Round 2 Results

First, a farewell to the horses who were left behind after this round:

Flicka
Smoky
Brego
Ashleigh's Wonder

Whew.

We have two weeks left in March, so this week will feature our final showdowns, and then next week will feature our champion round.

In the meantime, thanks for everyone who voted in Round 2! Rafflecopter tells me that the winner of the $25 gift card to Riding Warehouse is...

Margaret D.!

Congrats, Margaret - check your email!

YOUR WINNER: The Black Stallion

It was a nailbiting finish, but in the end, The Black Stallion finished as the ultimate Horse Movie March Madness champion.

Like many of you, I had no idea how strongly I felt about The Black Stallion until it was threatened. That's not to say I wasn't still rooting for the horse movie of my heart, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, which is still the greatest horse movie of all time no matter what this poll says, but wow, did I want Black Stallion to crush all the other comers!

It's not to terribly surprising, though, right? The book itself is nearing 75 years old, and the movie is nearing 40 years old. It speaks to a really deep, powerful horse myth: the magical horse who bonds with one boy, and they survive together. (We'll pretend the alien shit in the later books didn't happen, ok? Ok.)

In the end, aren't we all pretending, at least a little bit, to be Alec and the Black on the beach when we gallop our own horses?

Thank you to everyone who voted, that was a lot of fun. :)

VOTE: Final March Madness Round

Our two final movies, The Black Stallion and National Velvet, are neck and neck. They are basically the Affirmed and Alydar of this tournament.

The poll will be open until 2:00 pm this afternoon, so if you want your voice to count, VOTE NOW!

Horse Movie March Madness Conclusion: National Velvet versus The Black Stallion

I put off this post for a little longer to wait for the tight race between Black Beauty and National Velvet to end precisely on time - and it was close right up to the wire.

This may be our most difficult matchup yet, between two movies that held off all the other competitors.

There can be only one. Which horse movie emerges from our endless rounds of voting as the 2015 champion?

FINAL FOUR: National Velvet versus Black Beauty

Here's our second matchup of the Final Four, another really tough choice.

National Velvet handily beat out Hidalgo in its previous match.

Black Beauty just baaaarely edged by Seabiscuit.

Here's a nice collection of clips from National Velvet - it hits all the highlights, including all those gorgeous shots of Elizabeth Taylor galloping the (chestnut) Pie.

Here's the trailer for Black Beauty.

So...who advances?

FINAL FOUR: The Black Stallion versus Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Here, I'll set the mood.

Okay!

Here's what our bracket looks like now.

We're down to the Final Four. Every movie that made it to this round should hold its head high, because some really great movies went down in the previous rounds. That said, this can only get harder now, and this match in particular is a real heartbreaker.

The Black Stallion edged by The Man from Snowy River by one measly vote, proving that every single vote counts.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken only cleared Secretariat by two votes. 

For this round, I'll find some iconic scenes from the movies in question to get you inspired and make you think about your vote. So here, take a few minutes to watch these. I'll wait.

Now make your tough decision.

Round 2, Match 4: Black Beauty versus Seabiscuit

Black Beauty versus Seabiscuit

The Battle of the Tearjerkers ended in tears for Phar Lap, with Black Beauty in a convincing victory.

I was also sad to see a personal favorite go down hard when Seabiscuit trounced International Velvet. 

Only one can keep going, though.

Round 2, Match 3: National Velvet versus Hidalgo

National Velvet versus Hidalgo

Here's where it really starts to hit the fan.

National Velvet had an easy win over The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, which might be the first time one of my own personal picks had such a resounding loss. Apparently no one else chants "Aspercel, Aspercel, when you're sick it'll make you well!" after opening their medicine cabinet.

Hidalgo eked out a really close win over Return to Snowy River - which I have to say, I was not expecting! Quite a bit of consternation in the comments on that one, too.

So: who gets to keep going, and who has to stay behind?

Round 2, Match 2: Secretariat versus Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

First, a moderator note: the next two matches will be posted at 10:00 am EST on Saturday and Sunday. They'll feature National Velvet versus Hidalgo and Black Beauty versus Seabiscuit. Each poll will be open for 24 hours, so make sure you get your vote in. (If you miss it and you REALLY want to vote, leave a comment before Monday at 10:00 am so I can take it into account.)

On Monday, we'll do the two Final Four matches and then on Tuesday, March 31, we'll have the final.

Secretariat versus Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

This match pits one of the real nail-biters of Round 1 against the runaway winner of the other bracket.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken barely beat out Spirit: Wild Stallion of the Cimarron despite my decidedly non-objective rant.

Secretariat trounced The Horse Whisperer much like its title character at the Belmont.

Who will make it to the next round?

Round 2, Match 1: The Black Stallion versus The Man from Snowy River

Here's where the rubber starts to hit the road: round 2. These are just going to get more and more difficult to vote on, I think. Here is your Round 2 bracket:

Our first match of round 2 pits two titans against each other: The Black Stallion and The Man from Snowy River.

The Black Stallion handily beat out War Horse in round 1. The Man from Snowy River had a slightly tougher battle against Sylvester, but still never gave up its early lead.

Only one can pass on to the quarterfinals. Who will it be?

Round 1, Match 8: Seabiscuit versus International Velvet

Seabiscuit versus International Velvet

Seabiscuit (2003)

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.

International Velvet (1978)

Read my review here.

Velvet's orphaned niece, Sarah, follows her dream of Olympic glory with her horse Arizona Pie.

Last time for round 1...vote!

Round 1, Match 7: Phar Lap versus Black Beauty

Phar Lap versus Black Beauty

This one, I think, will end in tears. (Partially because both movies end in tears, but I digress.)

Phar Lap (1983)

The true story of a Australian racehorse that becomes a champion with the help of a local stableboy.

Black Beauty (1994)

The fates of horses, and the people who own and command them, are revealed as Black Beauty narrates the circle of his life.

Battle of the tearjerkers...begin!

Round 1, Match 6: Hidalgo versus The Man from Snowy River II/Return to Snowy River

Hidalgo versus The Man From Snowy River II

Hidalgo (2004)

In 1890, a down-and-out cowboy and his horse travel to Arabia to compete in a deadly cross desert horse race.

The Man From Snowy River II / Return to Snowy River (1988)

(the second title is apparently what it as released under in the United States, so I'm including that in case it jogs memories)

Young Jim Craig returns to his home in the Australian high country. He finds that things are not as he left them - his girlfriend is being pursued by another man, and her father doesn't want Jim back into her life.

Two enter, one leaves...

Round 1, Match 5: National Velvet versus The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit

National Velvet versus The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit

National Velvet (1944)

A jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted horse for England's Grand National Sweepstakes.

The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit (1968)

Frederick Bolton has to solve two problems. First, his boss has instructed him to come up with a reasonable campaign to promote a new product, a stomach pill named "Aspercel" - by tomorrow. The second problem is Fred's daughter, Helen. She is absolutely fond of horses, takes riding classes and has already had decent success in some competitions. Her biggest wish is to own a horse herself, a dream her father cannot afford at all. Now Fred tries to solve both problems at once by simply combining them: A horse named "Aspercel", ridden by his daughter should bring the name of the pill into the papers and make Helen happy, too. But there's still one more obstacle: Helen and Aspercel of course have to win a few prices to make this idea work...

Round 1, Match 4: Spirit, Wild Stallion of the Cimarron versus Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Spirit: Wild Stallion of the Cimarron versus Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Spirit: Wild Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

As a wild stallion travels across the frontiers of the Old West, he befriends a young human and finds true love with a mare.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991)

This is the story of Sonora Webster, a teenage runaway during the Depression. Her life's ambition is to travel to Atlantic City, where "all your dreams come true." After leaving home she accepts a job from Dr. Carver and his girl-and-horse high diving act.

(YOU GUYS IF THIS POLL DOESN'T TURN OUT THE ONLY TRUE CORRECT WAY I AM RAGE-QUITTING THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT, SO VOTE WELL.)

Round 1, Match 3: The Horse Whisperer versus Secretariat

First, some brief housekeeping: due to company and some internet issues during the only time I had to blog, I couldn't get these polls up over the weekend. Sorry! We'll go double time this week in order to catch up. Each poll will still be open for 24 hours of voting.

The Horse Whisperer versus Secretariat

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

Click here for my own full review.

The mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer to help the girl's equally injured horse.

Secretariat (2010)

Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown.

(Lest anyone judge me, I copied that summary from imdb.com, as I have been doing for all of these matchups, in the interests of objectivity. I will now abandon my objective stance and say holy shit that is the worst movie summary of all time. I trust that you all know what a movie named Secretariat is about.)

(No, I mean really, what does "the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown" MEAN?)

VOTE!

Round 1, Match 2: Sylvester versus The Man from Snowy River

Sylvester versus The Man from Snowy River

Sylvester (1985)

Charlie is a 16-year-old orphan struggling to raise her two younger brothers when she endeavors to train a rogue horse she names Sylvester and turn him into an eventing champion.

The Man from Snowy River (1982)

In 1880s Australia when young Jim Craig's father dies Jim takes a job at the Harrison cattle ranch and he is forced to become a man.

(Mod note: I have so many feels about this matchup, you guys, I cannot even.)

Round 1, Match 1: The Black Stallion versus War Horse

DAY 1!

The Black Stallion versus War Horse

The Black Stallion (1979)

While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion who is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a desert island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued, both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once-successful trainer. Together they begin training the stallion to race against the fastest horses in the world.

War Horse (2011)

Young Albert enlists to serve in World War I after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry. Albert's hopeful journey takes him out of England and to the front lines as the war rages on. (Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch with the title horse. You're welcome.)

So, which one should advance?

Horse Movie March Madness: The Bracket

It's time! Here's the bracket for our March Madness voting, based on the poll that ran Monday and Tuesday. I chose the top 16 vote-getters, and then randomized the brackets using a handy-dandy website generator.

I know I said I'd start voting today, but doing this bracket has taken all my extra mental concentration for the day, so I will set up the polls to start voting tomorrow. Get ready! Some crazy matchups in there.

Can't win for losing, also VOTE

It's finally warm enough to ride consistently, so of course I am sick as the proverbial dog with the nastiest upper respiratory infection I have had in years. I've had no voice for coming up on 72 hours now, my phlegm is neon & rainbow-colored, and I can't really be vertical for long periods of time. THANKS, UNIVERSE.

Anyway.

Quick post to say VOTE in the Horse Movie March Madness poll. The top 15 vote-getters will be seeded in their bracket in a post tomorrow, and then we'll start the elimination polls. Are you psyched?

(I would be, but I'd probably pass out.)

VOTE VOTE VOTE