The following is a list of films featuring horse racing .
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Derby [1] | 1895 | Documentary | One of cinema's earliest depictions of racing, set at 1895 Epsom Derby. |
Kissing Cup [2] | 1913 | Drama | Silent film about a jockey who manages to escape a gang of kidnappers and make it to Sandown in time to win his race. |
A Gamble for Love [3] | 1917 | Comedy | Silent film about a lord who tries to interfere with a lady's horse. |
Desert Gold | 1919 | Drama | Australian film starring the famous racehorse Desert Gold |
A Dead Certainty [4] | 1920 | Drama | A British film about a rider pressured to fix a race. |
The Sport of Kings [5] | 1921 | Drama | A man (Victor McLaglen) looks out for his young ward and her racehorse. |
The Kentucky Derby [6] | 1922 | Comedy | Trainer goes to great lengths to keep an owner's son far from the Derby. |
Kentucky Pride [7] | 1925 | Drama | Directed by John Ford, a silent film that includes Man o' War. |
The Shamrock Handicap [8] [9] | 1926 | Drama | Irish lass (Janet Gaynor) comes to America with horse Dark Rosaleen for steeplechase race. |
Sporting Blood [10] | 1931 | Comedy | Rid Riddell (Clark Gable) enters his horse Tommy Boy in the Kentucky Derby. |
Sweepstakes [11] | 1931 | Comedy | A suspended jockey rides his horse Six-Shooter in a race in Tijuana. |
Men of Chance [12] [13] | 1932 | Drama | "Diamond Johnny" Silk is double-crossed by his own wife at a Paris racetrack. |
Broadway Bill [14] | 1934 | Comedy | Story of a man's love for his thoroughbred and a woman who helps him achieve his dreams. |
Racing Luck [15] [16] [17] | 1935 | Drama | After his horse Life Belt fails a drug test, a trainer is suspended. |
Hot Tip [18] | 1935 | Comedy | Leadpipe looks like a cinch, but a tipster persuades a fellow to bet on a loser instead. |
Thoroughbred [19] [20] | 1936 | Drama | A plot in Australia to kill favored Stormalong before the Melbourne Cup. |
Educated Evans [21] | 1936 | Comedy | A wealthy couple ask a Cockney tipster to train their horse. |
Racing Blood | 1936 | Drama | Jockey buys lame colt for under $5, turns him into a champion. |
Three Men on a Horse [22] | 1936 | Comedy | Greeting-card writer Erwin Trowbridge has a knack for picking racetrack winners. |
Down the Stretch | 1936 | Drama | Banned at home, rider Mickey Rooney moves to England to find success. [23] [24] |
All In [25] | 1936 | Comedy | A broke bloke inherits a stable and sets out to win The Derby. |
Charlie Chan at the Race Track [26] | 1936 | Mystery | The detective deduces it's murder after a trainer is killed by a horse. |
A Day at the Races [27] [28] [29] [30] | 1937 | Comedy | Marx Brothers in a horse-racing farce. |
You Can't Buy Luck [31] | 1937 | Mystery | After his horse wins the Preakness, a gambler is charged with a murder. |
Saratoga [32] | 1937 | Romance | Bookie Clark Gable and thoroughbred owner Jean Harlow horse around at Saratoga. |
Racing Lady [33] | 1937 | Drama | Female trainer's filly Katydid is kidnapped before a big race at Santa Anita. |
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry . [34] | 1937 | Musical | Judy Garland meets jockey Mickey Rooney in their first film together. |
Breezing Home [35] | 1937 | Drama | A bookie's girlfriend ends up owning Galaxy, entering him in a big California race. |
Wine, Women and Horses [36] [37] [38] | 1937 | Drama | A gambler wins $20,000 on his horse, but it costs him his wife. |
Off to the Races [39] [40] [41] | 1937 | Comedy | Jimmy B must win the county fair's big harness race to get his owner out of jail. |
Kentucky [42] | 1938 | Drama | A Civil War family feud continues 75 years later for a Derby horse owner (Loretta Young). |
Going Places . [43] [44] | 1938 | Comedy | Sporting goods salesman Dick Powell pretends to be a jockey. |
Stablemates [45] | 1938 | Drama | A drunken vet (Wallace Beery) influences a young jockey (Mickey Rooney). |
Straight, Place and Show [46] | 1938 | Comedy | The Ritz Brothers get involved with a singer (Ethel Merman) and a horse called Playboy. |
Trouble Brewing | 1939 | Musical | Light-hearted adventure of a racetrack gambler paid off in counterfeit cash. |
Two Thoroughbreds [47] [48] [49] | 1939 | Drama | A boy isn't sure whether to return or raise a stable's valuable missing foal. |
The Day the Bookies Wept [50] [51] [52] | 1939 | Comedy | Hiccup can't win until Betty Grable discovers the horse runs better on beer. |
Flying Fifty-Five [53] [54] | 1939 | Drama | British film about the life of a jockey. |
Long Shot | 1939 | Comedy | Certified Check has an outside shot to win a big race at Santa Anita. |
King of the Turf [55] | 1939 | Drama | A former trainer turned alcoholic meets a kid who helps him recover. |
The Lady's from Kentucky . [56] [57] [58] | 1939 | Comedy | A bookie (George Raft) and a lady end up co-owning a horse. |
Seabiscuit (The Lost Documentary) | 1939 | Documentary | Original documentary about the great racehorse made in 1939 by owner Charles S. Howard. |
Pride of the Blue Grass [59] [60] [61] | 1939 | Drama | A young jockey enters a blind colt in a Grand National steeplechase race. |
Maryland [62] | 1940 | Drama | A young man decides to ride in a Maryland race over his mother's objections. |
He Married His Wife [63] | 1940 | Comedy | Joel McCrea has big problems with his horse Ajax and his ex-wife. |
Sporting Blood [64] | 1940 | Drama | Robert Young risks everything on a race in Virginia. |
Ride, Kelly, Ride [65] [66] [67] | 1941 | Comedy | Injured jockey Corn Cob Kelly decides to ride after learning a race is fixed. |
Golden Hoofs [68] [69] [70] | 1941 | Comedy | A girl (Jane Withers) enters her trotter Yankee Doodle in the "Hiatoga Stakes." |
It Ain't Hay [71] | 1943 | Comedy | Abbott and Costello mistakenly steal the race horse Tea Biscuit. |
National Velvet [72] [73] | 1944 | Drama | A young Elizabeth Taylor bonds with the steeplechase horse she loves. |
Home in Indiana [74] [75] | 1944 | Drama | A former sulky driver (Walter Brennan) gives his nephew lessons in harness racing. |
The Hundred Pound Window [76] | 1944 | Comedy | Clerk (Richard Attenborough) at a big-wager window ends up owing a big debt. |
Thoroughbreds [77] [78] [79] | 1944 | Drama | An ex-Cavalry sergeant trains his old mount to win a steeplechase race. |
She Went to the Races [80] [81] | 1945 | Comedy | Ava Gardner in a rom-com about scientists betting on horse races. |
Salty O'Rourke [82] [83] | 1945 | Drama | A crooked jockey tries to double-cross a racetrack gambler (Alan Ladd). |
The Bride Wore Boots [84] | 1946 | Comedy | Barbara Stanwyck enters her horse Albert in a Virginia steeplechase race. |
That's My Man [85] [86] [87] | 1947 | Drama | Everything's riding on Don Ameche's colt Gallant Man, including his marriage. |
My Brother Talks to Horses [88] | 1947 | Comedy | Lewie Penrose's brother (Peter Lawford) has everything riding on the Preakness. |
The Homestretch [89] [90] | 1947 | Drama | Maureen O'Hara's horse ends up entered in a big race against her husband's. |
Green Grass of Wyoming [91] [92] : 288 | 1948 | Drama | The past owners of Flicka and Thunderhead take their trotter Crown Jewel to a race in Ohio. |
Heart of Virginia [93] | 1948 | Drama | The jockey of Virginia's Pride quits after accidentally causing a death on the track. |
The Return of October [94] | 1948 | Comedy | Horse trainer Uncle Willie is reincarnated as a Derby horse called October. |
Racing Luck [95] | 1948 | Drama | Two women enter horses in a race, wagering that whoever wins will own both. |
The Winner's Circle [96] [97] [98] | 1948 | Drama | A young girl is heartbroken when she's forced to sell her colt, Teacher's Pet. |
The Great Dan Patch [99] | 1949 | Biographical | Based on true story of the famous turn-of-the-century trotter. |
The Story of Seabiscuit [100] [101] [102] [103] [104] | 1949 | Biographical | A partly fictionalized account of Seabiscuit's success, starring Shirley Temple. |
The Rocking Horse Winner [105] | 1949 | Comedy | British tale about a boy with a knack for picking racetrack winners. |
County Fair . [106] [107] | 1950 | Drama | Rory Calhoun thwarts crooks trying to fix a race. |
Riding High " [108] | 1950 | Musical | Bing Crosby in a racetrack tale directed by Frank Capra. |
Under My Skin | 1950 | Drama | A jockey (John Garfield) races in Europe, is pursued by a mobster. |
Blue Grass of Kentucky [109] | 1950 | Drama | A horse called Blue Grass wins the Derby, but his bloodline causes a controversy. |
The Galloping Major [110] | 1951 | Comedy | Exploits of gamblers at an England race course. |
Crazy Over Horses [111] | 1951 | Comedy | The Bowery Boys run their filly My Girl against the mob's horse Tarzana. |
Pride of Maryland [112] [113] [114] | 1951 | Drama | After being barred, trainer-rider Frankie Longworth redeems himself just in time. |
Francis Goes to the Races [115] [116] | 1951 | Comedy | Donald O'Connor and his talking mule get mixed up in a crooked horse race. |
Two-Dollar Bettor [117] | 1951 | Drama | A novice gets in way over his head wagering on races. |
Boots Malone [118] [119] | 1952 | Drama | A sports agent (William Holden) takes a jockey under his wing. |
Derby Day [120] | 1952 | Romance | A day at Epsom Downs for the running of the Darby. |
A Girl in Every Port [121] [122] | 1952 | Comedy | Two sailors (Groucho Marx and William Bendix) are conned into buying a lame race-horse. |
Born to the Saddle [123] | 1953 | Western | Outlaws try to keep Blue Chip from winning a big quarterhorse race. |
Fast Company [10] [124] | 1953 | Romance | Gay Fleet's owner (Polly Bergen) falls for a fellow who fixes horse races. |
Money from Home [118] | 1953 | Comedy | Martin and Lewis end up in a Maryland horse race. |
Pride of the Blue Grass [125] | 1954 | Drama | Gypsy Prince and attractive owner interest a trainer (Lloyd Bridges). |
The Fighting Chance [126] [127] [128] | 1955 | Drama | A scheming woman (Julie London) causes friction between a trainer and jockey. |
The Phantom Horse | 1955 | Drama | Japanese movie loosely based on Tokino Minoru's racing career |
Glory [129] | 1956 | Drama | Margaret O'Brien wants to run her filly in the Kentucky Derby. |
Just My Luck [130] | 1957 | Comedy | Fable of a British bloke whose one-pound wager at the track could win him sixteen thousand. |
April Love [131] | 1957 | Musical | In Kentucky, a wayward youth (Pat Boone) trains a sulky racehorse. |
Bite the Bullet [132] | 1975 | Western | Cowboys compete in a 700-mile race. Co-starring Gene Hackman and James Coburn. |
International Velvet [133] | 1978 | Drama | Tatum O'Neal in an updated version of the 1944 classic. |
Casey's Shadow . [134] [135] [136] | 1978 | Drama | An aging New Mexico trainer (Walter Matthau) has a lot riding on a two-year-old colt. |
Run for the Roses [137] | 1978 | Drama | Vera Miles as the owner of a long-shot Derby contender. |
The Black Stallion [138] | 1979 | Family drama | A boy and a horse are rescued from a desert isle, then become masked rider and "mystery horse" in a race. |
On the Right Track | 1981 | Comedy | A homeless child (Gary Coleman) has an uncanny knack for choosing winners. |
Champions | 1983 | Biographical | Based on the story of the winners of the 1981 Grand National—Aldaniti, who came back from chronic leg injuries, and jockey Bob Champion, a testicular cancer survivor. Starring John Hurt. |
Phar Lap | 1983 | Drama | Australian film based on a true story of doomed Depression-era racehorse. |
The Black Stallion Returns | 1983 | Family | In sequel to 1979 story, a boy travels to Morocco to try to get his horse back. |
Sylvester | 1985 | Family | Wild horse is turned into competitive jumper by young woman (Melissa Gilbert). |
Hot to Trot | 1988 | Comedy | Bobcat Goldthwait and a talking horse. |
Let It Ride | 1989 | Comedy | A down-and-out racetrack gambler (Richard Dreyfuss) has the wildest day of his life. |
Eden Valley | 1994 | Drama | Story of a British harness-racing community. |
Shergar | 1999 | Biographical | True story of a champion Irish racehorse that mysteriously disappears. |
Ready to Run | 2000 | Drama | Disney Channel family film on a 14-year-old girl who is an aspiring jockey. |
On the Nose | 2001 | Comedy | Dan Aykroyd wants a lucky charm that helps gambler Robbie Coltrane pick winners. |
Seabiscuit | 2003 | Biographical | Based on a true story, with Jeff Bridges as the great horse's owner and Tobey Maguire as his jockey. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards. |
Hidalgo | 2004 | Drama | Based on true story of a 19th-century Arabian distance race, starring Viggo Mortensen. |
The Derby Stallion | 2005 | Drama | A 15 year old convinces is father to allow him to train for the Derby Cup. |
Dreamer | 2005 | Drama | Family film with Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning owning an injured thoroughbred. |
Racing Stripes | 2005 | Family | A zebra tries to win a race against horses in Kentucky. |
Ruffian | 2007 | Drama | Made for TV; based on a true story of tragic ending of undefeated filly. |
Race | 2008 | Thriller | Bollywood story. |
Secretariat | 2010 | Biographical | Based on a true story, with Diane Lane as the Triple Crown winner's owner. |
Shannon's Rainbow | 2011 | Drama | A teen girl finds a race horse, plus a mother she never knew. |
Charismatic | 2011 | Documentary | Made for TV in ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley in 1999 Triple Crown races. |
The Cup | 2011 | Drama | Australian film about Damien Oliver, the jockey who rode Media Puzzle to victory in the 2002 Melbourne Cup. |
50 to 1 | 2014 | Drama | Based on the story of Mine That Bird, the 50-1 shot that won the 2009 Kentucky Derby. |
Lean On Pete | 2017 | Drama | A 15-year-old boy befriends an aging racehorse named Lean On Pete. When he finds out that he can no longer race is going to be sent to slaughter they search for a new home. |
Ride Like a Girl | 2019 | Drama | Australian film about Michelle Payne, the jockey who rode Prince of Penzance to victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. |
Dream Horse | 2021 | Comedy Drama | Welsh film about Dream Alliance, who won the Welsh Grand National in 2009. |
Jockey | 2021 | Drama | American film about an aging jockey named Jackson Silva whose health begins to deteriorate after decades of riding. |
Hollywood Cowboy is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Ewing Scott and written by Daniel Jarrett and Ewing Scott. The film stars George O'Brien, Cecilia Parker, Maude Eburne, Joe Caits and Frank Milan. The film was released on May 28, 1937, by RKO Pictures.
Blind Alibi is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Lionel Houser, Harry Segall and Ron Ferguson. The film stars Richard Dix, Whitney Bourne, Eduardo Ciannelli, Frances Mercer and Paul Guilfoyle. The film was released on May 20, 1938, by RKO Pictures.
Border G-Man is a 1938 American adventure film directed by David Howard and written by Oliver Drake. The film stars George O'Brien, Laraine Day, Ray Whitley, John Miljan and Rita La Roy. The film was released on June 24, 1938, by RKO Pictures.
Two Thoroughbreds is a 1939 American drama film directed by Jack Hively, written by Joseph Fields and Jerome Cady, and starring Jimmy Lydon, Joan Leslie, Arthur Hohl, J.M. Kerrigan, Marjorie Main, Selmer Jackson and Spencer Charters. It was released on December 8, 1939, by RKO Pictures.
Peer Gynt is a surviving 1915 American fantasy silent film directed by Oscar Apfel and Raoul Walsh and adapted from the Henrik Ibsen play by Oscar Apfel. The film stars Cyril Maude, Myrtle Stedman, Fanny Stockbridge, Mary Reubens, Mary Ruby and Winifred Bryson. The film was released on September 16, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
Penrod's Double Trouble is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler, written by Crane Wilbur, and based on stories by Booth Tarkington. The film stars Billy Mauch, Bobby Mauch, Dick Purcell, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart and Hugh O'Connell. The film was released by Warner Bros. on July 23, 1938.
Pride of the Blue Grass is a 1939 American drama film directed by William C. McGann and written by Vincent Sherman. The film stars Edith Fellows, James McCallion, Granville Bates, Aldrich Bowker, Arthur Loft and William Hopper. The film was based on an actual 15-year-old blind horse, Elmer Gantry, who was co-billed as a star and played himself. Gantry was bought and trained as a show horse by wrangler Eleanor Getzendaner but became blind at the age of 13 following two years of experiencing periodic ophthalmia, after which she patiently trained him to jump.
Arizona Mahoney is a 1936 American Western film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Stuart Anthony and Robert Yost. The film stars Joe Cook, Robert Cummings, June Martel, Buster Crabbe, Marjorie Gateson and John Miljan. It is based on the short story "Stairs of Sand" by Zane Grey. The film was released on December 4, 1936, by Paramount Pictures.
Police Nurse is a 1963 American drama film directed by Maury Dexter and written by Harry Spalding. The film stars Ken Scott, Merry Anders, Oscar Beregi (Jr.), Barbara Mansell, John Holland and Byron Morrow. The film was released in May 1963, by 20th Century Fox.
The Storm Rider is a 1957 American Western film directed by Edward Bernds, written by Edward Bernds and Don Martin, and starring Scott Brady, Mala Powers, Bill Williams, John Goddard, William Fawcett and Roy Engel. It is based on the short story "Longrider Jones" by L. L. Foreman, from the book Rider's West. The film was released in March 1957, by 20th Century Fox.
Lure of the Swamp is a 1957 American adventure film directed by Hubert Cornfield and written by William George, based on the 1953 novel of the same name by Gil Brewer. The film stars Marshall Thompson, Willard Parker, Joan Vohs, Jack Elam, Leo Gordon and Joan Lora. The film was released in May 1957 by 20th Century-Fox.
Apache Warrior is a 1957 American Western film directed by Elmo Williams and written by Carroll Young, Kurt Neumann and Eric Norden. The film stars Keith Larsen, Jim Davis, Rodolfo Acosta, John Miljan, Damian O'Flynn and George Keymas. The film was released in July 1957, by 20th Century Fox.
The Sad Horse is a 1959 American drama film directed by James B. Clark, written by Charles Hoffman and starring David Ladd, Chill Wills, Rex Reason, Patrice Wymore, Gregg Palmer and Eve Brent. One of API's first films, it was released in March 1959 by 20th Century Fox.
The Winner's Circle is a 1948 American drama film directed by Felix E. Feist and written by Howard J. Green and Leonard Praskins. The film stars Jean Willes, Morgan Farley, Johnny Longden, Robert S. Howard, William Gould and John Beradino. It was released on June 8, 1948 by 20th Century Fox.
Hawaiian Buckaroo is a 1938 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Daniel Jarrett. The film stars Smith Ballew, Evalyn Knapp, Harry Woods, Pat J. O'Brien, George Regas and Benny Burt. The film was released on January 14, 1938, by 20th Century Fox.
Outlaws of Red River is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Lewis Seiler and written by Harold Shumate and Malcolm Stuart Boylan. The film stars Tom Mix, Marjorie Daw, Arthur Clayton, William Conklin, Duke R. Lee, and Francis McDonald. The film was released on May 8, 1927, by Fox Film Corporation.
Desert Valley is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and written by Randall Faye based upon a novel by Jackson Gregory. The film stars Buck Jones, Virginia Brown Faire, Malcolm Waite, Jack W. Johnston, Charles Brinley, and Eugene Pallette. The film was released on December 26, 1926, by Fox Film Corporation.
Thoroughbreds is a 1944 American drama film directed by George Blair, written by Wellyn Totman and Franklin Coen, and starring Tom Neal, Adele Mara, Roger Pryor, Paul Harvey, Eugene Gericke and Doodles Weaver. It was released on December 23, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
South Pacific Trail is a 1952 American Western film directed by William Witney, written by Arthur E. Orloff, and starring Rex Allen, Estelita Rodriguez, Slim Pickens, Nestor Paiva, Roy Barcroft and Douglas Evans. It was released on October 20, 1952, by Republic Pictures.
Lucky Larkin is a 1930 American pre-Code synchronized sound Western film directed by Harry Joe Brown and written by Marion Jackson and Leslie Mason. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects. The film stars Ken Maynard, Nora Lane, Jim Farley, Harry Todd, Paul Hurst and Charles Clary. The film was released on March 2, 1930, by Universal Pictures.