Chasing

Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing "Chasing," a short documentary about steeplechasing and specifically about Unionville's own Jake Chalfin. 
According to the press release: "The 23-minute film, produced for horse racing cable channel HRTV’s “Inside Information” series, looks inside the world of American steeplechasing through the eyes of an injured former jockey learning to cope with his new reality. The uplifting film features the beauty of steeplechasing and Thoroughbred racing as well as one person’s struggle to deal with a life-changing blow. An amateur jockey, Chalfin was injured in a fall at a point-to-point in 2010 and paralyzed from the chest down."
Jake is the true star of the show: he's articulate, inspiring and genuine. But it's also fun to see several locals on screen, as well as lots of shots of the Willowdale Steeplechase and some "helmet-cam" footage. The gorgeous green fields and hills of summertime Unionville are on full display, a welcome contrast to our current boot-sucking mud.
The premiere, hosted by Jake and filmmaker Kristy Cecil, was held at the Stroud Water Research Center in West Marlborough on Friday (complete with popcorn!). The film will be aired on the cable channel HRTV at 8, 8:30, and 11 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27.
Congratulations to everyone involved in making this beautiful and deeply moving film. At dinner afterward a friend of mine said he could have sat there and watched it several times in a row, and I completely agree.