The start of a new calendar year means that the big horse racing will be coming thick and fast over the next few months.
All eyes will be on the Pegasus World Cup in the U.S. in the first month of 2025, before attentions switch to overseas action with the Dubai World Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Grand National all staged before the start of May.
However, the flat action takes over at the start of the fifth month, as the best horse racing expert picks aged three in training collide in the prestigious Kentucky Derby. But, if you’re looking to whet the appetite for the racing year ahead, what are some of the best movies and documentaries that you can watch on Netflix?
Ride Like a Girl
There is few more inspiring horse racing films on Netflix than ‘Ride Like a Girl’. The film follows the story of jockey Michelle Payne and her goal to become the first female rider to win the Melbourne Cup.
The 2019 release is the directing debut of Rachel Griffiths, and stars Teresa Palmer as Payne. As well as acting in the film, there is also book-ended pieces of documentary within the piece, which adds to the overall piece in an emotional way. Payne stated as a young girl that she wanted to win the Melbourne Cup, and after riding the winner she told those who doubted her to ‘get stuffed’.
That was a moment that caught the imagination of Griffiths, and the film received wide-spread acclaim. It was nominated for Best Film at the AACTA Awards, and Palmer was also acknowledged for her performance with a nomination for Best Actress.
50 to 1
Jim Wilson directs one of the most wholesome films focused on the Kentucky Derby, with ’50 to 1’ shaped around Mine That Bird’s memorable win in the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
Instead of focusing on the horse’s famous win, it tells the story from the point of view of the misfit group of New Mexico cowboys, who suddenly find themselves in a position of travelling to Churchill Downs after their runner gains qualification to one of the world’s most popular races. Christian Kane, William Devane, and Skeet Ulrich star in the film, which follows the shenanigans of the group from New Mexico to Louisville.
Mine That Bird’s win in the Derby remains one of the most popular of the modern era, as he upset odds of 50/1 to beat a talented field. He was unable to follow up that memorable win when finishing second in the Preakness Stakes and fourth in the Belmont Stakes.
Champions: Full Gallop
Horse racing fans in the United Kingdom have long preyed for a documentary series following the season-long action over jumps, and ITV finally granted that wish with the release of Champions: Full Gallop earlier this year.
The six-part show follows the action on track from the perspective of some of the biggest yards in the country, and also showcasing what jockeys must go through after picking up injuries while chasing a prestigious jockeys’ championship. Two episodes focus heavily on the Cheltenham Festival, as the attention quickly turns to the race to be named Champion Trainer.
The culmination of the campaign is excellently shown in the show, as it captures the magnitude of the achievement of Willie Mullins to win the title, despite being based in Ireland after a string of victories on the final card of the season at Sandown. Unlike films, the documentary does an excellent job of going behind the scenes, and telling the stories of those closest to the action.
Dettori
Frankie Dettori is one of the world’s most famous jockeys, but his career has been littered with as many lows as highs. Therefore, the documentary film focused on his life is worth watching for any racing fan that has been interesting in the sport over the last 50 years.
It follows Dettori and tells his story over his 30 years in the spot light, from the highs of winning seven on the bounce at Ascot, to lows of an airplane crash at Newmarket. It is a no-holds barred look at his career, and shows exactly what it takes to become a legend in the saddle.
Ride to Survive
While not released yet, one of the most exciting horse racing documentaries was announced late last year, as the sport will be getting the ‘Drive to Survive’ treatment with a fly-on-the-wall series focused on the Kentucky Derby.
Produced by Box to Box Films, it will follow trainers, jockeys and owners throughout a season of racing in the U.S., and filming got underway in late 2023. The development team have already enjoyed huge success with Drive to Survive, Full Wing, and Six Nations: Full Contact, meaning that racing can expect to be in the mainstream when the series drops.