RACETRACK is about the Belmont Race Track, one of the world's leading race tracks for thoroughbred racing. The film highlights the training, maintaining and racing of thoroughbred horses. Everyday occurrences are shown: in the backstretch — the grooming, feeding, shoeing, and caring for horses and the preparation for races; at the practice track the various aspects of training, exercising, and timing the horses; at the paddock — the pre-race presentation of the horses; and in the grandstand — betting and watching the races. The film also has sequences showing the variety of work done by trainers, jockeys, jockey agents, grooms, hot walkers, stable hands, and veterinarians.
Direction
Wiseman's invisible hand finds drama in mundanity.
Editing
Patient cuts that trust you to pay attention.
Director
Frederick Wiseman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Belmont Park hosted Secretariat's 1973 Triple Crown win, yet Wiseman deliberately avoids myth-making for mop-bucket realism.
This was Wiseman's nineteenth documentary; by 1985 he'd perfected his 'no interviews, no narration, no mercy' approach to American institutions.
US
