Intriguing insight into the quieter moments of racing come to the big screen

Jockey
Director: Clint Bentley, out in cinemas now

Moments of glory in the world of racing make perfect material for the big screen. Movies such as Dream Horse, Seabiscuit, Phar Lap and Secretariat show that the biggest success on the track can transcend sport. It is, simply put, cinema gold.

Outside of these shining moments, the everyday routines of racing are usually consigned to the background. Away from the success, what becomes of the jockeys and trainers who toil away on the sidelines without public acclaim? It is this side of racing on which the film Jockey shines its spotlight.

Crafted by writer-director Clint Bentley, Jockey tells the story of Jackson Silva, an ageing and experienced American jockey who is forced to grapple with both his legacy and his future in the sport while struggling through the often thankless grind of his profession.

Jockey peels back the covers on the quieter moments in racing. The son of a jockey himself, the director grew up in the barns behind America's tracks and sets his film to the humming backdrop of Turf Paradise racecourse in Arizona, casting the track's actual staff to breathe life into the film.

Racing Post readers will know the life of a jockey involves nearly constant risk. Injuries are commonplace and, away from the glory of the winner's enclosure, work is often an endless battle to stay fit physically and mentally. Such is the case with Jackson, who struggles with a litany of injuries that leaves him pondering his place in the unglamorous backend of the American race circuit.

Racing highs are pushed aside in favour of early mornings, late nights and never-ending concerns over weight loss. There's a weary resignation for the pains that come with being a jockey. Injuries are just part of the package.

Never does this hit more than when Jackson gathers with his fellow jockeys one evening, sitting in a circle to pass tales of injury and disappointment like army veterans sharing war stories. The casting of real professional jockeys alongside Clifton Collins jnr's commanding turn in the lead role gives the scene a grounded honesty that scrapes away the shine which film adaptations often stamp on the racing profession.

It seems peculiar to have not yet mentioned a horse by this point, but Jockey keeps its focus locked firmly on its main character. A promising yearling bought for next to nothing by Jackson's friend and trainer gives hope for the jockey to end his career on a high, but the promise of such a purchase is left out of the film in favour of calmer, muted moments of reflection and introspection.

If you seek a film packed with thrilling contests and match races then Jockey may leave you somewhat dissatisfied. A tight budget leaves only the glimpse of four races shown throughout the runtime, and none in its entirety.

But what it may lack in excitement it makes up for in spirit, bypassing the allure of race afternoons to linger instead on the sunrises and sunsets that bookmark the daily life of racing. A contest may unravel out of focus on a weighing room TV, but the audience is left to focus on Jackson's expression – it is his story we are here to see.

Jockey weaves a story of a man attempting to come to terms with the fragility inherent in a rider's career. Shying away from the promise of riches and success, the film focuses on the unseen margins of racing and tells the reserved tale of what jockeys often endure. The engrossing character of Jackson takes top billing, but it is the endlessly fascinating and alluring world of the racetrack that makes this film a compelling watch for any racing fan.

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