Best Ever Horse Racing Films

Best racing movies are period dramas that cannot age and will never lose their relevance.  The best racing films are factual, fanciful and even absurd. The best horse racing film is "The Godfather".

Phar Lap is the greatest racing movie of all time. It is based on the true story of Phar Lap, a horse that won 37 of his next 47 starts. Tommy Woodcock, who trained Pharlap, had a short cameo in the movie. There are two versions of the film, one for the domestic Australian audience and one for rest of world. The Aussie version works retrospectively, so don't watch it if you're not from Australia. If you are from the country, you should watch the other version.

Bob Champion won the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti. John Hurt was a bad choice of lead actor. Jan Francis and Edward Woodward played the trainers in the film. The soundtrack is still associated with the Grand Nats. Ladbrokes Entertainment Ltd feature in titles. The company, with chairman Cyril Stein at its helm, were steadfast supporters of the National. If it were not for Stein, Aintree Racecourse would have been a housing estate before Red Rum won his third National in 1986.

Shergar (1986) is a made-for-TV film based on the facts known about the kidnapping of the English and Irish Derby winner and the Aga Khan. It starred Stephen Rea who masterminded the kidnap and Gary Waldhorn who played the part of Agas Khan in the movie.

Murphy's Stroke is a 1980 TV movie about an off-course gamble involving the unraced Gay Future, Edward O’Grady, Tony Murphy, and owner Tony Collins. It was Pierce Brosnan's first ever movie role. The film is well worth a watch. It is an example of a time before mobile phones, computerised liabilities, live broadcasts and live jockeys.

The most recent Australian film about horse racing is Ride Like a Girl, released in September 2019. The 2011 film The Cup is about Melbourne Cup winner Damien Oliver and his brother who died in a racing accident. The movie is not for the purists. It's a Disney film. They are not released until 2020. There are some flaws in the movie. However, it's still entertaining. i.e. tacky acting and ridiculous race track commentaries. In the end, the film is still enjoyable. it is released September 2020 in Australia. and