In 1973 Secretariat became the first horse in a quarter century to win all three of the races that make up the Triple Crown, breaking records that still stand.

You'd think that would make a riveting story. But aside from the inherent thrill of the races themselves, the new equine biopic "Secretariat" is dull stuff.

Unlike his Depression-era predecessor Seabiscuit (the subject of 2003's Oscar-nominated film), Secretariat wasn't surrounded by a supporting cast of colorful humans with their own incredible stories. Nor did this thoroughbred champion seem to have much personality of his own. (The Biscuit, of course, was famous for surrounding himself with "pet" animals and indulging in sloth and gluttony.)

You can feel writer Mike Rich and director Randall Wallace working overtime to give "Secretariat" some kind of edge. They never find it.

Denver housewife Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) inherits the as-yet unborn Secretariat (aka "Big Red") along with the rest of the Virginia horse breeding business founded by her rapidly declining father (Scott Glenn).

Her siblings want to sell the struggling operation, but Penny, motivated perhaps by family tradition, perhaps by sheer stubbornness, decides to run the farm personally.

This puts pressure on her family life with husband Jack (Dylan Walsh) and their children, who must do without her for weeks on end. But Penny is driven to make a champion of Secretariat.

To stave off foreclosure on the farm she creates a syndicate and sells shares in Secretariat. That's smart business but not compelling drama.

She's abetted in this by a loyal groom (Nelsan Ellis of "True Blood"), a somewhat effete trainer with a thing for eye-popping color schemes (John Malkovich in full ham mode), a family retainer (Margo Martindale) and jockey Ron Turcotte (Otto Thorwarth).

Fred Dalton Thompson (back to acting after his presidential bid) and James Cromwell give nice support as movers and shakers in the thoroughbred world.

And it all adds up to ... not much. The filmmakers try to make Penny an icon of female empowerment, but it never quite jells. Lane is certainly watchable, but she seems to be tiptoeing carefully through this performance and gives an utterly sanitary portrayal. Maybe the real Penny Chenery hasn't got a negative side — but that makes for tepid drama.

In recent weeks Disney has heavily marketed the film to Christian audiences, in the mold of "The Blind Side." If only.

"Secretariat" isn't nearly as good as that Sandra Bullock hit, and while you could describe it as a family film, there's nothing particularly religious about it.

On the plus side, the racing scenes have an enjoyable immediacy and visceral power absent from the rest of the film.

Horse fanciers and race enthusiasts will undoubtedly have fun with "Secretariat." The rest of us might benefit more from a carriage ride.