Blue Grass of Kentucky
Cast & Crew
William Beaudine
Bill Williams
Jane Nigh
Ralph Morgan
Robert "buzz" Henry
Russell Hicks
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
At Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, stud farm owner James B. Armistead and his daughter Pat discuss Tarzana and Encino, two thoroughbreds competing in that day's race. After the horses are brought up to the starting line, Pat greets Lin McIvor and his father, Major Randolph McIvor, who also owns a stud farm and whose son Sandy is jockeying their farm's entry, Blue Grass. Major McIvor recalls the events leading up to the race: Shortly after winning her last race, Blue Grass's mother, Kentucky Lady, is found to be suffering from a fractured leg. Realizing that her racing days are over, Major McIvor decides to mate her with the best stud around, Armistead's thoroughbred, Macedonia. When Lin visits the Armistead farm to arrange the mating, however, the trainer, Layton, refuses to allow it because of Kentucky Lady's inferior class. After Pat, who has been in love with Lin since childhood, learns of Layton's refusal and her father's compliance, she waits until everyone is asleep and sneaks Kentucky Lady into Macedonia's stable. The next morning, Pat leaves for a short trip, and Lin admits to his father that Pat's wealth is preventing him from proposing. Months later, Lin informs the major that Kentucky Lady is in foal and the family assumes that she has mated with their stud, Gallaway Lad. When she gives birth to Blue Grass, however, Major McIvor is confused by the colt's obviously superior breeding. Sandy begins training Blue Grass, while Lin, who dreams about restoring the McIvor farm to its former glory, buys a second racehorse named Encino. For the next two years, Sandy races Blue Grass, but discovers that the horse wears himself out too quickly and can only win the shorter heats. Soon, the Armisteads buy a new horse named Tarzana, which is also entered into the Kentucky Derby. In the weeks leading up to the Derby, Tarzana and Encino take turns beating each other at the races. After one race, Blue Grass kicks Encino in the leg, and a veterinarian informs Lin that Encino is now lame. Lin, who is convinced that Blue Grass cannot win, considers pulling out of the Derby, but Pat persuades all of them to perservere and coaches Sandy on how to win. Soon, the big day arrives, and as they wait in the stands for the race to begin, Pat makes a deal with Lin that if Blue Grass wins, they will be married. The race begins, and Blue Grass, performing better than he ever has, wins by a nose. Afterward, the track steward calls Major McIvor to the stables where Layton has lodged a complaint. There, Layton produces an affidavit from a McIvor groom stating that Gallaway Lad was out of the state on the day that Kentucky Lady must have become pregnant with Blue Grass. As a result, Layton asserts, his status as a thoroughbred cannot be confirmed, and he should be disqualified from the race. Pat then confesses that she arranged the secret mating between Kentucky Lady and Macedonia. Her father backs up her claim and fires Layton on the spot. Later, Lin finally asks Pat to marry him.
Director
William Beaudine
Cast
Bill Williams
Jane Nigh
Ralph Morgan
Robert "buzz" Henry
Russell Hicks
Ted Hecht
Dick Foote
Jack Howard
Bill Terrell
Stephen S. Harrison
Pierre Watkin
Harry Lauter
Bud Anthony
Everet Creach
Jay Fishburn
Paul Maxey
Crew
Wesley Barry
Jeffrey Bernerd
Ozzie Caswell
W. Scott Darling
Lee Greenway
Wilton R. Holm
Max Hutchinson
Roy Livingston
Otho Lovering
Ralph Mccutcheon
Dave Milton
Clifford D. Shank
Ilona Vas
Gilbert Warrenton
Allen K. Wood
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to a notation in the file on the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS library, the cast included Dick Elliott, but he was not in the viewed print. The Variety review notes that location shooting took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.
