Down the Stretch

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.

After defying a gangster in Italy, American jockey Danny Arnold flees race-fixing accusations and escapes to Paris with his son. There, he learns that his old friend has been murdered and finds work through British jockey George Gardner. Despite his son’s hopes, Danny compromises his integrity by winning money on a fixed race.

Tom has faced many rivals in his ten-year career as a jump Jockey. Some have been faster, stronger, younger, wiser; but now he faces a different rival. A silent and anonymous opponent who is struggling to understand. The narrative is centred around the aftermath of a fall at the last fence of a race, where the horse (Habitare) would have passed the winning line in front had it not been for the fall. This film aims to show the lonelier, darker side to horse racing; the brave face that must be put on and not show weakness.

Mi Taylor is a young wanderer and opportunist who finds himself in the quiet English countryside home of the Brown family. The youngest daughter, Velvet, has a passion for horses and when she wins the spirited steed Pie in a town lottery, Mi is encouraged to train the horse.

In Victorian-era USA, a horse-jockey becomes a scapegoat in the nefarious schemes of a group of small-time criminals.