author of secretariat. The making of a champion, the book on which the film is based. Since 1973, when secretariat won the triple crown in spectacular style, this sports illustrated writer has devoted himself to learning everything about the greatest. The obituary was featured in the washington post on april 21, 2018. William louis nack william louis nack died peacefully at home on april, 2018, with his family by his side. The movie opens with lane reading pretentious quotes from the book of job.
William bill nack, a renowned sports journalist and author, died april at his home in washington, d. William nack, a raconteur and reciter of poetry from skokie, ill. Nack chronicled secretariat s triple crown season in 1972, and immortalized him in secretariat. The only horse to ever break the twominute mark in winning the kentucky derby until recent winner monarchos, secretariat also pulled off one of the most astounding victories in the annals of horse racing by winning the belmont stakes by a recordbreaking thirtyone lengths. Speaking of arguably the greatest thoroughbred to ever race, william nack s secretariat. Nacks reporting on secretariat culminated in a 1975 book, big red of meadow. Since then, secretariat has died, but seattle slew and affirmed are still. Renowned sportswriter bill nack, dead at 77, wrote classic book onsecretariat bill nack, whose bookturnedfilm on 1973 triple crown winner secretariat was a classic of turf insight and eloquence, died of cancer friday at his home in washington, d. Alberto e rodriguezgetty images for 23 months, william nack chased the ghost of bobby fischer all over california.
When nack spoke of secretariat who was foaled at the meadow stud in. He was best known for his writings on the legendary racehorse secretariat. Oct 08, 2010 in a recent phone interview from chicago, lane said her research for the role included perusing the inspiration for the film, william nack s book secretariat. During a visit this spring to promote his latest book, my turf horses, boxers, blood money and the sporting life da capo. A notice at the top of the entry for william nack reads. William nack, prizewinning sportswriter and bard of. Oct 03, 2010 william nacks account of the saga which gets a suggested by credit here was pointedly titled secretariat. William nack, writing for sports illustrated at the time and the author of the book, secretariat. I chased secretariat for two years, ended up writing a book about him, and then suddenly they made a movie out of it. The making of a champion, the book this movie is based on wrote about his outsized heart. Apr 14, 2018 william bill nack, a renowned sports journalist and author, died april at his home in washington, d. This book by william nack was the basis for the movie starring diane lane as penny chenery the horses owner. William nack, the esteemed thoroughbredracing writer from sports illustrated whose book about secretariat paved the way for the popular 2010. In articles for sports illustrated and in a biography of secretariat, he observed horse.
He certainly wrote a magnificent obituary about him in sports illustrated called. Bill was the beloved husband of carolyne starek, father to emily. Bill nack, whose book turnedfilm on 1973 triple crown winner secretariat was a classic of turf insight and eloquence, died of cancer friday at his. Nack s acclaimed biography on secretariat is considered the definitive account chronicling. As nack reported in his book, they were tenant farmers from holly hill, s. Clip from secretariat big reds last race a documentary filmed in october of 1973. Diane lane plays secretariat s owner, penny chenery, who takes over the. Big red of meadow stable which happened to be the title of nacks first book. Buy a cheap copy of big red of meadow stable book by william nack. William nack, the espn contributor and legendary sports illustrated senior writer, wrote secretariat, the book that helped inspire the film. William nack obituary washington, district of columbia. Secretariat by william nack, is the july book club selection. When her beloved meadow stables is faced with closure following her fathers illness, housewife and mother penny chenery agrees to take over.
If you are not moved to tears when you read it then you have never really. Secretariat good enough to reach beyond target audience. His mother, the former elizabeth feeney, was a ballerina, and his father, gordon, was an electrical engineer. Seventime eclispe awardwinning writer william nack passed away on friday, according to sports illustrated. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Nack records each detail of meadow stables wonderkind with fanatical attention, as if he were afraid of letting any nuance of the horses magic slip away. The making of a champion by william nack, the movie is as much the story of chenery, a housewife and mother of four, as the revered colt. William nack, a sports illustrated journalist who became a lyrical. Horses, boxers, blood money, and the sporting life william nack, author.
Pure heart, written several months after secretariat was euthanized, was. Bill nack, whose book about secretariat became a 2010 disney movie. All the vital organs were of normal size except for the heart. The making of a champion, a 1975 book that red smith called the next best thing to.
Author has knack for cooking news, sports, jobs lawrence. Latest popular enewspaper maryland sports ask us proms obits advertising. And it went on the bestseller list on the new york times, it reached number five and sold 150,000 copies. Bill nack, former newsday sportswriter who chronicled. Nacks reporting for newsday of secretariats triple crown season in 1973 led to his first book, secretariat. He wrote about sports, politics and the environment at newsday for 11 years before joining the staff of sports illustrated in 1978 as an investigative reporter and general feature writer. Life with big red only rich in telling horse racing.
Although i was too young to follow secretariat s racing career, reading this book gave me a very detailed and full account of his performance as a twoyear old in 1972 and as a threeyear old in 1973. Bill nack, who chronicled secretariat, developed a love of horses. I think it told us why he was able to do what he did. Mar 21, 1988 in 1973, secretariat, the greatest champion in horseracing history, won the triple crown. Good luck getting william nack to sit still for an interview. In honor of sports illustrateds 60th anniversary, is. The making of a champion, and chenery and her team are indeed portrayed. Nacks eloquent obituary tribute to secretariat in sports illustrated is included in this book.
Join facebook to connect with william l nack and others you may know. His life and the stories about him have been lauded in movies, books and even song. Nack, former newsday and sports illustrated reporter. If you are not moved to tears when you read it then you have never really loved an animal, especially this one. William louis nack february 4, 1941 april, 2018 was an american journalist and author. Newsday sports reporter bill nack s story from june 10, 1973, the day after secretariat won horseracings triple crown at belmont park by bill nack share on facebook share on twitter. Nack mainly covered horse racing, and wrote several books. I can remember watching the triple crown races with interest for the time in 1973. In it, nack opens up with the death of secretariat.
There will be a movie released in october based on this book. William louis nack died friday, at the age of 77, at his home in washington, d. Sep 02, 2010 nearly 40 years later, the story of secretariat and his owner, penny chenery, is the subject of one of the falls most anticipated movies, disneys secretariat, due to open oct. Acclaimed sports journalist and writer william nack updates his narrative of the only horse ever to grace the covers of time, newsweek, and sports illustrated all in the same week. I bought william nack s original writing of this book which was published in 1975. Disneys secretariat is more of a mixed bag, however. William nack remembered as a legendary sports writer. Secretariat feels like a winner to diane lane sfgate. William nack, author of secretariat book that spawned the. Bill nack, former newsday sportswriter who chronicled secretariat. Jockey ron turcotte rides secretariat in the 1973 belmont stakes. Oh yes, bill nack would be loving justifys triple crown quest at belmont park on june 9, exactly 45 years after secretariat pulled it off on that very same date in 1973. In 1973, secretariat, the greatest thoroughbred in horseracing history, won the triple crown.
William nack at the premiere of secretariat in 2010 photograph. Bill nack, who grew up in skokie, wrote classic pieces on secretariat and others in. Secretariat chronicles a spectacular journey, from the thoroughbreds remarkable season in 1973 to his death in 1989. The making of a champion in the first chapter of the biography of secretariat the book introduces you to the main character through the birth of secretariat and the significance of his very existence. Horses, boxers, blood money, and the sporting life. The only horse to ever grace the covers of time, newsweek, and sports illustrated in the same week, he also still holds the records for the fastest times in both the kentucky derby and the belmont stakes. Secretariat is a 2010 american biographical sports drama film produced and released by walt disney pictures, written by mike rich and sheldon turner with music by nick glenniesmith and directed by randall wallace. Renowned sportswriter bill nack, dead at 77, wrote classic book on. William nack, a longtime sportswriter whose deep grasp of his subjects and stylish prose invigorated a biography of secretariat that many consider to be one of the greatest racing books ever. Jun 03, 2007 on the heels of the billie jean kingbobby riggs battle of the sexes spectacle, the n. The entire documentary, plus two additional videos about secretariat, are available from secretariat.
At any rate, reading william nack s book is the next best thing to watching him run unless you are lucky enough and rich enough to own one of his blue hen daughters. Oct 09, 2010 though the filmmakers used william nacks big red of meadow stable. Bill nack, author and longtime sports illustrated journalist, discussed secretariat an american thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first u. How secretariat and william nack the sportswriter who. Secretariat by nack, william and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The making of a champion, on which the upcoming disney film is based. At least his fans can relive the races big red did run, and nack has the knack sorry of bringing them vividly back to memory.
1439 622 905 785 1041 50 1095 1283 1374 1144 1364 628 1194 790 571 360 607 234 632 935 154 237 593 934 1063 213 1202 601 1157 938 503 537