Racetrack (Wiseman Retrospective)
The birth of a baby horse, morning exercise, union negotiations, the filing of teeth and the movement of bales and bales and bales of hay are all some of the behind the scenes activities unseen by those visiting the Belmont "Racetrack."
Laura's Review: B
Frederick Wiseman is an American institution and one of cinema's greatest documentarians, but this 1985 film about the activities at one of horse racing's Triple Crown venues, while often engrossing, stumbles as it nears the finish line. And while all of Wiseman's early films were shot in black and white, his first color film was 1983's "The Store" because he wanted to show off the merchandise, so why not this 1985 film, where color is used to differentiate horses during a race? (While the film wasn't released until that year, it was shot in 1981. Still...)
Wiseman does hook us immediately. After showcasing stunning equine champions in an idyllic setting, he takes us to a stall where a horse is giving birth. This proves not only an exciting spectacle for us, but for denizens of the track as well, folks gathering to witness the event. An old hand is moved as the mother horse busses her newborn. 'Isn't that just beautiful?' he asks no one in particular.
We'll see owners and trainers discussing tactics for running a horse. 'What does it take to train a horse? Be smarter than the horse,' we hear, yet later more than one will note that all of the talent lies within the horse itself. As the public gathers in the stands and at picnic tables, a female announcer notes the various horses coming out for exercise, giving us statistics and background information on such things as what it takes to become a fully fledged jockey and that horses are biocular, meaning that they can see behind themselves so blinkers are used to keep them focused on what lies ahead.
Workers are seen in meetings learning about new life and health insurance policies which have been negotiated for them. A cafeteria is available and while stable hands relax with bumper pool, cards and 'The Price Is Right,' jockeys lean towards ping pong, video games and soap operas. The public is introduced as a mass of people lining up at betting windows (Wiseman never takes us behind this area, perhaps because of legal issues), the filmmaker's camera picking out various individuals in the stands, many absorbed in racing forms. Tractors pull chain harrows to maintain the track. Horses are assigned their numbers and led toward the starting gate. Odds update on the board. And they're off!
Racehorses are fragile creatures and Wiseman subjects us to one undergoing surgery for what seems like a very extended amount of time and it is here that the film's pacing begins to lag. Changing location with transitional shots of cars on the highway, he features a benefit gala held at New York City's Roseland ballroom for the birthday of John A. Morris, a horse racing owner and breeder being celebrated by the horsey set, something which takes us away from the racetrack for far too long. Heading back on the highway, "Racetrack" features one more day of racing, an upset win during Triple Crown's Belmont Stakes, although we have to guess that this is what we are watching due to the crowds, extensive media coverage and knowledge of the winner. While Wiseman's fly-on-the-wall filmmaking style doesn't allow for anything like interviews, narration or title cards, a shot of the day's program would have been welcome. Still, "Racetrack" is a must for any fan of the sport.
Robin's Review: B
Film at Lincoln Center kicked off a Wiseman retrospective on 1/31/25. Cambridge, Ma's Brattle Theater begins to feature it on 3/6/25. Boston's Museum of Fine Arts features two of his films beginning 3/1/25.
