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Contact: Amy Krause
(609) 585-5085
PRINCETON, NJ., October
10, 2005 - The Standardbred horse documentary
"Harness Dreams", which tells the
story of Real Desire's success, will be rebroadcast
on satellite television this month. Viewers
who subscribe to either DirecTV (channel 379)
or The DISH Network (channel 9409) can see the
show as part of the "Horse Babies"
series in October. The show times are: Thursday,
October 13 at 2 pm and 10 pm; Friday, October
14 at 6 am; and Sunday, October 16 at 2 pm.
"Harness Dreams"
was produced by Monica Thors of Princeton, New Jersey,
and Amy Krause of Yardville, New Jersey. It
was selected as a finalist in the prestigious
Festival EPONA, an equine film festival held
in Cabourg, France. Co-sponsored by Peter Gerry
on behalf of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall
of Fame and prominent Standardbred owner and
breeder, George Segal, the 24 minute documentary
was first aired on RFD-TV earlier this year.
The eight-part series "Horse Babies"
also presents shows about Rocky Mountain Horses,
Tennessee Walkers, Black Egyptian Arabian Horses,
Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Friesians, and Miniature
Horses.
The story behind "Harness
Dreams" is the saga embarked on by the
then relatively unknown young husband and wife
team - Blair and Karin Burgess - when they purchased
a very modest priced yearling - Real Desire
in the fall of 1999. Real Desire was bred by
Fair Island Farm Inc. by Art Zubrod/Leah Cheverie,
raised at Brittany Farms, and sold as a yearling
at the Harrisburg Sale with Preferred Equine
Marketing as agent. The film follows the thrills
and challenges of the modest and humble trainer-caretaker
duo, who together developed their bargain priced
($16,000) acquisition into a high money earning
stakes class racehorse and ultimately a world
champion. In a span of three years, Real Desire
won 25 of his 40 lifetime starts, amassed $3.2
million in purse earnings, took a record as
a 4 year old of 1:48.2 in the United States
Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands on August
3, 2002 and was voted the 2002 Horse Of The
Year. The piece portrays how hard work, love
of the horse and unfaltering dedication to the
caring for and training of a young horse can
lead to the fulfillment of the ultimate dream
- the acquisition, building and owning of a
family farm. The Burgess Farm in Milton, Ontario
today is the farm that Real Desire bought and
built.
Videographed, directed
and co-produced by the distinguished equine
photographer, Monica Thors, the production of
"Harness Dreams" enlisted the volunteer
assistance from many folks in the harness racing
sport including John Campbell, Marty Adler,
Gen Sullivan, Frank Salive, Sam McKee and Ken
Warkentin. Making a brief appearance in the
documentary is the legendary George Segal, Squire
of Brittany Farms, which is where Real Desire
currently stands at stud.
Further information about
"Harness Dreams", the Festival EPONA
and the "Horse Babies" Series is available
at www.mtphoto.com/harnessdreams.htm and www.cheval-francais.com. To obtain a DVD
copy of "Harness Dreams" contact Monica
Thors at (609) 933-1689 or by email at monicathors@comcast.net.
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