Horse racing has been a favorite pastime of people for centuries. There are even some ways you can make watching the horses more interesting, by placing a bet where you can choose from a variety of options. But if there’s no horse racing on for you to watch or go and see, why not settle down with a good horse racing film? We’ve got a list of the best for you to choose from.Â
Best Horse Racing Movies of All Time
1. Dream Horse (2020)
Dream Horse is a combination of many things. It’s a comedy, mixed with a sports drama, mixed with some motivational drama elements thrown into the mix as well. The film is based on the true story of Dream Alliance, a horse that raced in the Welsh Grand National.Â
The film has a star-studded cast with the likes of Toni Collette, Damian Lewis, Owen Teale, Joanna Page, Karl Johnson, Steffan Rhodri, Anthony O’Donnell, Nicholas Farrell, and Siân Phillips all appearing on the screen.Â
It’s a story of unlikely luck and perseverance coming through and winning the day – definitely a tear-jerker, so get your tissues ready!Â
2. Ride Like a Girl (2019)
Ride Like a Girl is a 2019 Australian biographical film directed by Rachel Griffiths and is based on the life of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup back in 2015. This is a story of true grit and determination and is highly revered amongst the horse riding community.
Even if you have no interest in horses, this film will get you passionate about them and about the sport itself! The film is mostly made up of footage from the filmmaking process, but it also has a few snippets of documentary footage.
The first of these documentary snippets shows Payne as a young girl saying she wants to win the Melbourne Cup. At the very end of the film, it shows Payne as a young woman, winning the race that she had always dreamed of. In her victory speech, she gives a moving and funny speech about how she told all the people along the way who had said she could not do it, to “get stuffed”. This is a great film to watch, especially for young women who are in male-dominated fields. It shows the benefits of perseverance and hard work, and that they both can pay off.Â
3. The Horse Whisperer (1998)
One of the classic horse racing movies on this list is the 1998 American neo-western film, which was both directed by and starred Robert Redford. This film, like many popular films out there, was based on the 1995 novel of the same name by a man named Nicholas Evans.Â
You might not have read the book, but the film came out to rave reviews and is highly revered by horse lovers and novices alike. It’s great for those who love horse riding, as it’s about a man who is hired to help a teenager and get her back on her horse and return her to health after an accident.
It’s a heartwarming film that shows us just how some human compassion can have an equal effect on both humans and animals. Anyone who has a horse or loves horses is bound to recognise the level of love between a horse and their rider.Â
4. Chasing the Win (2016)
One for the documentary lovers, Chasing the Win tells everything you need to know about horse racing. It follows a rookie trainer and his rise to stardom in horse racing. It’s also one of the only documentary films on Rotten Tomatoes that has a perfect score of 100% from both the audience members and the critics.
If you love horse racing or even if you’re considering getting into it yourself, it’s definitely one to watch. It gives you background on what it takes to become a top member of the horse training community and how, sometimes, it is worth taking a risk on the career you love.Â
5. The Black Stallion (1979)
One of the oldest films on the list is The Black Stallion. It was made back in 1979, and it is based on the book with the same name by an author called Walter Farley.Â
The film is set in 1946, and we follow the story of Alec Ramsey. He is in a boating accident that leaves him wrecked on an island that is completely deserted apart from a slock of wild Arabian stallions that he manages to befriend.Â
Without giving too much away, the stallions become his closest friends and end up finding him fame and fortune. It’s a story of how a great tragedy can be the making of a person.
Who could be stuck with all these films to choose from? Add them all to your list and get watching!