It feels as though it has been long overdue, but horse racing has finally got the Formula 1-style Netflix series that it has craved. Drive To Survive has been the pioneering force in the surge in popularity that Formula 1 has enjoyed over the last couple of years, with races in Miami and Las Vegas added to the schedule following the huge engagement experienced in the United States.
Now, horse racing will be looking to follow in the same footsteps, with the recently released ‘Race For The Crown’ taking focus on the Triple Crown, as well as the prep races that shape the line-up on the field.
What is Race For The Crown?
Race For The Crown is the latest sporting documentary series released on Netflix, which follows the same theme as Drive To Survive, as it follows horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners throughout the opening six months of the season.
It is the fly-on-the-wall documentary series that the sport has craved to entice a younger audience to get involved in racing Stateside. With an audience of 200 million globally, lifelong fans and newcomers to the sport can finally take a step behind the curtain and find out more about the sport.
And if you missed the Kentucky Derby you can still watch the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of Triple Crown. You can check more information here: https://www.twinspires.com/preakness-stakes/results/
Who’s Involved?
Produced by Box To Box, who worked on similar documentaries surrounding golf, motorsport, cycling, and rugby, hopes are high that Race For The Crown can deliver on its promise.
While it goes into as much detail required to keep experienced racing fans aboard, there are also racing experts such as Nick Luck and Christina Blacker involved to dumb down any of the racing lingo that could go over newcomers heads.
However, like Drive To Survive, the series excels by connecting human stories to the horses themselves. Mike Repole and John Stewart are among the two owners that believe that they have Derby hopefuls, while the enigma that is Michael Iavarone showcases the glitzy lifestyle that successful owners can enjoy.
Trainers Hunt For Glory
Many passionate fans of the sport will be aware that the road to Kentucky Derby starts long before the first Saturday in May. Therefore, it is fascinating to get an insight behind the scenes with Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, and Brad Cox surrounding how they work.
However, the series moves into a new gear when Kenneth McPeek and Brian Hernandez are introduced. The two are just a team that it is easy to want to do well, and just by television magic, Netflix decided to start filming the show in a year when the combination would team up for Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby glory.
McPeek comes across especially well, a genuine horseman that only wants the best for his runners and those around his yard. This comes across especially well in the series, and shows that there is more to racing than just the lavish lifestyle that Iavarone and Repole live by.
Superstar Involvement
In order for the show to be a success, there needed to be a superstar involved, and there were perhaps few more outstanding claims than Frankie Dettori. Following his move to the U.S., the Italian jockey lifts the curtain during his settling in period, and his ambitions to win the Derby. Unfortunately, Dettori was unable to achieve his goal, and his story in the series eventually peters out.
But, the narrative does capture the attention following the addition of female rider Katie Davis. The New York-based rider is featured following her return to action following 16 months off after giving birth. The episode follows her struggles, with one security guard even failing to believe that she was a jockey.
There is also a haunting conversation with her agent, as he reveals that trainers are scared to book her on rides due to the fact that they don’t want anything to happen to a new mother. It offers a slightly different look at racing, one which shows the sport is still failing to create equal opportunities for men and women. Shots of Davis getting changed in empty locker rooms in silence are eerie when compared to the camaraderie that can be seen in the men’s locker room.
Does It Achieve Its Goal?
Race For The Crown is a hugely watchable sporting series on Netflix, and it does offer a deeper look into life at the highest level of the sport. However, like Drive to Survive in its first season, it is all about offering a newcomer an insightful look in order to gain their attention.
Therefore, it could fall short for experienced fans of the sport, which may want an even deeper look into life behind the scenes. But, as a first step, with a second season expected to release next year, it is a hugely positive step for the sport in order to reach a new audience.