Horse Racing Goes to the Movies

The grandeur, glory, and glamour of the racetrack have not been lost on Hollywood. Many films have featured racehorses as the “stars” or been set against the exciting backdrop of a racetrack or the racing world. From comedies to dramas, these stories tell tales of underdogs that triumphed, both human and horse, and of how the Sport of Kings brought families together, helped someone overcome incredible odds and personal challenges and find grace, and basically changed lives. Here are some of the standouts:

“A Day at the Races” – 1937

The Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, and Chico) star alongside Allan Jones and Maureen O’Sullivan in this delightful comedy hit that tells the story of a veterinarian (Groucho) posing as a doctor who teams up with a singer (Allan Jones) and his pals to save an upstate New York sanitarium with the help of a misfit racehorse named Hi-Hat. O’ Sullivan plays the owner of the sanitarium in this classic MGM gem.

“Kentucky” – 1938

An old film that opens with a Civil War scene, which is not for the faint of heart. The movie is a love story set in the racing world with a great cast, including Walter Brennan, who won an Academy Award for his role. The movie also stars Loretta Young and Richard Greene and includes a real clip of Eddie Arcaro riding Lawrin for his first Derby win and footage of legendary horses Gallant Fox and Man o’ War. 

“It Ain’t Hay” – 1943

Comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star in this hilarious racing romp.  Bud plays Grover Mockridge and Lou plays Wilber Hoolihan, two unlikely heroes who come to the rescue when a racehorse gorges on candy and dies. They replace the racehorse with a ringer that is actually a champion named “Tea Biscuit.” Lou Costello as a jockey riding Tea Biscuit is a hoot!

“National Velvet” – 1944

An absolute classic about a girl and her horse, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. 12-year-old Velvet wins a horse in a raffle that she names “The Pie.” Velvet meets Mi, a young wanderer hired to work at their home. The two become friends and Mi, a former jockey, agrees to help Velvet train The Pie for the Grand National. This takes some work, as Mi is now afraid of horses after a tragic accident and refuses to ride them. Velvet is determined to have Mi assist her and he relents. The next big challenge, the race is only for males. Velvet must pretend to be a boy to handily beat the boys to the finish line. The movie won two Oscars – Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Anne Revere and Best Film Editing for Robert J. Kern and was based on the 1935 novel of the same name. 

“The Winner’s Circle” – 1949

What makes this story stand out are the appearances of legends such as Man o’ War, Whirlaway, Gallant Fox, Phar Lap, and Seabiscuit. The movie tells the tale of a troublesome colt who is sold from owner to owner before maturing and making a successful run at the Santa Anita racetrack.

“The Killing” – 1956

Stanley Kubrick wrote and directed this hard-edged noir crime story. It’s classic Kubrick involving a plot to steal millions of dollars from a racetrack, based on the novel Clean Break by Lionel White. Word is an updated remake is in the works.

“The Black Stallion” – 1979

A true classic for the whole family, this 1979 production is based on the 1941 children’s novel by Walter Farley and tells the story of Alec Ramsey, shipwrecked on a deserted island with a black Arabian stallion. Alec befriends the stallion, called Black, and after being rescued back to America, finds out how fast Black is and trains his stallion for the racetrack. Alec invites the press to witness Black’s performance in a secret night-time demonstration. Everyone is amazed by the speed of the horse and his rider, resulting in an invitation to enter the horse in a race. Despite Black being wounded by one of his opponents, he wins the championship.

“Phar Lap” – 1983

Based on the story of the real New Zealand thoroughbred who became an icon during the Great Depression in Australia. The movie tells his story from being malnourished and covered in warts, much to the disappointment of his future owner, Mr. Davis, to a champion and icon after trainer Harry Telford convinces Mr. Davis to let him work with Phar Lap. With the help of a devoted stable boy, Tommy Woodcock, Phar Lap starts to win races. Sadly, the real Phar Lap only lived for five years and died under mysterious circumstances in 1931. 

“Champions” – 1984

This film tells the story of jockey Bob Champion, played by John Hurt, who combined race riding with battling testicular cancer. Champion managed to win the 1981 Grand National, the biggest horse racing event in the U.K. 

“Let It Ride” -1989

An American comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss, David Johansen, and Teri Garr. Dreyfuss plays a nosy cab driver and unsuccessful gambler who can’t stop gambling on the horses after he gets a hot tip that wins him big bucks. The movie was filmed on location at Hialeah Park Racetrack.

“Shergar” – 1999

A young stable boy runs away from reform school and befriends another fugitive, the champion racehorse Shergar, kidnapped and held for ransom by the Irish Republican Army. Based on the true story of Shergar who was kidnapped by terrorists in 1983 and met with an awful fate.

“Seabiscuit” – 2003

Another classic horse racing movie, is based on the best-selling 1999 non-fiction book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. The movie stars Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Stevens, and William H. Macy and tells the story of three men who come together to train a broken-down horse nobody ever believed would succeed. Tobey Maguire excels as a jockey with something to prove, just like the little horse that defied the odds to become a giant in the racing world.

“Hidalgo” – 2004 

The 2004 epic biographical western is based on the legend of American distance rider, Frank Hopkins, played by Viggo Mortensen, and his famous mustang, Hidalgo. Frank T. Hopkins was said to be a professional con artist. The story is visually stunning and action-packed and exciting as it recounts Hopkins’ racing his horse in Arabia in 1891 against Bedouins riding pure-blooded Arabian horses. 

“Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story” – 2005

Ben, played by Kurt Russell, is a horse trainer who appears to care more about his work than his daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning). One day, when Ben takes his daughter to the racetracks, one of his horses falls badly and injures herself. The owner wants to put down the horse, but, persuaded by Cale, Ben strikes a bargain and buys the horse instead. The family drama follows their quest to race her in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. 

“Ruffian” – 2007 

Based on the story of the greatest filly ever to run on any track, Ruffian, this film follows the young thoroughbred through her amazing career wins. During most of her early races, Ruffian was outclassing the competition. In July 1975, as a three-year-old, she was entered in a highly anticipated match race with Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. Sadly, during the race, Ruffian fell and broke down on the racetrack. The three-year-old champion was taken to surgery but reacted poorly after coming out of the anesthesia. Sadly, the only option was to have her euthanized. She died a legend and one of the best racehorses ever, male or female.

“Secretariat” – 2010

Probably the best racing story ever made and now a true classic in the field, this family drama was distributed by Walt Disney. The “underdog” movie is based on William Nack’s book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion and follows the life of Penny Chenery, played by Diane Lane, who returns to her family home upon learning about her mother’s death and takes charge of her family’s Meadow Stables. Despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge and with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin, played by John Malkovich, she keeps the business afloat and ends up with Secretariat as the result of a coin toss. Determined to succeed, Chenery takes Secretariat to the top when “Big Red” defies the critics and wins the Triple Crown. 

“The Cup” – 2011

This drama follows Australian jockey Damien Oliver, played by Brendan Gleeson, and his quest to win Australia’s Melbourne Cup, known as the Race That Stops the World, in 2002. The story follows Oliver’s challenges, including a tragic family death that he must overcome, and what a jockey has to deal with on and off the track. 

“50 to 1” – 2014

Based on the true story of a group of New Mexico cowboys who take their undersized thoroughbred racehorse all the way to a shocking Kentucky Derby win. Their journey is the focus of the film, and all the craziness they experience to get to Churchill Downs. They literally beat the odds with their racehorse, Mine That Bird, as he pulled off a monumental upset at 50 to 1 odds. Jockey Calvin Borel plays himself.

“Dark Horse” – 2015

Dark Horse is one of two films about the horse, Dream Alliance. Set in a Welsh mining village, barmaid Jan Vokes convinces other members of the community to chip in 10 pounds a week towards a new horse racing venture. They purchase a colt named Dream Alliance and hire a trainer to work with him. Dream Alliance is the typical underdog but does well in his first race and goes on to win a great deal of prize money, shared amongst his investors. Some of the money went towards medical costs when Dream Alliance was diagnosed with a lung condition.    

“Rock My Heart” – 2017

Netflix’s German family drama features a teenager named Jana who has a serious heart condition. Because of her parents’ overprotectiveness, she rebels often and is frequently withdrawn. When she goes searching for a horse she recently connected with, she learns his name is “Rock My Heart.” A horse trainer offers to train Jana as a jockey. Despite knowing it might kill her, Jana persists and enters a race, determined to live her life to the fullest. It’s an emotional movie worthy of two boxes of tissues.  

“Ride Like a Girl” – 2019

This is Australian jockey Michelle Payne’s story. Payne was the first female winner of the famed Melbourne Cup along with her horse, Prince of Penzance. The movie follows her from a little girl dreaming of winning the Cup, to a young woman about to live out her dream. All while also dealing with her sister’s death and her father’s protective ways. When Michelle enters the Melbourne Cup, her odds of winning are 100 to 1. She easily rides Prince of Penzance to victory and gives a now-famous winning speech. 

“Dream Horse” – 2020

Another true story, this time as a sports comedy-drama, is about Dream Alliance, the unlikely racehorse bred by small-town Welsh bartender, Jan Vokes (Toni Collette) and her local investors. The film debuted at Sundance Film Festival.

“Jockey” – 2021

An American drama that stars Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, and Moises Arias. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and tells the gritty story of an aging jockey with deteriorating health who aims for one final championship ride when a rookie rider arrives in his life, claiming to be his son. It’s a film about family, physical and emotional challenges, and going for that one last dream.

No doubt there will be more films set in the thrilling world of the Sport of Kings as more legends are born and records are broken, and this list doesn’t even touch on the many race-related television shows over the years, but the above list should keep any racing fan satisfied for quite a while. Grab the remote and “Riders Up!”