The best horse racing movies of all time

The best racehorses are judged by the prizes they win and the dollars they earn. It’s only fair to hold the best horse racing movies to the same standard.

Based on box office revenues, with awards recognition and critical acclaim mixed in, the following six films rank among the best horse racing movies of all time:

Seabiscuit (2003)

Based off the bestselling book Seabiscuit: An American Legend, by Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit tells the story of the eponymous Depression-era racehorse who rose from obscurity to stardom. Starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, and Elizabeth Banks — as well as Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens — Seabiscuit was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and earned $148,336,445 globally at the box office.

Racing Stripes (2005)

Anything can happen in movies — even a zebra winning a horse race, the premise of Racing Stripes. While not a critical hit at the level of Seabiscuit, Racing Stripes was a box office success with an acclaimed cast of actors and voice actors, ultimately earning $90,754,475 in worldwide theaters.

Secretariat (2010)

The story of record-setting 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat — and of owner Penny Chenery of Meadow Stable — unfolds in the aptly named Secretariat. Based on the book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion by William Nack, Secretariat earned $60,321,861 at the worldwide box office.

Dreamer (2005)

Inspired by a true story, Dreamer tells the tale of Soñador, a talented filly who recovers from injury to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, the film earned $38,741,732 at the global box office.

The Black Stallion (1979)

With a domestic box office haul of $37,799,643, The Black Stallion was a rousing financial success for its time, as audiences embraced the story of “The Black” and Alec Ramsey surviving a shipwreck and later conquering the fastest racehorses in the United States. Based off the same-named book by Walter Farley, The Black Stallion earned two Academy Award nominations (as well as a Special Achievement Award) and spawned a franchise that included a theatrical sequel and a TV series.

National Velvet (1944)

World War II audiences enjoyed National Velvet, a film adaptation of the popular book by the same name. The story of 12-year-old Velvet Brown winning England’s Grand National steeplechase aboard her horse The Pie received great acclaim, earning five Academy Award nominations and winning two.

All box office totals according to Box Office Mojo.