Are you a fan of horse racing? It might not be as common a pastime as basketball or tennis, but we assure you it’s a truly captivating world. Don’t believe us? Then check out “Race for the Crown,” a new Netflix documentary that takes us into the world of US horse racing through the three major races that make up the Triple Crown, culminating in the world-famous Kentucky Derby.
“Race for the Crown” offers an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the personalities, pressures, and prestige surrounding the American Triple Crown season, aiming to capture the inherent drama of the “sport of kings.” Produced by Box to Box Films, the acclaimed team behind the hit “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” the series follows a familiar strategy: leveraging human stories and high production values to broaden the sport’s appeal. Its release, just weeks before the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, seems designed to capture maximum public interest.
“Race for the Crown” unfolds over six 45-minute episodes. The production is led by a team of experienced documentary filmmakers from Box to Box Films, including executive producers James Gay-Rees, Paul Martin, Hillary Olsen, Warren Smith, and Ian Sambor, with Tim Stampher and Jordan Bogdonavage serving as co-executive producers.
Galloping to Screens: Inside the Paddock of “Race for the Crown”
The central premise of “Race for the Crown” follows the key human protagonists—jockeys, trainers, and owners—as they navigate the demanding and lucrative season of Grade 1 racing in thoroughbred horse racing. Grade 1 races represent the absolute pinnacle of competition, featuring the best horses, the largest prize purses, and the greatest prestige. “Race for the Crown” covers a significant portion of the racing calendar, beginning with the prestigious Breeders’ Cup championships and charting the path to the ultimate prize for three-year-old thoroughbreds: the Triple Crown. This trio of races includes the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, known as “The Run for the Roses”; the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, or “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans”; and the Belmont Stakes in New York, nicknamed “The Test of the Champion” due to its demanding 1.5-mile distance. Winning all three races within a challenging five-week span is one of the sport’s most exceptional and celebrated achievements, cementing a horse’s place in history.
Faces on the Track: The High-Stakes World of Owners, Jockeys, and Trainers
The series populates its narrative with a diverse cast drawn from the upper echelons and the front lines of horse racing, focusing intently on the human element that drives the sport.
The Owners’ Circle: Big Bets and Even Bigger Egos
Considerable time is dedicated to the powerful and often flamboyant owners who invest millions in pursuit of glory. Prominent among them are Mike Repole, Vitaminwater co-founder, known for his significant annual investment in horses (reportedly over $20 million a year), and John Stewart. Their rivalry is presented as a key storyline, embodying the intense competition fueled by massive financial stakes. As Repole himself states in the series, “There’s an incredible amount of money in this game.” Also featured is Michael Iavarone, adding a unique perspective. Jayson Werth, former MLB All-Star and World Series champion, who founded Icon Racing. Werth, whose horse Flying Mohawk was competing for a spot in the Kentucky Derby, is featured extensively in the series and also hosts a horse racing podcast, “Off the Rail.” The series leans into the narrative of the “billionaire moguls” whose “multimillion-dollar investments and insatiable appetite for glory” fuel “intense rivalries.”
The Jockeys’ Perspective: Determination and Glory
The series also highlights the athletes who partner with these powerful equine competitors. Legendary Italian jockey Frankie Dettori is a central figure, narrating his decision to forgo retirement and move to the United States in pursuit of adding a Triple Crown victory to his illustrious global record. “I wasn’t ready to retire. I’d rather die on a horse than die of boredom,” Dettori declares in the show. Viewers get an up-close look at his lifestyle and his role in mentoring two young Italian jockeys based in California, Umberto Rispoli and Antonio Fresu. Another key figure is Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode Mystik Dan to victory in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. The production team captured his journey leading up to the Derby, including his win in the Kentucky Oaks the day before, which producer Warren Smith describes as a fortunate coincidence that provided a compelling narrative arc. The series also offers a poignant look at the challenges faced by Katie Davis, a New York-based jockey and one of the few women competing at the highest level. Her story explores her return to riding after a 16-month break for the birth of her son, highlighting the unique obstacles she faces, from skepticism from officials to the isolation of separate, often empty, women’s locker rooms compared to the bustling camaraderie of the men’s rooms. Completing the list of featured jockeys is a roster of top-tier talent known to racing fans, including Puerto Rican stars and brothers Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, Hall of Famers John Velazquez (the all-time winningest jockey at Saratoga) and Javier Castellano (2023 Derby winner), French jockeys Flavien Prat and Florent Geroux, and Panamanian jockey Luis Saez.
The Trainers’ Touch
While the primary focus appears to be on the owners and jockeys, several prominent trainers offer their insights. Kenny McPeek, trainer of 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, is featured, along with Danny Gargan, who also trained a 2024 Triple Crown contender. Both are portrayed favorably, representing the “lifelong horseman” archetype achieving success. Other notable trainers appearing include Bob Baffert, Brad Cox, and Larry Demeritte, all highly successful yet often controversial figures.
The “Drive to Survive” Effect? Box to Box Films Takes the Reins
Box to Box Films’ involvement is perhaps the most significant indicator of the series’ intended approach and potential impact. This production company has carved out a niche creating highly successful sports docuseries for Netflix, including “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” the golf-focused “Full Swing,” and the track and field series “SPRINT.” Their signature style involves gaining privileged access to athletes and stakeholders, focusing on personalities and interpersonal dynamics, and presenting the behind-the-scenes drama with high production values and cinematic storytelling. The clear goal appears to be replicating the “Drive to Survive” phenomenon in horse racing. That series is credited with significantly boosting the popularity of Formula 1, particularly in the lucrative US market, by making the complex sport accessible and engaging to a new and broader audience. By applying the same formula, which emphasizes human stories, rivalries, and the pressures inherent in elite competition, Netflix and Box to Box are betting on achieving a similar outcome for the “sport of kings.” Interestingly, the original concept for the series reportedly encompassed a wider range of international races, but Netflix ultimately decided to focus specifically on the American Triple Crown. This suggests a calculated decision to center the narrative on the most recognizable and marketable racing series within the United States, likely aiming for maximum resonance with that core audience while still being appealing internationally.
Our Take
The same successful sports formula is applied, this time, to horse racing. The production design, the type of program, is already recognizable and perhaps a little less surprising. That said, it achieves everything it sets out to do, and the producers gain exclusive access to everyone – jockeys, owners, and trainers – delivering it to the viewer on a silver platter.
Rivalries, conflicts, and above all, glamour.
Enjoy the ride.
Where to Watch “Race for the Crown”
