Few sports are able to find the right balance between emotion and the unlikely success of an underdog more so than horse racing. Therefore, it is little surprise that horse racing is one of the few sports that has been able to seamless transition into a topic on the big screen.
Outsiders winning iconic races are a trademark of the sport, and a full list of winners of the Kentucky Derby ahead of the 2026 renewal can be found here: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/winners/
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But, what are some of the most powerful scenes in horse racing movies that you must see at least once?
The 1981 Grand National (Champions, 1984)
One of the most powerful movies focused on horse racing comes in the form of Champions. The 1984 film follows the life of Bob Champion following being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
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It is a powerful story of an athlete that refuses to give up on achieving his dream, eventually making a full comeback after extensive chemotherapy. Champion teams up with Aldaniti, who also needed to overcome setbacks throughout his career, in the 1973 Grand National, which would later become one of the most powerful sporting narratives in British history.
The scene of the horse and jockey crossing the line four lengths clear of second-place finisher Spartan Missile is one of the most awe-inspiring in cinema history. Such was the power of the moment, the iconic finish is shown before every edition of the Grand National.
Belmont Stakes (Secretariat, 2010)
There are potentially few more famous horse races in U.S. history than the 1973 Belmont Stakes. It was a moment that stopped the world for many racing fans, as Secretariat delivered a performance that we have never seen since. The legendary Triple Crown winner is at the centre of the film of the same name, released in 2010.
Starring Diane Lane as Penny Chenery, it follows the challenges faced by both horse and trainer to reach the top of the sport, and the action sequences in the film are among the best in any racing film.
The horse’s wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in record times are captured wonderfully, but it’s the final win in the Belmont Stakes that is able to showing what a unique animal the legendary thoroughbred was.
Long-time rival Sham attempted to stay with Secretariat throughout the race in an attempt to tire him out, but that would eventually play to the legendary horse’s strengths, finishing a staggering 31 lengths clear of his closest rival.
That distance record remains in tact to this day, and it is near impossible that we will ever see anything of its like ever again.
Emotional Family Scene (Dreamer, 2005)
For outsiders looking in, there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the love and admiration that those closest to horses receive in the sport. However, one of the most powerful scenes for showing this determination to do best by a horse can be found in the 2005 release Dreamer.
In a striking scene, the family decide against putting down a horse in their care and instead care for the equine to get it back to its best on the track. The film is based on the true story of Mariah’s Storm, and features a talented cast include Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell. It is an unlikely tale of an underdog story, with the horse coming back from a potentially career-threatening injury to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In the film, the races and horses name are changed, but the unlikely tale was as famous throughout the mid 1990s in America. Mariah’s Story would come back from a serious setback to win six graded stakes races in the United States, and was later honoured by having a race named in her honour at Arlington Park.
The Final Clash (Seabiscuit, 2003)
There is few more adored horse racing movies than the 2003 release of Seabiscuit. The world-famous equine transcended the sports throughout the Great Depression in the United States, offering hope for all that watched the horse compete on track.
The story followed the unlikely connection between jockey John Pollard and the equine, with both written off throughout their careers. However, the powerful combination between the stars would eventual see them dominate.
This would lead to one of the most famous match races ever seen, with Seabiscuit taking on Triple Crown-winner War Admiral. The movie does an excellent job of showing the race. It slows down the famous moment in the head-to-head where Seabiscuit looks his rival dead in the eye, before streaking clear to win by a dominant margin.
The finish to the race remains one of the most iconic in U.S. racing history, and it remains one of the most-watched races in history, with over 40 million listeners tuning in on the radio.