My Top 10 Racing Movies

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

jeanne wolverton — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:18:09 GMT

Love Phar Lap, I bought a Video cassette copy on Amazon. It was once available at blockbuster, and this is where it came from originally.

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

rmoney — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:11:38 GMT

How about Dreamer the Kurt Russell movie. David Morse shines in this, and with the foreign money everywhere it makes sense to mention it.

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Mary Zinke — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:00:33 GMT

On The Nose! Just watched it. Aborigine head in a jar picks winners. Good stories, many funny moments.

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

Silverfoot — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 20:49:27 GMT

After reading your list, I remembered that I had a DVD copy of Phar Lap. Several years ago Fox Movie Channel showed it, and I recorded it with a DVD recorder I had at the time. I finally found the DVD in a box, sat down last night and watched the whole thing, being totally captivated. What a wonderful film - I can't find one thing wrong with it.

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

AngelaInAbilene — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 17:47:48 GMT

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "My Old Man" based on Hemingway's short story with Warren Oates, Eileen Brennan & Kristy McNichol that came out in the 70's. If you've never seen it, it's a great movie.

What about "Little MIss Marker?" There are 2 versions, the 2nd starred Walter Matthau & Julie Andrews. Both the original and remake are good racing movies.

There are so many good horse/racing movies that have been made over the years. I've been collecting them all of my life and have amassed quite a catalogue of books and movies. I think after reading this blog, I'm going to make a trip into town for provisions & come home and watch movies all weekend. Thanks for the insperation!

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

Mookie's Hero — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 06:42:03 GMT

I'm not sure if this would be considered a racing movie but in the book The Horsemasters by Don Stafford there is a terrific cross country horse trial. The made for TV Walt Disney movie was lots of fun. I loved it. Annette Funicello starred in the movie. I would love to find a DVD of this movie. I have both Casey's Shadow and the Champions. Loved the book National Velvet but can't bring myself to see the movie. Seabiscuits was a great book and a interesting movie. I hope I can find the others on this list. Great list. Thanks so much.

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

Paula Higgins — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 18:45:40 GMT

mz, I loved the story of Sgt. Reckless too. I never really understood why Steven Spielberg did a story (yes, I know it was big on the London stage) about a fictional horse when the real deal existed in the form of Sgt. Reckless, and a girl no less. What a great story. If you don't know about her, "google" her. There are a bunch of sites devoted to her courage in battle. As much as I love the Queens: Zenyatta, Rachel, Goldikova, Black Caviar, Zarkava and Rags to Riches, Ruffian, Personal Ensign, Miesque etc., she was unique in her heroism. I know many horses were used in battle throughout history and showed great courage.

Ted from LA, Happy New Year and to everyone who blogs here. A special Happy Year to Steve and his family for giving us such a wonderful blog.

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

Bellwether — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 13:25:07 GMT

Another wonderful article...ty...

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Ted from LA — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 01:20:22 GMT

God bless us everyone.

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mz — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 01:13:32 GMT

Just wanted to let all of Sgt. Reckless' fans know that they unveiled a statue in her honour in July. I'd like to see a movie about her.

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Flora — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 23:31:05 GMT

Any love here for The Reivers from 1969, starring Steve McQueen and a very young Mitch Vogel? It was a "road trip" story set in the rural American South at the turn of the century, and the big horse race scene is absolutely lyrical. Racing is one of the major themes of the movie although it has several story lines. I still enjoy watching it.

Phar Lap was really great film, which I have seen several times, but I am not sure I can ever watch it again, it's too heartbreaking, as are several others people have mentioned.

arcadiagirl, I know that Japanese film too but I can't recall the title! It was in black and white and very intense. I remember the boy's father beating the horse while he was in his stall, probably because he had lost a race? I was very young and I had never seen that kind of cruelty depicted on film before and it had a profound effect on me.

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Pedro1874 — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 13:52:36 GMT

Great list Steve. As I spent 20 years in Oz involved in the racing game over there I agree with your number 1. I had the privilege of meeting Tommy when, as a trainer, he campaigned his wonderful horse Reckless all over the country and marveling as he let kids have rides on his back on raceday! Supreme horseman and if you have not seen the photo of him sleeping with Reckless in his stable, here it is - a one off for sure!

images.smh.com.au/.../port-560170999-620x349.jpg

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

davidr — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 15:21:43 GMT

Great list Steve. I agree with Phar Lap, Boots Malone, National Velvet and Let It Ride. I also like The Long Shot with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman ("Opening prayer is at 1:00 o'clock"). Always good for a laugh!

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Alysheba88 — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:41:09 GMT

Thanks for such an entertaining walk through the history of horse racing cinema! I am thrilled that you also appreciate Casey's Shadow as it is my all-time favorite and the reason I became obsessed with horse racing. I was already a horse-crazy girl but this movie made me fall in love with the racing world. As much as I love the sequence you mentioned with the colt's (and the boy's) development, the final racing scene of the All-American Futurity moves me to tears every time. The slow-motion, the colors and the swell of the music to Shadow's rippling muscles propelling him across the finish line were magnificent. The heart-wrenching ending completes the emotional wringing-out for me but then I can't wait to see it all again. Once when I was in college I actually wrote to HBO and asked them to please put it on, and they did!! Again, thanks for your nod to the movie that changed my life.

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Linda in Texas — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:26:56 GMT

Merry Christmas Steve and family and all the wonderful bloggers,friends, fans, announcers, owners, trainers, jockeys, handlers, caregivers, hot walkers, groomers and all supporting back track folks, but especially to the Thoroughbreds whom without we would not be here.

Regards at this special time of the year from all of us in Texas y Feliz Navidad a Todos!

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

Thoroughbreds are the best — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 01:46:52 GMT

Watched Phar-Lap on you tube this morning. I haven't seen it in years. It is still well done and deservedly number one. Glad to see it again. Great movie that really captured the early 1930's as well.

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Uncle Smiley — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 22:37:54 GMT

This just came to mind and is perhaps the ultimate blend of Race Horse and holiday movie...The Lemon Drop Kid, staring Bob Hope.

Plus, the name of Hope's character, runs with us today.

Youtube has a great synopsis showing highlights from the racing plot and susequent "Christmas" plot. Both based on a Damon Runyan con scheme.

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

joseph lemoine — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 18:40:10 GMT

hi,i dont want to sound sarcastic but your choices dont fall in line with the publics opinion.i have been an owner for numerous years probably more than you and pharlap was ok but as far as the american ideas of a good race track movie seabicuit even with mistakes is

probably the nos i choice

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Slew — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 22:22:00 GMT

Haven't been around lately so Happy Holidays everyone. I have Phar Lap, and think it's the best too. I have Let It Ride, but had a bit of a disappointment. Several years ago a TV commercial used scenes from that movie but told the story of some gamblers who got into debt with Mr Big, and attempted to appease him by buying him a champion race horse. Everyone is at the track on the big day. Mr. Big is strutting around as an owner. The gates open and the horses take off. Mr. Big is searching the field with his binoculars. However, his champion horse is still back at the gate doing the two-step salsa on the track. His "Champion" horse turns out to be a dressage champion! (but not a race horse.) That scenario was the commercial, and not in the movie...but I kept waiting for it...hence the disappointment.

You did forget the '30's movie with an emerging Clark Gable (pre-moustache days), and I think the title was The Sporting Life (not certain, even though I have it somewhere). It's a boy meets girl story, but it's mostly about a race horse called Tommy-Boy. I thought Seabiscuit was excellent, but Secretariat was not really about the horse.

Of course I would most love a movie (but the real story) about Seattle Slew.

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Mary Zinke — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 06:51:59 GMT

Okay, KY, more giggles at your movie synopses. You always seem so out of breath. I was thinking that The Champ had more to do with boxing, but you gave a racing link. I'm a fan of the Snowy River movies for that guy who stars in Phar Lap, too.

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KY VET — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:45:28 GMT

acadamy award! the champ was a groom....they lived at the track....the kid owned a horse.......man from snowy river 1 and 2....about 2 twins trying to win the heart of a girl....she told them she would go with the 1st one to make a fortune.....one went looking for gold, one bet all his money on a horse....the horse won..........was dreamer,a movie about horseracing? or a father that gave up on his dreams.....was day at the races about horseracing? or 3 comic slapstick comedians? the best movies are about personal character development.......the way the champ, and kid showed their morals, the way they carried themselves, were consistant with growing up at the track.....how a bet is a bet, you win sometimes you lose sometimes.......the boys horse broke down on the track right? ......not a movie about horseracing? really?

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Paula Higgins — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 01:38:34 GMT

mz, omg I laughed my head off at your trip to Italy comment. I felt the same way. I think most teenagers did.

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Windolin — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:28:43 GMT

Lol, seems that the comments have gone beyond race horse movies to horse movies in general with the mentioning of The Man From Snowy River, but maybe not too far as the wild stallion was a thoroughbred. So I will tosin aan old movie that has nothing to do with racing..Misty of Chincoteague.

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mz — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:06:39 GMT

Forgot to tell everyone: Mine That Bird movie coming out in March. The trailer is already out but I am not ept enough to post a link. Go check it out (while I YouTube the real Derby again and smile a lot)

re: My Top 10 Racing Movies

Mary Zinke — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:04:40 GMT

Geez, had to LOL at your mention of The Champ, KY. How is that a horse racing movie? And you may as well just boldly admit that you like the feisty girl in the Snowy River movies. Ha,ha,ha!