At Last: Horse Racing Program Paints Positive Picture for the Sport

Netflix has delivered a refreshing perspective on horse racing with its new six-part documentary series Race For The Crown, offering viewers an inside look at the sport without dwelling on its controversies.

Unlike recent television coverage from 60 Minutes, FX Network, and HBO that focused primarily on breakdowns and drug scandals, this series showcases racing’s compelling personalities and dramatic storylines.

The documentary notably avoids showing accidents or mentioning disgraced figures like Jason Servis and Jorge “The Juiceman” Navarro, instead highlighting the sport’s positive aspects.

Race For The Crown targets newcomers to horse racing rather than industry insiders. Seasoned fans won’t discover new information about the Kentucky Derby’s timing or D. Wayne Lukas’s legendary status, but that’s by design.

The series follows a similar formula to Netflix’s highly successful Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which significantly boosted global interest in F1 racing. With Netflix‘s 200 million-plus subscriber base, the potential impact on horse racing’s popularity could be substantial.

Episode 1 chronicles the lead-up to the 2023 Breeders’ Cup, featuring Frankie Dettori prominently as he wins the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf aboard Inspiral (GB). At 53, the recently un-retired jockey remains passionate about his career.

“I’d rather die on the back of a horse than die of boredom,” Dettori states in one of the series’ more memorable quotes.

The documentary also introduces viewers to Michael Iavarone and his wife Jules — not because of Iavarone’s 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories with Big Brown, but for his flamboyant fashion choices, including Elvis-inspired jumpsuits and oversized sunglasses.

Episodes 2 and 3 document the road to the Kentucky Derby, highlighting the Twitter feud between prominent owners Mike Repole and John Stewart while introducing trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr.

Episode 4 covers the Derby itself, with subsequent episodes dedicated to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

The production team made the fortuitous decision to follow McPeek, Mystik Dan (Goldencents), and Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) from their Oaklawn Park preparations through their eventual Churchill Downs triumphs. This choice proved particularly prescient given Mystik Dan’s longshot status and McPeek’s previous Derby drought.

The Preakness episode features 88-year-old Wayne Lukas’s victory with Seize the Grey (Arrogate), while also spotlighting jockey Katie Davis, who competed in the GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Davis emerges as one of the series’ most compelling figures — a new mother who remains upbeat despite career challenges.

In an emotional moment, Davis recalls her first agent telling her she lacked what it takes to succeed as a jockey.

The final episode chronicles the Belmont Stakes victory of Dornoch (Good Magic), trained by Danny Gargan and owned by former MLB star Jayson Werth. The enthusiastic Werth compares his racing triumph favorably to his baseball achievements, calling horse racing “the most underrated sport.”

For industry professionals and serious fans, Race For The Crown might seem elementary, but it provides exactly what the sport has needed — positive mainstream exposure that could attract new fans to horse racing.