Pacing the Thoroughbreds: Horse Racing’s Odd Little Time Capsule

Is this for you?

If you have a weird itch to see grainy footage of 1930s horse racing, you’re in luck. If you’re looking for anything resembling a story, run away. Fast.

It’s essentially a long, rhythmic montage of horses doing horse things. It’s definitely not for the modern viewer who needs constant cuts or a plot.

The footage hits different

Watching Man O'War move in slow motion is actually kind of hypnotic. There’s something about the old film grain that makes these animals look like ghosts.

The directors clearly loved the horses more than the people holding the reins. The way the cameras linger on their muscles is almost… intimate? It’s a bit strange, honestly.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the horses. Everyone in these newsreels looks like they’re waiting for a train that’s already late.

Oddly specific observations

• The "staterooms" for the horses are nicer than my first apartment. Seriously, the level of luxury for these animals is wild.
• The editing feels like someone was just splicing together whatever was sitting on the cutting room floor.
• The music is… a lot. It’s very 1930s-triumphant, and it doesn't stop.

It’s not as chaotic as La caserne en folie, but it has that same dated, frantic energy. Sometimes it feels like a fever dream of hooves and dust.

There is a segment about the offspring of these horses that goes on for a bit too long. I lost track of who was whose kid around the ten-minute mark. 🐎

It’s an oddly peaceful experience, provided you don't mind the complete lack of context. It’s just horses. Just lots and lots of horses.

Maybe compare it to the weird, kinetic energy of Air Mail, but replace the planes with thoroughbreds. It’s a very specific vibe, okay?

Don't expect a masterpiece. Just watch it with a coffee and zone out. It's fine for that.