Plenty of sports have had the fly-on-the-wall style documentary series treatment in recent years, with Formula 1’s ‘Drive To Survive’ likely being the most successful.
The Netflix smash-hit put more eyes than ever before on F1, leading to a boom in its popularity, highlighted by new races being added to the schedule. Since its success, similar style documentaries focusing on tennis, golf, and rugby have been released, while horse racing fans were given a slight glimpse behind the curtain with the 2025 release of ‘Race for the Crown’.
However, fans were left wanting more behind the scenes coverage of the sport, as any information would always be helpful when it comes to making Breeders’ Cup tips.
It is somewhat surprising that a docu-series has never caught on with the equine sport, and it could be argued that there are more stories in racing to follow than in any other sport. But, why is thoroughbred racing the most untapped drama in entertainment?
The Human Element
Similar to F1, most novice fans will rarely see the faces of the jockeys, trainers, and owners involved in the sport, meaning that a documentary series on the sport could help relay their stories.
For the most part, those at the top of the sport have needed to overcome huge challenges to reach the pinnacle, with scarifies made by jockeys in terms of seeing their family in the hope of chasing Grade One glory across the world.
Inspiring A Generation
Major historical victories also have the power to inspire the next generation, with females such as Saffie Osborne becoming the first woman to win a British Classic likely proving her to being an inspiration for younger girls wishing to follow in her footsteps.
This year has been a memorable year in general for inspiring female role models in the sport, with Cherie DeVaux also becoming the first woman to train the winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Behind the scenes coverage of females at the top of the sport adds a greater feeling, and interviews with figures such as DeVaux and Osborne could tell their story, highlighting the adversary that they have needed to overcome to reach the top. In fact, racing is one of the only sports that has the power to tell this story, as there are few other sports in the world that see male and female competitors compete at the highest level against one another.
Reaching New Fans
The success of a good documentary series was found with Drive To Survive, as F1 saw a boom in popularity in key demographics, notably in the United States. That is one of the greatest powers of a well-told series, as it can appeal to new fans.
Horse racing is one of the easiest stories to tell, as the action on track typically produces the drama that is required to capture the attention, while stories of those involved will pull on the heartstrings of viewers. Gaining the immediate attention of a new fan is the first step to bringing viewers to the sport, and this will only act a gateway to potential lifelong fans due to the ease of watching the sport on a weekly basis.
The Underdog Stories
Unlike any other sport, Cinderella stories can play out in front of your very eyes in horse racing. Whether that be in the world’s biggest races such as the Kentucky Derby or Grand National, a good story has the power to capture the imagination. Overcoming challenges is at the heart of any good sporting miracle, but it happens more frequently in racing than in any other sport.
Unlikely tales such as Mine That Bird’s meteoric rise to win the Kentucky Derby, or the powerful story of Dream Alliance uniting a whole community to win the Welsh Grand National are narratives that are retold for generations. Racing isn’t all about those with the biggest chequebooks, as even those brought for smaller prices can have their day in the sun, and those are the stories that engage the mainstream appeal.
Improving Transparency
One of the biggest negatives that is typically thrown at horse racing is the welfare issues that uneducated outsiders of the sport latch on to. However, a documentary series would give the sport a power to fight back about these claims, highlighting the strict measures in place to safeguard horses and the care that equines receive while in training.
Long-time fans of the sport will be aware of the welfare measures in place, ensuring that racehorses are among the best-looked after animals in the world and treated like kings behind the scenes. A series would help showcase this to a broader audience, showing the love that each equine has from their grooms and owners away from the racecourse.
