Hopper: All’s ‘good right now’ despite cancer

Actor attended Breeders’ Cup in support of research charity

Celebrity video

Powerful women in Hollywood
Dec. 7: Eva Longoria Parker, Hilary Swank, Halle Berry and many others hit the red carpet at the Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 breakfast.

Can Tiger Woods be tamed?

Will more women emerge in Tiger Woods scandal?

Director on Ledger's last role

Actor lends helping hand in toy drive

Polanski under house arrest

Slideshow

Best and worst celebrity fashions of 2009
From glamorous gowns to stylish suits to complete fashion failures, a look at the year so far.

more photos

updated 11:56 p.m. ET Nov. 7, 2009

ARCADIA, California - Prostate cancer couldn't keep Dennis Hopper away from the Breeders' Cup on Saturday.

The 73-year-old actor and artist attended the Breeders' Cup in support of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, the official charity of the year-ending thoroughbred championships Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Southern California.

It was revealed last month that Hopper had been diagnosed with cancer, although he said Saturday he's been battling it for the past nine years. He's started a new, experimental treatment at the University of Southern California that he says he hopes will help.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

"It has great promise," Hopper said. "Everything's good right now."

Hopper recently canceled his appearance at an exhibition of his artwork and photography at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. He was hospitalized in New York last month and treated for dehydration.

Hopper is one of racing's biggest and best-known fans. He's been to five Breeders' Cups, including last year when he said he cashed a $17,000 trifecta ticket in the Classic, the signature race on thoroughbred racing's championship day.

He's disappointed horse racing has lost some of its luster among the public but he believes the sport carries its own style and swagger that is alluring.

"It would be a drag to see the industry come down," Hopper said. "It's such a great tradition. I hope it gets well and goes on forever."

Hopper wouldn't say who he was going to choose in the Classic, only to note that Zenyatta, a 5-year-old mare, is a formidable foe for her male rivals.

Click for related content

Zenyatta beats the boys at Breeders' Cup

"You can't count her out," he said. Zenyatta ended up winning the $5 million race to improve her record to 14-0.

The "Easy Rider" star recently finished shooting the second season of "Crash," a TV version of the Oscar-winning 2004 film. Hopper also has several film projects in the works.