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A great horse regally bred out of the dreams of one man - but before he's through, he's reached into the imagination of many people - they celebrate his greatest moments and are saddened by his sudden misfortune. When it's over, they wonder how they came to be so stirred by an animal - all that they can be sure of is that the horse brought to them something - a kind of gift.

 

Before he shattered a bone upon the Hampshire Downs, MILL REEF was demanding to be recognized as one of the greatest horses in racing history. A beautiful study of this remarkable horse plus scenes of Rokeby Stables (property of horse breeder/owner and philanthropist, Paul Mellon) - see rare footage of Paul Mellon with MILAN MILL (MILL REEF's dam) and his retired gelding, champion U.S. turf horse, FORT MARCY, at Rokeby. Bred in Virginia by Paul Mellon and raced exclusively in Europe, the compact son of NEVER BEND, out of MILAN MILL by PRINCEQUILLO, won the English Derby in 1971 and followed that with victories in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, to become European Horse-of-the-Year.

 

 

See the following races: 1970 Gimcrack Stakes at ; 1971 at Epsom, Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp - the first English-trained horse to win this prestigious race.

 

 

In 1972, aficionados of the turf waited anxiously for the race of the century - MILL REEF, the "little man" as his jockey Geoff Lewis called him, was to confront the only horse which had beaten him in his career, BRIDADIER GERARD. Then disaster overtook MILL REEF - a broken leg while training on the Hampshire Downs. With the help of the world's finest veterinary surgeons, MILL REEF survived a grueling eight-hour operation - his fiercely loyal following could only pray he'd make it through. Had he beaten the BRIGADIER, he might have become one of the century's greatest racehorses. He most certainly became the most loved, for while he slowly recovered, telegrams and get-well cards, some hand-painted by children, poured into his stable at Kingsclere as he hobbled about best he could in his leg cast (actual film).

 

Watch the tearful faces of his devoted fans as he finally recuperates and leaves Kingsclere en-route to his new career at the National Stud where he went on to sire such outstanding runners as SHIRLEY HEIGHTS and REFERENCE POINT, both following their sire's footsteps and also becoming Epsom Derby winners.

 

A celebration of the horse, MILL REEF, can be a welcome addition to your collection.

 

 

 

50 Minutes.

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