Ben Hur Chariot Race #7

Charlton Heston was one of the most cooperative men I have ever worked with. He was keen to learn and not afraid to work. From his second day in Rome, he came out to the training track every morning to practice. He loved horses and I knew immediately that we were going to hit it off. During the first three days we rode together and I taught him all the “dos” and “don’ts” of charioteering. It takes a good deal of courage to step into an open, two-wheeled cab and try to control four horses that are running away from you. It taxes your body a lot more than driving a stagecoach where you’re sitting down and you have the weight of the wagon to back you up. But Heston is a good athlete and he had a good feel for the horses. I couldn’t have asked for better casting.