I first met Bill Neal at the 2019 National Animal Rights Conference in Washington, D.C. Bill was there to screen his documentary Long Gone Wild, which gave us both an update on the continuing captivity of the SeaWorld orcas (and the efforts to create a sanctuary where they’d be able to live out their days in peace), and an overview of marine-mammal-park cruelty across the globe. The film was outstanding, the talent of the filmmaker clear.
During the week of the conference, Bill and I talked at length about a horseracing doc, and shortly thereafter we began working on a treatment. Four years later, our efforts are finally coming to fruition. I will have more on this in the weeks to come, but suffice to say this is a major work produced by a major company. Hopefully, our Blackfish.
Over the years, Bill and I have also become friends. He is a compassionate and thoughtful soul, as evidenced by his most recent project, the children’s book Cali & Wildfire: A Story of Love. I was honored to be asked for a quote for the book’s back cover:
“Cali & Wildfire is a brilliant addition to the children’s-lit genre. Set against the backdrop of the cruel horseracing industry, Bill Neal has masterfully weaved a story that both affirms children’s innate feelings of kindness and compassion, and, more important, shows them how those feelings can be applied – how they, even at a young age, can help make the world a better place.”
Please support this important (now more than ever) new book.
I think it would be a good idea to donate a copy to the local library.
Patrick, please read the sports commentator article on Belmont and horseracing. Stephen Edelson Asbury Park Press within USA TODAY NETWORK. Interview with Mike Repole and his opinion of HISA and the future of his sport.
Nancy, I found an article on his feelings about horseracing and its future. Repole thinks the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is a good idea and yet at the same time, he and Fletcher were caught with a violation of over-doping FORTE several months ago and they appealed it, of course.
Mike Repole talks out of both sides of his mouth. He is definitely cringe-worthy!
Wanda, two sides of the coin. Tell people what they want to hear when they want to hear it. Behind closed doors another story.
I agree, Wanda. He also likes to toot his own horn regarding keeping an eye on his former horses, and yet one was running at bottom level claimers with horrible bilateral bows. Repole never had him on any radar.
The horse is now a champion western dressage horse, and has been used as a therapy horse, no thanks at all to Repole.