Racing Stripes is a 2005 adventure/comedy movie, directed by Frederik Du Chau. It is similar in the style to the 1995 movie Babe, in that the protagonist is a talking animal who lives on a farm and succeeds at an activity not expected of his species. The movie was filmed in Pietermaritzburg and Nottingham Road, South Africa.
Plot
In a rush to pack up during a thunderstorm, the Circus Sorano (a traveling circus) accidentally leaves behind a baby zebra. The foal is rescued by Nolan Walsh, a retired thoroughbred-racehorse trainer. Nolan takes the zebra home to his farm, and leaves it in the care of his daughter Channing, who names him “Stripes”. The other farmyard animals try to educate him about life on the farm, but he is convinced that he is destined for the nearby racetrack, even though he isn’t a real racehorse (a fact he doesn’t realize for three years). He spends his time training, helped by Tucker, a Shetland Pony who had helped coach champion racehorses in the past.
Channing has a similar ambition: To become a jockey. Her father had refused to let her train, as he believed it to be too dangerous; he had retired from training after her mother, also a jockey, had died in a racing accident, when Channing was sixteen years old. However, her enthusiasm eventually wins Nolan over, and he agrees to train her and Stripes, with the aim of winning the illustrious Kentucky Open.
Taglines: His stripes made him an outcast. His heart made him a hero. This film is rated G (General Audience).
Characters
- Nolan Walsh is Channing’s father. Ever since his wife was killed when her racehorse stumbled, Nolan hasn’t been able to bear training horses. Fearing that Channing will hurt herself if she rides, he refuses to let her anywhere near a saddle.
- Channing Walsh is the movie’s human star. She wants to ride, and despite her lack of opportunity she has a natural talent for it. She’s determined to race just like her mom, whatever it takes.
- Woodzie is an old racetrack gambler. He sympathizes with Channing, especially since he sees the same gift in her that was present in her mother.
- Clara Dalrymple is Nolan’s former employer and a classic example of an egotistical aristocrat. She seems at first to be the movie’s main villain, but to her credit she’s honest enough not to sabotage the competition; the real villain of the movie is Sir Trenton.
- John Cooper is Clara Dalrymple’s trainer after Nolan stopped. He is shown to truly care about the horses he trains, giving Sandy a break when she seems unsettled for the high jump hurdles. After witnessing this, Dalrymple berates him going as far as to say as long as she pays him, he will train to the pace she wants. He sarcastically asks her if she has a board meeting to go to. He is involved in Pride’s training.
