Any true fan of horseracing has likely seen a few horseracing films in his or her day. While there are a ton of horseracing movies out there, some are much better than others. One of our favorite horse racing films, for example, is National Velvet. This is an oldie but a goodie! It stars the lovely Elizabeth Taylor in her youth, alongside Mickey Rooney. Taylor’s feisty character desperately wants her rebellious horse to win the Grand National Steeplechase, so much so that she defies the conventions of her time to ride the horse in the race.
A list of horseracing classics wouldn’t be complete without The Black Stallion, another movie featuring the legendary Mickey Rooney. The story centers around Alec, played by Kelly Reno, and the Arabian stallion he happens to meet aboard a ship. When the ship sinks, Alec and the horse are the sole survivors and are left to live together on an island. Eventually, they are both rescued and the two begin working alongside horse trainer Henry Dailey, played by Rooney. While this one might be a little unbelievable for some tastes, it is a classic nonetheless and one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
We also couldn’t get away without mentioning the 2010 hit Secretariat. This Disney offering tells the story of a mother, Penny Chenery, played by the lovely Diane Lane, who agrees to take over her father’s stables. Thanks to a lot of help from horse trainer Lucien Laurin (a surprisingly sweet John Malkovich), she does well in the horse racing industry and manages to bring up the first Triple Crown winner in a quarter of a century. The movie is very family-friendly and inspiring and can be enjoyed by anyone with half a heart.
And, last but not least, we (and the critics) have to say that the best horseracing film of all time is definitely Seabiscuit. The true story, which debuted to critical acclaim in 2003, focuses on Seabiscuit, an underdog to the max. This smaller than average horse who lived in the Depression era manages to win against all odds and to become a legend in his own right, and the film documents every glorious moment! The stars are out in full force with this one. The all-star cast includes Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Chris Cooper. If you think you’re a racing fanatic, then you have to see this one!
