Category: Horse Racing

Finding an interesting horse movie for horse lovers is always easy. Movies about horses are based on their adventures, training, and how they are utilized. Some of these movies usually fall under the “classics,” big-budget action movies,” and/or epic genres. Treating the horses in these movies with respect seems to be what they all have in common.

 

Watching movies about one’s cherished horses in one’s free time is the next best thing for someone riding and adoring their horse. With that in mind, here’s a list of the top horse movies ever made, in the likes of documentaries, dramas, new classics, and family films.

 

Seabiscuit – 

 

Starting off with Seabiscuit is a horse movie from the year 2003 which was based on a thoroughbred horse racing champion that dominated as a money-winning racehorse until the 40s. However, there was a lot more in this movie than horse racing.

 

This 2003 movie on Seabiscuit was not the first movie portraying the life of the horse. In 1949, there was a Shirley Temple film before the adaptation of the book Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. The movie, however, was then directed by Gary Ross featuring prominent stars in the likes of Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridge. The movie rose to stardom and bagged seven Oscar nominations.

 

The Black Stallion –

 

The Black Stallion book by Walter Farley remains yet one of the best children’s books of all time about horses. Five years after its publishing, the novel was turned into a movie in 1979. The story behind the book is about a boy shipwrecked on an island with an Arabian stallion. The duo developed a strong friendship bond which grows not to be just a horse and boy.

 

When the duo are saved by a fisherman’s boat, each return to their various home but remain in contact. Soon, the Black Stallion went under training to be a racehorse and turns out to be a sprinter. His friend Alec, on the other hand, was also training to be a jockey. It was such an emotional movie despite being a kid’s favorite story. The movie won Mickey Rooney an Oscar nomination and another for the film’s editing.

 

Warhorse –

 

The War Horse movie was based on the 1982 novel by Michael Morpurgo. Indiana Jones’s franchise and the Jurassic World director, Steven Spielberg directed this one in 2011 about a thoroughbred colt named Joey. The War Horse story starts off with the colt’s birth and then his training to be a racing horse by a boy named Albert. However, due to financial difficulties, Joey was sold to the army by Albert’s father following a heavy downpour destroying their crops. Albert, having nothing to do, watches as his horse is sent off to serve in the war.

 

Albert not ready to let go of Joey enlisted in the army when he reaches the legal age. As expected, he got reunited with his old friend. Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Eddie Marsan were all lead cast in this movie with Jeremy Irvine as Albert. War Hose earned six Oscar nominations.

 

​​Elsewhere, The Kentucky Derby “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” is now around the corner. With this year’s Derby making it the 149th historic racing season, it is sure to be the talk of the town throughout the month of May, and for many horse racing fans anywhere you might be in the world, this historic event will be a must-see televised event.

 

The Kentucky Derby will also be a serious opportunity for Kentucky Derby Betting enthusiasts, racing fans and prospective bettors looking to place bets on horses scheduled for racing, no matter where they are. However, this should be done with enormous research on any horses anyone is wagering on. Horse racing betting is an entirely different sports betting that requires some real-life strategy behind your picks and when the fun stops, you should stop!

 

Secretariat –

 

While the Seabiscuit, as a racehorse, went down as a racehorse that won over the hearts of many Americans during the Great Depression, Secretariat on the other hand, remains known as one of the most successful thoroughbred racehorses of all time. Secretariat bagged five Eclipse Awards and tails only Man ‘O’ War as the second horse in the listing of racehorses of the 20th Century by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

 

The movie about this horse was brought to the big screen by Disney in 2010. Diane Lane stars in this movie as the human and owner of the horse. John Malkovich also stars as the horse’s trainer. The movie, however, was not as successful as every other horse movie, but it does garner high praise from Roger Ebert, who labeled the movie to be “authentic.”

 

National Velvet – 

 

National Velvet told the story of a girl named Velvet. Velvet trained and rode her horse, Pie, in the Grand National Steeplechase. Despite being a fictional story, the book was about ordinary people, and in this case, a woman in her 20s was already on a path to a greater height. The movie based on the novel was later released in 1944.

 

Critically, the movie did absolutely well despite Elizabeth Taylor as a 12-year-old girl portraying Velvet Brown and Mickey Rooney as a drifter who helps her. The movie earned five Oscar nominations. Two were won, and the movie’s great exploits continued as it got added to the National Registry in 2003 owing to its strong cultural significance.

 

Hidalgo –

 

Joe Johnston, Captain America: The First Avenger director, was brought to the big screen by Hidalgo in 2004. Hidalgo was a biographical Western movie about Frank Hopkins and his horse named after the movie title. Hopkins, in real life himself, was a professional horseman who was a long-distance rider that supposedly won 400 races. Although most of this claim has been considered too fictional, as he was also a circus performer.

 

Hidalgo upon its release, made a name for itself seriously. The movie strongly focused on a horse in Arabia in 1891. Lord of Rings star Viggo Mortensen starred in this movie as Hopkins and, while the movie is said to be “based on a true story,” many of the stories by Hopkins – including the race in the Hidalgo movie 0 were considered to be tall tales.

 

Dreamer –

 

Dreamer was another released in the early 21st century directed by John Gatins as a family horse movie. The story of Dreamer is about a horse trainer and his daughter, and how their relationship changes as they work with their horses. The movie stars Kurt Russell who plays the role of Ben,, a father who neglected his young daughter as he works hard to care for his horses. 11-year-old Dakota Fanning was his daughter in this movie.

 

“Soñador” was the horse that bonded the two together and strengthened their relationship after years of the father neglecting his daughter and hardships. This movie was nominated for a number of awards amongst which won “Best Sports Movie” at the ESPY Awards and “Best Family Film” at the Critics Choice Awards.

With the Cheltenham Festival out of the way for another year, the leading bookmakers are gearing themselves up for the biggest day on the racing calendar, the Grand National. This world-famous marathon takes place on Saturday, April 15th and will be watched live by an audience of hundreds of millions around the world as well as over 70,000 at Aintree Racecourse.

The Grand National is one of the biggest horse races in the world and provides spectators with a thrilling display over a distance exceeding four miles. This is the race upon which everyone (and their granny) places a bet and the leading UK betting sites are gearing themselves up for what is set to be a massive day. 

The Grand National itself is the culmination of three days of top-quality racing at Aintree and this test of stamina never fails to excite the crowd at the Merseyside venue. Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats won the race in 2022 and the 8-year-old is currently one of the favourites to repeat this feat in Grand National 2023.

 

How to bet on the Grand National

The leading bookmakers such as William Hill, Ladbrokes and the pools all provide punters with dedicated offers for the Grand National and when betting with one of these respected betting operators, you can use these offers on the big race itself. The process of placing a bet on the Grand National is the same across all bookmakers, however there are many bet types which could assist you along the way. 

 

Grand National non-runner, no bet – Many of the leading bookmakers will offer ‘non-runner, no bet’ in the lead-up to the Grand National. This simply means that if you place a bet on a horse and it subsequently doesn’t run, you will receive a full refund of your stake. 

 

Grand National extra places – As a handicap race which involves over 16 horses (max 40 in the Grand National), the usual terms for a contest of this nature is four places. Nevertheless, in recent years most of the UK bookmakers as well as the leading betting sites for Irish customers have stretched this to five or six places, some firms even going as far as seven places.

 

Grand National faller offers – It certainly pays to shop around when placing bets on the Grand National, some bookmakers offering a free bet should your horse fall, be brought down or unseat. These offers all contain terms and conditions which will differ considerably between bookmakers.

 

Choosing a Grand National winner

 

Choosing a Grand National winner is notoriously difficult, this contest being a real marathon test of stamina and wits. Up to 40 horses will be competing over a distance of over 4 miles and 2 furlongs with 30 obstacles needing to be overcome along the way. Nevertheless, this race has been taking place since 1839 and as such, there is a wealth of historical data which can help you in your search for a potential winner.

For example, always pick a horse with proven stamina. Every winner bar one since 1970 has previously won over a distance of three miles and with the Grand National over four miles in length, contenders need to have proven themselves over lengthy trips. 

Irish stables have an excellent record in the Grand National, three of the last four winners having been trained on the Emerald Isle. Picking an Irish horse in the race doesn’t guarantee you a winner but on recent showings, it can boost your chances of success. 

Check the weights allocated to the Grand National entries. Only two winners of the race since 1977 have been given a weight exceeding 11st 5lbs, therefore our advice would be to look at horses carrying less than this. 

With the Grand National attracting bets from people who would otherwise never place wagers on horse racing, many simply choose a name which has relevance to them. To be honest, this is a decent approach as it simply adds an element of fun to the race. This is after all supposed to be an enjoyable pastime, if you win it is purely a bonus. 

 

Who are the main contenders in 2023?

 

Tiger Roll (winner in 2018 and 2019) has thus far been the only horse to win back-to-back Grand Nationals since Red Rum in the 1970s, however 2022 winner Noble Yeats is one of the favourites (best odds 9/1) to repeat his success in the 2023 renewal and make it two on the bounce. This runner was a rank outsider heading into the race twelve months ago with odds as high as 50/1 but he proved his many doubters wrong with a solid performance throughout. 

Corach Rambler currently heads the market for the 2023 Grand National, the Lucinda Russell inmate shortening to 8/1 favourite after successfully defending his Ultima Handicap Chase crown at the Cheltenham festival last week. 

Mr Incredible is high in the betting right now, the Willie Mullins 9-year-old an excellent jumper and stayer, abilities crucial in this marathon contest. With a clear round, this contender has an excellent chance of making the frame. 

Delta Work claimed the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival for a second time in impressive style last week and the 10-year-old is one of the favourites to claim glory at the Grand National. He finished third to Noble Yeats and Any Second Now in the 2022 renewal and he is fancied to improve upon this in less than four weeks’ time. 

 

Best Odds and Free Bet Offers

 

Once you have selected your horses for the 2023 Grand National, it is vital that you get the very best odds available to you and get hold of the very best bookmaker bonuses on offer for the big race. All of the major UK and Irish betting operators offer a wide range of free bets to new and existing customers as well as a range of enhanced places and price boosts. You can use these to obtain extra value on your Grand National bets as well as the other races throughout the three-day meeting.

 

As the feature race of day two, once the Queen Mother Champion Chase gets underway, you know you are right in the thick of the action at the Cheltenham Festival. The unrivalled racing meeting is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the sporting calendar, and the 2023 edition will be no different, as thousands pack into the stands at Prestbury Park to watch the races unfold.

With the Festival drawing ever closer, fans are beginning to analyse the 2023 Queen Mother Champion Chase with particular interest. It’s a race that could feature an exciting battle between Edwardstone and defending champion Energumene, who are both priced at 13/8 at the time of writing.

The Champion Chase is a race that has featured plenty of great champions over the years. As excitement builds for this year’s edition, let’s take a look at a few horses from years gone by who have excelled in the day two showpiece.

Badsworth Boy

We start with the most successful horse in the history of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Badsworth Boy is the only horse to have won the race on three occasions, and they all came back-to-back, in a glorious run of success from 1983 to 1985.

For trainers Michael and Monica Dickinson, and jockey Robert Earnshaw, it was a glorious period in their respective careers. Badsworth Boy made the Champion Chase his own for those three years in the 1980s, and his achievements are still talked about to this day.

Pearlyman

The success of Badsworth Boy triggered a wave of horses winning successive editions of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Pearlyman was the next to do so, coming out on top in both 1987 and 1988.

John Edwards was the successful trainer who guided Pearlyman to glory, while Peter Morgan and Tom Scudamore were the lucky jockeys who got to revel in the success.

Barnbrook Again

In 1989, it was Barnbrook Again who tasted the glory of winning the Champion Chase in two successive years. David Elsworth was the winning trainer, with Simon Sherwood and Hywel Davies the men in the saddle.

Viking Flagship

The mid-1990s were all about Viking Flagship as far as the Champion Chase was concerned. The David Nicholson-trained horse won it in 1994 and 1995, with Adrian Maguire and Charlie Swan taking to the saddle on respective occasions.

Master Minded

It took 13 years for another horse to earn successive victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. It was Master Minded who achieved the feat, and it will come as no surprise that the legendary jockey-trainer duo of Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins were responsible for the success.

The first win for Master Minded came in 2007, before Walsh and Mullins followed it up with further glory 12 months later.

Altior

Now we come to one of the Champion Chase’s modern heroes. Altior is one of the greatest horses of recent times. His dual Queen Mother triumphs in 2018 and 2019 are the main reason for his enduring legacy in racing.

The honours went to trainer Nicky Henderson and his trusted jockey Nico de Boinville, who guided Altior to victory in successive editions of the Cheltenham Festival.

We get to look forward to four extraordinary days of horse racing action between Tuesday 14th March and Friday 17th March. Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races spread over four days, we can witness the best jockeys riding the best horses trained by the best trainers.

 

Whether you simply watch the races or enjoy a bit of Cheltenham betting, you can witness history taking place – whether you make it to the tracks or whether you are enjoying it from the comfort of your own home.

The Style of Cheltenham Festival

Undoubtedly, the Cheltenham Racecourse is considered the Home of Jump Racing, and the legendary festival offers us some of the best racing in the world. That also means that many people dress accordingly.

 

Although there is no specific ‘dress code’ put into place by the Jockey Club, pretty much everyone that goes likes to get dolled up in their Sunday best. We mean dress and heels (obviously more for the ladies – or whatever…) or suit and tie for the gentleman. However, the best rule is to dress how you feel comfortable and dress for the weather. This is a day out to remember – and if you will be taking selfies, you want to look good!

Entertainment

As well as lots of horse racing, there will also be all sorts of unmissable entertainment to enjoy if you manage to bag a ticket. From live bands, to rock music and jazz, there’s music to suit all tastes.

 

The Main Action

Whether you manage to get a ticket or not, here’s a taste of the action you can enjoy over the four days…

Tuesday: Champions Day

This is where all the reigning champions and future champions get together, all ready to etch their names onto that star-studded wall – littered with names of Jump Racing Greats.

 

Tuesday is home to the Unibet Champion Hurdle, which is the most prestigious hurdle race of the year. In 2022, Rachael Blackmore rode Honeysuckle to victory, retaining her title for the second year… Can she get win number three?

 

The excitement as the day of action begins is palpable – and by the time they raise the flag at the beginning of the Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, there will already be 60,000 spectators ready to get involved… and millions more at home.

Festival Wednesday

The second day of action features the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, where it’s all about jumping ability and speed. 2022 may have been a wet day, but that didn’t do much to dampen anyone’s spirits as Commander of Fleet upset the apple card while the legendary Tiger Roll ran his final race. This is a stunning day of action.

 

Festival Wednesday delivers some of the most sensational sporting action. With the quick and classy looking to come out on top of the Champions Hurdle or the speedsters looking to take the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, the thrills and spills come in thick and fast.

 

St Patrick’s Thursday

This is all about Irish passion – as those Irish horses look to pull out special performances and aim to win races such as the coveted Prestbury Cup. It also features the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase – where stamina and endurance reign supreme.

 

Any Irish winner during the day will be greeted with roars of appreciation like no other – especially from those who have travelled all the way from the Emerald Isle to watch.

Gold Cup Day

The final day of action, on Friday, is the Gold Cup. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup isn’t just the big event of the day… It’s the biggest event of the entire tournament, for horses, jockeys, spectators and bettors.

 

This race plays a huge part in the UK sporting calendar every year, with winners going down in history and becoming household names. If you want a ticket for the day – good luck as it’s always sold out quickly… but you can enjoy the action from home no matter where you are!