Director Randall Wallace Reveals The Impossible True Story of 'Secretariat'

Randall Wallace, the director of new movie Secretariat shared some secrets behind shooting the film.

"Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery -- with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) -- manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years," says IMDB of the movie.

He said the film used five horses to play Secretariat-four thoroughbreds and a quarterhorse. One of the horses, Wallace said, that played Secretariat in the film, Trolley Boy, was actually discovered in true Hollywood fashion after winning a Secretariat Look-Alike contest held at the Secretariat Festival in Paris, Kentucky. He also revealed the cast and crew of Secretariat were addicted to crossword puzzles, especially Diane Lane, John Malkovich and Margo Martindale. Lane was such a super fan of the brain teaser; she created her own crossword puzzle during production.

Secretariat opens in theaters on Friday.