The worlds of horse racing and Hollywood have collided to great success throughout history, with major blockbuster hits being focused on the action on track.
Films have the power to showcase moments of sporting immortality that few other pieces of media are able to, meaning that it is always likely that a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner could be immortalized on the big screen in the future.
However, for some Hollywood figures, their passion for equines have far outreached their work life, with some even venturing into ownership of thoroughbreds. But, which acts are passionate horse racing fans?
William Shatner
William Shatner is one of the most instantly recognizable names in Hollywood, having starred in the famous Star Trek franchise between 1966 and 1994. His role as Captain James T. Kirk saw him gain cult-like status in the Sci-Fi world, before he would gain more recognition for his work in films such as Range 14, Creators: The Past, and Devil’s Revenge.
Beyond the screen, Shatner has long-been a fan of equines, shown in the release of his book ‘Spirit of the Horse: A Celebration in Fact and Fable. His love for the sport also saw him establish Belle Reve Farm, which was a prominent breeding and training location in Kentucky for American Saddlebred and Quarter Horses.
Steven Spielberg
Largely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers in history, Steven Spielberg has been a mainstay on the Hollywood scene since the 1970s. Cultural impacts were made following the releases of Jaws and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, changing the way films were made forever. Spielberg would gain huge commercial success with the Indiana Jones Trilogy between 1981 and 1989, before winning accolades with Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.
A love for horses has always been found in his work. Away from movies, Spielberg has been an avid fan of racing throughout his life, including having shared in Biscuit Stables, which is an operation based on Delaware. He also dipped his toes into ownership with success, as his co-owned Atswhatimtalkingabout, who finished fourth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is largely regarded as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. His charismatic approach to his work often saw his performances light up cinemas, and his work was acknowledged with Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs across his five-decade career. One of his most celebrated films was One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, which saw him win the Oscar for Best Actor.
Nicholson also holds an esteemed honor as one of just two male actors to have been nominated for Academy Awards in every decade between the 60s and 2000s. His final starring role came in How Do You Know, which was released in 2010. The actor has long-been a passionate fan of equines, starring in Goin’ South, which put horses front and centre. He was also pictured in the Winners’ Enclosure following Cigar’s victory in the Woodward Stakes in 1995.
Hugh Jackman
As an Australian, it is little surprise that Hugh Jackman has a passion for horse racing. Jackman is a celebrated figure on screen and stage, winning Primetime Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards. His big breakthrough role came when playing Wolverine in the X-Men franchise between 2000 and 2024. However, he would venture out of the superhero universe with huge success, gaining favorable reviews in The Prestige, The Greatest Showman, and The Sheep Detectives.
Jackman would be nominated for the Best Actor award at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. While the Australian doesn’t own racehorses, he is a keen lover of equines, and has regularly rode horses in films, such as Australia and The Greatest Showman. He is also a frequent visitor on track when in his homeland, and met the 1992 Melbourne Cup winner Subzero.
Bing Crosby
There are potentially few more passionate horse racing fans from the world of Hollywood that have had as greater of an impact in both spheres that Bing Crosby. Crosby was one of the first multimedia stars, gaining huge popularity in music during the 20th century. However, his ability to captivate an audience would also carry over into film, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Going My War.
His popularity would be evident in the 1940s, starring in three of the five highest-grossing moves in 1946. His influence on racing has also been telling, forming an important role as a co-founder of the Del Mar Turf Club in 1936. The track famously held the Match Race between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti in 1938, and the actor was later honored with a race named after him, the Bing Crosby Stakes. The Grade One is a key prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and has been won by high-class thoroughbreds such as Kona Gold, Zensational, and Street Boss.
