Countless sports have enjoyed enhanced television viewers following behind the scenes documentary seasons, with the most prominent coming in the form of Formula 1. The importance of bringing new eyes to a sport has been mirrored in the world of F1, with the sport growing year on year, leading to new races in Miami, Las Vegas, and Madrid being born.
One sport that is constantly trying to find new ways to appeal to a new audience is horse racing. Therefore, before looking to bet the 2025 Breeders’ Cup online, it could be worth watching one of the many racing television shows available to enhance your understanding.
Race For The Crown
One of the most exciting new shows about horse racing dropped ahead of the U.S. Triple Crown earlier this year, as Race For The Crown offered an unrivalled look behind the curtain of some of the U.S.’s biggest races.
The show, produced by Box To Box, followed the Triple Crown season with informative interviews with trainers and owners that were hoping for their stars to reach the top of the sport.
With a streaming audience of over 200 million, the Netflix release ensured that record-breaking numbers tuned in to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby, and a second season has already been announced by the streaming giant. A number of the world’s most respected journalists are also included, with Nick Luck on hand to give newcomers a basic guide to the sport.
Due to being by the same production company as Breaking Point and Drive to Survive, huge expectations were placed on bringing new fans to the sport following its release in 2025. The early signs already look incredibly popular based on the viewing figures from this year’s Triple Crown races.
Champions Full Gallop
While Race For The Crown focuses on U.S. racing, one of the most informative shows about British racing can be found in Champions Full Gallop. Released on ITV late last year, the documentary follows the story of the National Hunt season, concluding at the season finale meet at Sandown.
Viewers are given an informative look behind the scenes, especially at the work completed by trainers and yards to get their stars to their peak performance levels ahead of major dates in the diary such as the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National.
One thing that separates the show from others is the access that it achieves, with unique looks behind the scene at the yards of Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, and Dan Skelton.
It also offers an interesting look at the pressure put on jockeys, with extra emphasis put on Sean Bowen and his recovery following a serious injury as he fights to get back in the saddle in his quest to win the Jockeys’ Championship. Meanwhile, there will be a second season for racing fans to enjoy, as it was nnounced earlier in the summer that season two could be released in late 2025.
Luck
If you’re looking for something slightly different focused around horse racing, then Luck could be an interesting option. The American television drama focuses on the sport, and particularly the gambling aspect of racing in California.
It follows the revenge plot by a released mobster called Ace Bernstein, which delves into the sport due to the mobster’s connections with trainers, jockeys, and horses. The show was an immediate success following its release, and it features an A-List cast, including Dustin Hoffman, who plays the lead. Other major actors involved in the project include John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Michael Gambon, and Patrick J. Adams. Filming for the show was completed at Santa Anita, which the director regarded as the most ‘beautiful setting for horse racing’ that he’d ever seen.
Despite being renewed for a second season, it was never created due to animal welfare concerns. Reports of three horses dying during filming ensured negative headlines surrounded the release of the show, leading it to be released only on DVD in November 2012.
Jockeys
One of the original documentary shows focused on sport was released back in 2009, as Animal Planet released Jockeys. The reality show followed the lives of professional riders during the 31-day meet at Santa Anita, with Trevor Denman hosting. Some of the biggest names in the sport was featured during the show, including Classic winning jockey Mike Smith.
It also showed the struggles of life away from the saddle, particularly of Smith’s wife Chantal Sutherland, who was forced to move away from her native Canada to continue her riding career in the same country as her partner.
It also shows some of the injury struggles that jockeys were forced to come back from, with extensive interviews with Alex Solis and Corey Nakatani, who were ruled out of action for extended periods due to a broken back and broken collarbone, respectively.
