Despite being hugely popular with people across the world, it is fair to say that horse racing is often overlooked by producers of films and television programmes.

Sports such as American Football, boxing and motorsports have cornered the sports movies market over the past few decades, leaving horse racing on the outside looking in.

It hasn’t always been that way, with classic films such as A Day at The Races and National Velvet demonstrating that the sport can transfer well onto the silver screen.

It could be argued that other sports are now favoured by the TV and film industry due to their dramatic nature, but horse racing certainly does not lack in this department.

The sport has been littered with true stories worthy of showcasing in film, while its unpredictability makes it the perfect fodder for scriptwriters.

With that in mind, we look at some of the horse racing-themed films and television programmes that prove the sport should be featured more prominently.

Champions

Anyone with an interest in horse racing betting would have struggled to have the imagination to write the backstory that led up to the 1981 Grand National.

The film chronicles jockey Bob Champions’ battle to overcome cancer and win the prestigious long-distance jumps race at Aintree.

Champion’s mount Aldiniti had also fought back from the brink of death after suffering a serious leg injury in a race at Sandown Park.

However, the pair eventually reunited to comfortably win a race at Ascot and set up the possibility of an unlikely success in the Grand National.

Starring John Hurt, who sadly died from cancer in 2017, Champion is a deeply moving tale showcasing how people should never give up on their dreams.

Seabiscuit

Based on the best-seller by Laura Hillenbrand, this stunning film chronicles how horse racing has the power to inspire an entire nation.

With America on its knees in the wake of the Great Depression, Seabiscuit’s exploits on the racetrack provided people across the country with a much-needed boost.

Jockey Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire) has unwavering faith in Seabiscuit, despite the horse’s laziness and penchant for behaving badly.

Writer-director Gary Ross and cinematographer John Schwartzman get ridiculously close to the action, providing a fascinating insight into the dangers of horse racing.

The historic 1938 match between Seabiscuit and Triple Crown winner War Admiral provides a fitting climax to a film that undoubtedly does the sport justice.

Luck

 

Directed by Michael Mann and written by David Milch and, Luck is a fantastic American drama TV series starring Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Farina.

The show was first aired by HBO in January 2012 and charts the tale of Chester ‘Ace’ Bernstein, an organised crime figure who has just been released from jail.

Bernstein plots revenge against his former partners with his driver and friend Gus Economou. He owns the racehorse Pint of Plain with Economou acting as a front.

John Ortiz, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick and Nick Nolte are amongst a superb cast in a series that left viewers wanting more.

Hoffman’s brilliant performance in the lead role highlighted his ability to switch seamlessly between big screen and television roles.