User Reviews

Laura Sheehy and Chris Ghelfi's Chasing The Win is a horseracing-driven documentary that peels back the layers on the machinations of a sport in which even the most passionate and driven owners and trainers must assume the role of the proverbial long shot in their pursuit of the statistically improbable.

The family that owns the horse Kinsale King came from limited means before their passions irrevocably drew them to this high stakes niche. Trainer Carl O'Callaghan spent weeks under the Brooklyn Bridge as he emigrated from Ireland to pursue horseracing as his form of the America Dream. And Kinsale King himself is an improbably ascending equine hero...a fast and charismatic gelding purchased for very little in a breeding game often requiring an investment of millions.

The storytelling here is excellent. While Sheehy and Ghelfi ultimately reveal to the layman all they never knew about the science, financial burdens, and the business model that drives horse racing, we're ultimately left with a bigger story about family: that of the owners and that of the trainer, with each having identified their passions in early childhood before then pursuing it relentlessly. A wonderfully scored doc too, Chasing The Win will prove particularly compelling for family-driven sports fans with a preference for betting the underdog.

Chasing the Win is a documentary I stumbled upon. I know nothing about the world of horse racing, however, got really hooked! The tension and excitement really translates when we follow Kinsale King and his trainer through his journey.

Furthermore the story is a great document that the American dream is still alive :) For everyone interested in horses, or just if you love to follow somebody's journey in succeeding in doing what they love, this is a great film to watch.

Great documentary film about a man, his horse and a seemingly impossible dream. I enjoyed the cinematography, interviews, and raw emotion throughout the film. We can all relate to chasing a dream and spending years trying to achieve it. This film shows us this journey and that through hard work and perseverance anything is possible! Truly inspiring, highly recommended!

This is a must see doc that breaks down the whole racing industry from breeding to prepping the horses to race. I'm a big horse lover and I just got taught a handful. I didn't know it cost $40,000 to enter your horse in the big race. Wooow. U have to see this great documentary.

Much like a great sports movies this documentary has what you would want in any good story compelling characters brining all different angles to is essentially what is a winner takes all story. Because it is a documentary it gives you that sense of it being cinematic with also that down to earth feeling and relatable for anyone who has a competitive bone in their body.

Chasing the Win is a richly-textured examination of much more than the sport of race horsing, the art of horse training, and the business of owning racehorses. This is an inspiring film that should be viewed closely. The layers of relationship, community, determination, self-awareness, spirituality, and faith all are beautifully woven throughout. Watch this film. It will nurture your soul and inspire each of us to chase our passions.

Wow. I know next to nothing about horse racing. As an US citizen I feel like our knowledge of this is mostly based on hats! Wasn't expecting to be watching a pretty gripping rise/fall kind of story where by the end I was cheering for this Horse like Rocky. Solid production and very insightful into a world I knew nothing about. Also... they feed the horses beer and it's adorbale. And also a part of their regimen (to up their appetites obviously!) Good stuff!

You can tell that the film-makers really developed and empathy for their subject. This was a detailed and well focused and most informative work.

A wonderful documentary where you get to spend time with some gorgeous animals and the people who work with them. Full of ups and downs - just like life! Loved it.

This doc feels like a callback to movies of old in a great way. Heartfelt and rousing, it makes viewers feel uplifted after watching, something that few movies do today. In our times which can feel ever darker, this is just what we need for a pick me up.

Ultimately, Chasing The Win is a sweet underdog story about a horse that shouldn't have had a chance, but ultimately went on to win it all, so to speak. Yet, if you don't know much about the horse racing industry, this movie serves as a truly educational piece that introduces all levels of the trade. From the stables to the owners, you get an intimate look at how horses are bred, trained and raced. It's a far cry from the snippets of racing most folks see in film today and I appreciated it for that. Most importantly, perhaps, it's evident that filmmaker Laura Sheehy loves this sport and that love seeps through every ounce of this film.

They even worked Mike Smith into this "doc". Surprise, surprise. Mike Smith, and Bob Baffert, both proven cheaters and abusers. But they are no different than most other trainers and jockeys. At least those who win. As the film says, over and over, "Winning is everything, 2nd place is nothing." This film was directed by a family member of the owners, so at times was like an infomercial. Common and even legal racing abuses were glossed over. The sad thing here was that King was raced, even with massive and painful hoof issues. He could barely walk, and as a former horse person, was plain to see his lameness. But pain killers, steroids, and other drugs had to be used to keep him racing.

It is so irritating when people give human attributes to horses, as if horses were the same as us. That is magical thinking. No horse "loves" to do anything humans want. Ever see a horse grab his bridle and come beg you to ride him? NO. He likes to win for the same reason all horses like to win, to maintain herd position. The most alpha male/female wins, all else being equal, and is what people call "having heart" (or just wants to please, as that means survival). At least they had the sense to geld (neuter) King instead of putting him out to stud to pass on his terrible hooves.

King may have seemed to engage with his "people" but he had nothing else to do, trapped in a 12x12 stall 24/7. Horses can be wonderful companions and "friends", they have endless tolerance for our abuses, and allow us to sit on their often sore backs and obey us, with an amazing capacity for training. But we are only exploiting herd rules and behavior. It was sad to see this film wrapped up in so much horse fantasy. If it had been a real doc, it would have portrayed racing as it really is, not how these people wanted us to see it. Racing is a huge business, due to gambling (remove gambling and see how many people care about it), and as with anything involving large amounts of money and prestige, people will go to any length to be on top.

But instead of a car, or boat, or human, we race animals, who cannot consent to participate and endure terrible pain and even death for the "Sport of Kings". And who mostly end up in the slaughterhouse, not with a good home, after they are used up on the track. But the director instead painted a lovely picture of endless retirement opportunities for ex-race horses. The sheer numbers, stated by the film itself (a trainer might have 600 horses in his stable, and only 3% win more than their price/cost), multiplied by all the trainers and owners, means that most end up as dog food.

I had to wonder at the accounting ledge displayed. It had different periods, so was apples and oranges. It all should have been monthly, yearly, or weekly, not mixed. Some accountant! Either the expenses were inflated or racing grossly inflates products (I was under the impression the ledger was just for King, as it couldn't have been for as many horses as were in the trainer's or owner's stables). These costs were grossly inflated but why? To impress viewers with the massive cost of keeping and racing horses and how wealthy they are or how badly they need to win? If they wanted to impress viewers with this nonsense, then I can't, nor should anyone else, believe the rest of the drivel in this film.

I enjoyed watching this documentary about the high-stakes dreams of a horse-racing team playing in the big league....riding on the supposed skills of an untested horse trainer and a gelding with personality and spirit. The film is gripping both in pace, narrative and insights into a world closed off to most of us. The multi-year footage is well-edited and critically, reflects intimate access to the principals and the field of premier horse-racing. As a horse-lover, I am also very taken with the equine star, Kinsale King, whose charm comes through on-screen. The documentary is not just about money at stake. A heartwarming film very much worth watching even if you aren't into racing - through this film, you soon will be.

As a person that only watched horse racing when there is a chance for a Trip Crown Winner I thoroughly enjoyed this film and the film also increased my level of compentence and interest in racing going forward.

I didn't think I would enjoy this film as much as I did. I found myself rooting for Kinsale King so hard! haha. I don't know much about horse racing, so this film was a nice way for me to understand the difficulty and dedication it takes for everyone involved to win and be successful. Definitely give it a watch. Refreshing to have an inspiring story, especially in the weird times we live in!

Before watching this film, I knew next to nothing about horse racing. I wasn't quite sure that this film would be for me, but I love documentaries and it had good reviews, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I ultimately enjoyed Chasing the Win quite a bit, which shows that documentaries are often more about the characters and the journey than perhaps having some pre-existing connection with the topic of the film. Chasing the Win is an underdog story about both an underdog horse and trainer, and I became very invested in their performance, as did the horse's owner and the whole team of people behind them. I never knew how much time, effort, manpower, and expertise goes into making a good racing horse, and I'm now very appreciative of it all. I think Chasing the Win is a great film for anyone who likes documentaries, underdog tales, or horse racing!

I don't usually go out of my way to check out documentaries, but I love having them on while I work or am getting stuff done. I heard about "Chasing the Win" through a friend that had checked it out and recommended it. I threw it on in the background while working, but quickly got into, put my work aside, and watched the rest.

The movie gives you an inside look at horse racing and the world around it. I knew nothing going in, but now I feel like I can school others on the ins and outs of training and how to win races. The movie focuses on Kinsale King, an underdog race horse, his trainer Carl O'Callaghan, and owner Patrick Sheehy and the horses unexpected rise from unknown to a champion race horse. I don't want to spoil the build, but the movie has heart and kept my attention. I recommend the movie for fans of horse racing and those that want to learn more about the sport (and love a true underdog documentary).

I've become a documentary junkie and this is such a good doc! Just going along for the ride of this dream and the ups and downs involved, was a thrill. If you love horses, horse racing, or if you're a dreamer, this is the movie for you! And even more importantly, the film is inspiring and hammers home what can be accomplished with determination and hard work. Hats off to the filmmakers - they pulled of a very moving documentary and I highly recommend this!

Great film well thought out and put together - I was left feeling a bit emotional - I would recommend

This documentary goes in way deeper than I thought when I first started watching this film. It helps you understand how important the horses health is and care. It shows you the families that raise them and how much goes into these jockey's lives. Big money! Big win!

This documentary is very inspiring and charming. You see the amazing animals and the people who take care of them throught highs and low. It's moving and a joy to watch.

What a great film! It truly captures the film's title, "Chasing the Win." This film does a wonderful job of taking the viewer behind the scenes what horse racing is about. It was fun going on the journey and experiencing the ups & the downs of Kinsale King's career. I have a much greater understanding and appreciation what it's like to be a horse owner (and trainer). I highly suggest this film. You'll be in for a real treat!

This was a really well produced, heartwarming and educational documentary. I really enjoyed the story of this horse, trainer and owners journey and learned a lot about horse racing in the process. I highly recommend!