Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred takes you inside the world of big-time horse racing--a world built on money and competition, passion and tradition, knowledge and luck. And built, most of all, on dreams.
The film begins with veteran horseman Arthur Hancock leading his mare Cerise to the breeding shed to be covered by stallion Point Given.
In Dubai, beneath the world’s tallest building, trainer Saeed bin Suroor works with Kentucky Derby prospect Desert Party. At an auction in Kentucky, the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed and bloodstock agent John Ferguson bid $3 million on an untested colt.
Hall of Fame trainer John Veitch recalls the heyday of the Wright family at the legendary Calumet Farm. Hispanic jockey Angel Cordero explains how a dream about his deceased father led him to victory in the Kentucky Derby. Patti Barton remembers her days as a pioneering female jockey. And black groom Freddie “Scrapyard” Winston recalls the era of segregation on the backside.
Owners David and Desirae Lanzman and trainer Jeff Mullins, after cheering their colt I Want Revenge to victory in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, face the heartbreak of scratching him from the Kentucky Derby the very morning of the race.
And retired school principal Tom McCarthy, a long-shot owner, lives every horseman’s dream, bringing his long-shot colt General Quarters to the Kentucky Derby.
The film ends with Arthur Hancock’s Cerise delivering her foal--no matter the challenges and setbacks, dreams of glory never die in the amazing world of the Thoroughbred.
Thoroughbred was produced for Kentucky Educational Television for broadcast on PBS. Co-producers were Hallie Gay Walden Bagley and Matt Grimm. Executive producer for KET was Craig Cornwell. Running time – (two versions) 100 minutes/85 minutes.