Secretariat

was released Jan. 25 on DVD and Blu-ray by Walt Disney Home Video, and distributed to Christian stores by Spring Arbor Distributors.

Based on the novel Secretariat: The Making of a Champion by William Nack, the film stars Diane Lane (Penny Chenery Tweedy), a housewife with little knowledge of horse racing who fosters one of the greatest racehorses of all time. An inspirational underdog drama, the story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner grossed more than $59 million worldwide at the box office, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

Before the film was released in theaters last October, Disney produced special marketing materials for Christian audiences and held special screenings for large churches. Press materials sent to faith-based organizations described Secretariat Director Randall Wallace—who wrote the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart—as a "devout Christian."

Most Christian film critics liked Secretariat. MovieGuide magazine said the movie, rated PG for brief mild language, was "one of the best, most inspiring movies of the year." Focus on the Family's Pluggedin.com said the movie's quotation from Job 39 was "a surprisingly spiritual beginning to a sports film, and themes of faith echo throughout the rest of it." Additionally, Christianity Today magazine called Secretariat "a sweet family film with compelling themes of triumph over adversity."

Secretariat retails for $29.99 on DVD and $39.99 on Blu-ray. Click here for more information on the film.

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