Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world. It has been enjoyed by countless cultures throughout time and place and is just as popular today as it has ever been. Unsurprisingly, then, the film industry has seen fit to greenlight dozens of movies on the subject over the years. These days horse racing is bigger than ever due to the worldwide coverage available via streaming sites and racing bookmakers, with races like Cheltenham Festival attracting millions of viewers.
Today, we’re going to look at some of the top films for horse racing fans, from the old to the new. So, let’s get started.
1. Secretariat (2010)
Starting off with a recent one, Secretariat is the story of one of the most famous horses in the sport’s history. Also known as Big Red, Secretariat was the ninth winner of the Triple Crown, and to this day still holds the record for the fastest time in each race of the Crown. The film is mostly based on the 1975 book about Secretariat and was mostly filmed in Kentucky.
Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) is aided in her efforts to train Secretariat before his historic win in 1973 by Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich). The film is a gentle but real look at the life of a racehorse trainer as well as the difficulties women can face in a male-dominated business.
This is a great horse racing film for the whole family.
2. Dream Horse (2020)
Directed by Euros Lyn and written by Neil McKay, Dream Horse is a sports comedy-drama that tells the true story of the racehorse Dream Alliance. Trained by Philip Hobbs, Dream Alliance raced in the Welsh Grand National and was well known for being famously difficult when he was first purchased.
The film tells the story of the Welsh barmaid who raised him to greater heights than anyone had expected, performing far better than any had expected and reaching national level races. Starring Toni Collette and Damian Lewis, it’s funny and exciting all at once, and goes to show the inspiring determination with which ordinary people can commit to these incredible animals.
3. The Sting (1973)
Reaching back a lot further in time, next we have the classic American caper film, The Sting. A massive critical success when it was released, this film tells the story of two con artists hoping to get one-up on a mob boss for revenge. Starring such giants of Hollywood as Robert Redford and Paul Newman, it won seven Oscars and was nominated for ten.
Through a partner in a Western Union office, the two are able to make past-post bets and ultimately con their way to victory through highs and lows, excitement and tension. It has seen a number of multi-media adaptations over the years, being novelised and even turned into a stage play.
This is a classic of horse racing cinema that’s not to be missed. Even for the younger horse racing fans out there, you’ll still find something to love about this golden oldie.
4. Dreamer (2005)
John Gatins’ directorial debut, Dreamer is inspired by the true story of thoroughbred racehorse Mariah’s Storm. It went on to receive a Critic’s Choice award for best family film, and is still a classic of the genre today. Ben Crane, played by Kurt Russell, devotes far too much of his time to his horses, neglecting his daughter. Cale Crane (Dakota Fanning) eventually succeeds in convincing him to bring her along while he works.
Cale becomes enamoured with an injured horse that her father buys, and the film tells a deeply touching story of how they and the family all bond over the horse’s career. This is another great one for the whole family, with comedy, drama, joy and sadness.
5. Racing Stripes (2005)
Last on our list, we have the 2005 classic Racing Stripes. Telling the story of Stripes, a zebra who is unintentionally abandoned in Kentucky. He grows up believing he is a racehorse along with all of the other horses around him, and the film is a comedy family filming telling the story of his trainer’s attempts to turn him into a real competing racehorse.
Definitely on the more light-hearted side out of the movies we’ve looked at today, but the truth is there are more than enough dramas about horse racing out there. Comedies like this are harder to come by, and a great uplifting and hilarious film for family film night.
With a star-studded cast including Frankie Muniz, Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman and David Spade, the film is truly brought to life by incredible screenwriting paired with iconic performances.
If you’re looking out for films about horse racing, then, you are not short on choices. These are some of the best and most classic from across cinematic time, from the funniest to the most heart-wrenching. Whether you’re looking for an old-fashioned caper, a modern family drama, or a simple comedy, this list has you covered.
