All horse racing fans are looking for a greater insight into the sport that they love. Thankfully, there have been a number of excellent Horse Racing Documentaries and films released over the years that help us get closer to the stories that have touched our hearts.
Below, we will go through some of our personal favourite documentaries and films that are must-watched for all racing fans and for the ones who like to do some betting on horse racing. Take a look.
Tiger Roll – Horse of a Lifetime
One of the first documentaries that we love is a very easy one for fans to find, as it can be found entirely in Betfair’s Youtube page. The documentary shows the rise through the ranks of Tiger Roll, and how he managed to find his way into the hearts of every racing fan in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The film follows the progress made by the Tiger from his first success at the Cheltenham Festival in the Triumph Hurdle in 2014, up until his record-making success in the Grand National in 2019.
The Irish-bred horse is one of the most celebrated horses in the world of racing, having become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals. He is also a five-time Cheltenham Festival winner, most recently coming home first in the 2021 Cross Country Chase.
Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream Alliance
This film is one of those that will immediately capture the imagination of racing fans from around the world, as it is a story that many would love to repeat. The film focuses on a barmaid from a small town in South Wales, who decides to breed a racehorse.
The horse was called Dream Alliance, and connections immediately set their sights on winning one of the big races on the calendar. Injury in the lead up to the 2008 Grand National meant that his career was halted, but he returned to gain a dream win for connections, as he crossed the line first in the Welsh Grand National.
Due to his story, there was huge media attention on Dream Alliance in the lead up to the 2009 Grand National, but he ultimately pulled up after the seventh fence. However, during his career, he won over £138,000 in prize money. The film also went on to win the World Cinema audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Dettori
Directed by Anthony Wonke, fans can now get an insightful look into the life of one of the world’s greatest ever jockeys. Frankie Dettori is regarded as one of the best ever in the saddle, and has won races around the globe. However, the documentary is as hard-hitting as many would expect, as it delves deep into the sacrifices that he needed to make to reach the top.
It looks at some of the lowest points of his career, including the plane crash in 2000 that he was involved in, and the relationship between Frankie and his father. However, it is a must for all racing fans, as it tells the story from start to finish.
While the Horse Racing Documentaries touches on some harder stories, there are also those of success that will have racing fans fondly remembering some of their best days on track. Most notably, the lengthy part surrounding the mesmeric day at Ascot in 1996 as Dettori achieved the impossible and won all seven races on the card.
There are also stories from Dettori centring around some of the most loved horses that he has ridden, including Enable and Stradivarius. All racing fans must watch Dettori, as it is one of the best horse racing films ever produced.
