In Honor of the Preakness: Top 3 Horse Racing Movies

Since today is the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes, I thought it would be appropriate to share my top 3 horse racing movies of all time. Honestly, there have not been a slew of great movies on the subject. I'm not really sure why, possibly because horse racing is not as popular among the general public as some sports. Also, the stories must primarily focus on the human elements (jockeys, trainers, owners, fans) rather than the horses themselves. Without further ado, here are my top 3 best horse racing movies of all time.

3. National Velvet (1944)
An uplifting tale about Velvet Brown, a twelve-year old girl who saves a horse, dubbed "The Pie," from being slaughtered. Velvet, portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor in the role that launched her to stardom, trains The Pie for the Grand National steeplechase. Along the way, she's helped by Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney). When the day of the big race comes around, The Pie's regular jockey expresses doubts of victory, so Velvet disguises herself as a male and runs her stallion to victory. Adapted from the novel of the same name, National Velvet is a great family movie that still delights fans over 60 years after its release.

2. Seabiscuit (2003)
This star-studded film brought horse-racing movies back into the national spotlight, although no others have replicated its success since. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture (winning none), Seabiscuit was modified for the big screen from Laura Hillenbrand's book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend. Placing the camera amidst the horses, the viewer feels like they are riding with the jockeys and horses as Seabiscuit and company gallop around the track. Another feel-good story. I smell a pattern among this genre of film.

1. The Black Stallion (1979)
The quintessential horse movie, the actual race is not as integral as the relationship that develops between Alec Ramsay and the Black, the horse he befriends after a shipwreck strands him on a desert isle. Alec returns to New York where Henry Dailey (Mickey Rooney again) helps him train the stallion to race. In the match race at the end of the film, Alec and the Black defeat the two heavyweights, Sun Raider and Cyclone, although everyone though their entry in the race was a publicity stunt. This movie, another feel-good tale, was also adapted from the popular novel that showcases the bond that develops between horse and rider. Roger Ebert called The Black Stallion the best movie of 1980, which is high praise since that puts it ahead of such classics as Empire Strikes Back and Raging Bull. Ebert may want to change his pick based on posterity, but he definitely singled out the greatest horse flick of all time.

Personally, I enjoy movies about horses and thoroughbred racing. I hope we see another great one in the coming years.