Filmmaker screens Derby documentary in Aiken
5/16/2008 12:13 AM   0 comments on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer
It was a documentary featuring the triumphs and travails of a sport renowned for its pitfalls, adversity and glory. The film gives the audience an in-depth look at the lives of six Thoroughbred trainers, the horses they trained while on the Kentucky Derby trail and an intimate look at those closest to them.
The narrative showcases the disparate personalities and backgrounds of the horsemen, their families, assistant trainers and grooms. The film "The First Saturday in May" was shown Wednesday night at the Aiken Center for the Arts and was sponsored by Aiken Saddlery and Supply.
Brad Hennegan, who co-wrote the documentary chronicling the rigors of the 2006 Kentucky Derby trail with his brother John Hennegan and Mark Krewatch, attended the screening. The Hennegan brothers also directed and produced the film that was shot over a period of 16 months. The film is eligible to be nominated in the Best Documentary category by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
The six featured trainers and their horses included Michael Matz and Barbaro, Kiaran McLaughlin and Jazil, Dan Hendricks and Brother Derek, Bob Holthus and Lawyer Ron, Dale Romans and Sharp Humor and Frank Amonte and Achilles of Troy.
The Hennegan brothers had the Herculean and painstaking process of reducing 500 minutes of film to the final product, a 97-minute documentary that captures the spirit, presence and challenges of the backside of a racetrack, the joy and jubilation of the Winner's Circle and the heartbreak of defeat.
The viewer is more than just an observer as the audience gets an up close and personal look at the people who've given their lives to the sport of Thoroughbred racing and can share in their emotions which are palpable, touching the viewers heart and imagination. The documentary reaches not only the Thoroughbred racing fan and horse lover but also the casual fan and layman who can relate to the film's universal themes.
"We followed 12 horses all together," said Brad Hennegan to the audience Wednesday evening. "We followed owners and jockeys, and it just seemed these stories seemed to work the best together."
A portion of the DVD sales will go to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.

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