Celebrate Oscar Sunday with a Horse Racing Movie

A Guest Post by Dark Horse Bet

With Oscar Sunday just days away, movie hype and Hollywood fever is in the air. Who will take home the award for best performance? Which storyline will receive the Oscar for best picture? What will the celebrities be wearing to the big event?

Though none of the films in this year’s best picture lineup involve a horse racing theme, the horse racing community is no stranger to the big screen. From true stories retold to fictional renditions of adventures at the track, many movies have captured the spirit of the sport leaving audiences touched and new generations inspired.  As a nod to the 85 Academy Awards and horse racing fans alike, we have compiled a list of 10 horse racing movies to check out next time you are surfing Netflix, Redbox or your local library’s film section.

1.) Seabiscuit (2003)

Based loosely on the true story of a Depression-era racehorse, Seabiscuit follows the unlikely racing career of an overlooked thoroughbred and his too-tall jockey, played by Tobey Maguire. These misfits become the classic underdog team, finding unexpected success that not only puts them on the tracks with the big boys, but also inspires a nation looking for hope amidst troubling  economic turmoil. Hall of Famer, jockey Gary Stevens, played the role of jockey George Woolf, bringing the race scenes to life in an invigorating way.

2.) The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

Bob Hope plays New Yorker, Sidney Milburn, aka “The Lemon Drop Kid,” a swindler touting racehorses at a track in Florida. After he convinces a woman to change her bet to a horse that finishes in last place, the woman’s outraged, mobster beau demands a $10,000 compensation to make up for his lost potential earnings, giving “The Kid” until Christmas Eve to turn in the cash. The real-life 1999 Belmont Stakes winner, Lemon Drop Kid, was affectionately named after this comedy film.

3.) Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)

Inspired by the true story of race horse Mariah’s Storm, Dreamer chronicles the life of fictional horse Sonador, an aspiring winner who faces a severe injury that stands to jeopardize her racing career. In the film, young horse-lover, Cale Crane, (played by Dakota Fanning) is the daughter of horse trainer Ben, (played by Kurt Russell) and witnesses Sonador fall on the track. The girl insists that that her father rescue the horse from being put down. As Sonador successfully progresses through rehabilitation, the father and daughter pair restore their strained relationship.

4.) Secretariat (2010)

Secretariat is remembered not only as the 1973 Triple Crown Winner, but also as one of the greatest thoroughbred horses of all time. This film relives the tale of his victorious road and race to the top, integrating the important role of owner Penny Chenerey (played by Diane Lane) who did not lose faith in the horse known at the barn as “Big Red.” Real-life Chenerey makes a cameo appearance in the movie.

5.) A Day at the Races (1937)

Starring the three Marx Brothers, this classic comedy tells the story of three doctors who try to save a woman’s farm by winning a big race with her horse. Running into some inconvenient problems along the way, the film has racing flavor mixed with musical entertainment and a lot of laughs by this famous family comedy act.

6.) The Black Stallion (1979)

Based on the 1941 children’s novel by Walter Farley, this film is about a young boy, who, when traveling with his father, is shipwrecked on a desert island with no other survivors except the mysterious Arabian stallion traveling with them. The boy and horse develop a friendship, and after rescued, return home where they meet a trainer who helps the human/equine team prepare to race against the fastest horses in the world.

7.) National Velvet (1944)

This film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney takes place in Sussex, England where twelve-year-old Velvet (Taylor) wins an energetic horse in a raffle, and with the help of drifter and former jockey Mi Taylor (Rooney), trains the gelding to race in the Grand National Steeplechase. The film is ranked 9th on the American Film Institute’s list of 10 greatest films in the sports genre.

8.) Phar Lap (1983)

Another Depression-era champion, thoroughbred Par Lap dominated Australian horse racing during a time of economic despair. His winning career inspired the 1983 film that retells the story of the racehorse that made it to the top through the commitment of a local stable boy who bonded with him, and how a mysterious illness ended it all.

9.) Shergar (1999)

This film is an interpretation of the true story of acclaimed Irish racehorse Shergar, who won the 1981 Epsom Derby by an impressive 10 lengths, then was later abducted by who many theorized to be Irish Republican Army terrorists seeking ransom for weapons. Though the true fate of Shergar is still sadly unknown, the Hollywood portrayal tells the story of an orphan boy working on the farm who decides to save the horse by fleeing with him.

10.) Hidalgo (2004)

Based loosely on the story of American distance Rider Frank Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo, the film recounts the 1891 tale of how Hopkins and Hidalgo were summoned by a wealthy man to compete as the first American and his mustang in the legendary “Ocean of Fire,”a 3,000-mile race and grueling adventure across the Najd desert in Arabia, restricted only to pure-bred Arabian horses. Hopkins and Hidalgo eager for the challenge attempt to accomplish the impossible.

As we have seen, horseracing movies have been on the scene for decades. The sport offers many unique examples of victory, defeat, trial, disappointment and triumph, and Hollywood films have become one way to explore these stories further and pass them on to younger generations. Whether you are interested in renting one of these movies-- or one of the countless others-- next time you find yourself amidst a slow day at the tracks, maybe a cinematic break will help you find your fix. But when the gates open and the bell cues the start of a new race, we hope you will wager and win with us at Dark Horse Bet, the fastest growing community of online horse-playing.

For a look at what Santa Anita horse trainers are watching, see this previous post!

The Original Big 'Cap: South of the Border

A guest post by David J. Beltran

When Einstein crossed the finish line to win the 2009 $1-million Santa Anita Handicap, he added his name to a list of champions that have made it Santa Anita’s signature race. Many people don’t know that the concept for the storied Big ‘Cap actually has its roots in Mexico, with the Coffroth Handicap.

A crowd filled the stands of Tijuana Racecourse for the 1924 Coffroth Handicap.

The Coffroth Handicap, started at Tijuana Racecourse, was named after the track’s president, San Francisco boxing promoter James "Sunny" Coffroth. The first running of the Coffroth only held a purse of $5,000 to the winner, but soon the race would increase in value when it was suggested by Tijuana’s presiding steward, George W. Schilling, that the purse should increase by $10,000 each year.

Outside of Oriental Park in Havana, Cuba or The Fair Grounds in Louisiana, winter racing at the time was non-existent in the United States. There was a revolution simmering in Mexico, and the Juarez racetrack had closed its doors. Tijuana racetrack was poised for serious growth thanks in part to a supportive social and governmental environment. First there was no competition from any other racetrack that operated during the winter months. Secondly, Prohibition had inspired many an American to venture into Mexico to misbehave, spend a little money and gamble at the various casinos that dotted the U.S-Mexico border. And with the Mexican government declaring the northern region of Baja California a free trade zone, American investors were able to set up business to support the border region of San Diego/Tijuana as a winter vacation getaway. With Coffroth’s Blue Fox Casino funding the racetrack venture the value of the Coffroth Handicap seemed to have no limits.

The early runnings of the Coffroth Handicap featured the best local runners from the current winter meet, but it was not until 1924 that the first BIG horse was lured into Mexico. His name was Exterminator -- the winner of the 1917 Kentucky Derby. “Old Bones,” as he was affectionately called, made a devastating debut south of the border to win an allowance race and was heavily favored to win the $40,000 Coffroth Handicap, but the best he could manage was a fourth-place finish.

With each subsequent running, the Coffroth Handicap not only increased in value but in the fields it attracted, such as top handicap horses Atherstone, Sunspero, Carlaris and Princess Doreen. The race reached its goal of $100,000 in 1928 when Crystal Pennant beat 17 rivals.

Crystal Pennant after winning the 1928 Coffroth Hadicap.

The following year, Golden Prince took home the $113,000 prize when he forged home ahead of 21 competitors. Sadly this was to be the final racing season at the old Tijuana racecourse. The racing permit was bought out by the management of the Agua Caliente Casino and Resort, and racing was to be held at the new $2.9-million dollar Agua Caliente Jockey Club.

The “new racetrack” simply transferred over the old racing calendar and proceeded. The inaugural running of the Agua Caliente Handicap in 1930 attracted 1928 Preakness winner, Victorian. Highweighted at 126 pounds, Victorian did not find the weight an obstacle as he went on to an easy victory.

Post parade for the first running of the $100,000 Agua Caliente Handicap, March 23, 1930.

The inaugural meeting at Agua Caliente proved to be a success, and the 1931 running offered a first place prize of $100,000. Entered was America’s top handicap runner, Sun Beau. Like Exterminator, Sun Beau prepped in an allowance race early in the meet and was heavily favored to win the big race. In a field of 10, Sun Beau found traffic early in the race. Once in the clear his rider made the decision to try and steal the race with five furlongs to run. Leading into the stretch, Sun Beau began to fade from his early efforts when he used himself up evading traffic. With nothing left, Sun Beau finished fifth, beaten by the unaccomplished Mike Hall.

The following year was perhaps the most famous of all Agua Caliente Handicaps. It was the race in which Phar Lap made his only North American start. Phar Lap was a managerial coup, and the Agua Caliente promotional machine was revving its engines in hopes of having The “Terror of the Antipodes” make one start before the big race. But the hyped International Handicap between Phar Lap, American Derby winner Reveille Boy, Preakness winner Dr. Freeland and local favorite Scimitar never left the drawing table. Phar Lap had suffered a quarter crack in one of his hooves and was sidelined for most of his stay in Mexico.

Phar Lap's trainer, Bobby Woodcock trained the horse by keeping him moving in long walks. The day of the big race finally came, and Woodcock feared that his horse would not only be a target of gamblers but the riders in the race. To throw everyone off, Woodcock brought Phar Lap over from the stables and saddled him two hours before post time.

In the race Phar Lap broke slowly then was taken in hand and out towards the center of the course to prevent him from being boxed in or crowded. As the field made its way around the clubhouse turn, Phar Lap was well behind the field. When the field straightened out on the backside, Phar Lap made one gigantic run at the leaders. Making the lead with a half mile to run, Phar Lap coasted until Reveille Boy made a run at him and seemed well on his way to overtake Phar Lap. But the great Aussie champ turned it up another notch and won drawing away.

Phar Lap in the winners' circle after the $50,000 Agua Caliente Handicap. Pictured are trainer Tommy Woodcock and jockey Billy Elliot.

Fourteen days after this great victory, Phar Lap would die under mysterious circumstances at a ranch in Menlo Park,California. Emotionally stirred by this tragedy, many believed the great horse was poisoned, but in reality Phar Lap died of a rare form of colic.

The Agua Caliente Handicap was caught in the rigors of the Depression, and the purse was reduced to $25,000. The 1933 and ’34 runnings were won by Gallant Sir, ridden by George “The Iceman” Woolf and John “Red” Pollard of Seabiscuit fame, respectively. 1935 saw the end of the great racetrack in Tijuana as a new president of Mexico, Lazaro Cardenas, sought to close the gambling empire run by Americans. It was not until 1938 that both Agua Caliente racetrack and its signature race joined forces in an effort to revitalize racing in Northern Mexico. Seabiscuit made his only start outside of the United States as he scored an easy win in the $12,500 race.

With the opening of Santa Anita in 1934 and the lifting of Prohibition, Agua Caliente racetrack no longer had the stronghold it had during the early 1930’s. Agua Caliente was reduced to an arena for lower level horses but remained a popular attraction for horseplayers during the 1950’s and 60’s. Caliente offered a varied betting menu, which made its Anglo neighbors seem drab in comparison. With Quinellas, Perfectas and the 5-10 (racing’s first pick-6) Caliente lured the American bettors into Mexico for the only Sunday racing in the Western region.

Run by John Alessio, Caliente saw an opportunity to make racing history by reviving the Agua Caliente Handicap and luring the great Round Table. At the time, Round Table was $30,000 short of being racing’s newest millionaire, and the winning share of the Agua Caliente Handicap would put Round Table over that mark.

Round Table winning the 1958 Caliente Handicap.

Assembling a host of local runners, Caliente assured trainer William Molter that Round Table would not carry more than 130 pounds. More than 30,000 people crammed into Caliente that day. Round Table, ridden by William Shoemaker, had a close call on the clubhouse turn as Shoemaker found himself in a tight running position. But “Shoe” was able to get the big horse out in the clear and won the race with a decisive move on the far turn. Round Table won by nine lengths in track-record time for the 1-1/16-mile distance.

Round Table in the winners' circle with trainer William Molter, Jockey Bill Shoemaker and Caliente General Manager John Alessio.

After the 1958 running, the Agua Caliente Handicap would never be run again. While the Santa Anita Handicap has seen monumental growth from its birth in 1935, the great race has its roots and owes its very concept to the great tracks of Tijuana, Mexico.

Author's Note: Agua Caliente was destroyed in a 1971 fire. Rebuilt, the “new” Caliente opened in 1974 and eventually closed its doors in 1992. Today Caliente is no longer the racetrack it used to be and has been converted into a private home of a failed local politician, its infield retrofitted with a soccer stadium.

All photographs property of David Beltran Collection.


David J. Beltran was born in Chula Vista and raised in San Diego and Tijuana. He has been attending the races since he was an infant, both at Caliente and the Southern California race tracks. Beltran is the author of the book The Agua Caliente Story (Eclipse Press 2004), a correspondent to Caballo, a racing magazine in Mexico, and a writer for the Argentine racing daily, Turf Diario. He recently published an article in HorsePlayer magazine covering betting on South American imports. Beltran also breeds Thoroughbreds and is a blood-stock agent specializing in Argentinean racing and breeding stock. He lives in Chula Vista with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.