Dark Horse (2015) User Reviews

A well told true story of a small town's working class peoples' dream come true

[Ed-Shullivan · 8/10 · 5 June 2016]

Who doesn't enjoy listening to a real life story about a bunch of working class people who go out on a limb and invest what little money that they really cannot afford to spend, to see if their dream of owning a winning racehorse for a chance to enter the unattainable winners circle and have their picture taken with their champion racehorse?

This is a well produced documentary style story of a group of 30 people who agreed to invest a weekly amount of 10 pounds for an entire year to bankroll a horse fund of $15,600 pounds. Their bankroll allowed them to purchase a mare for a paltry 600 pounds and find a stud with some racing credentials to which we get to witness the actual birth of this teams dream. By group consensus they chose to name their new colt Dream Alliance.

Next, the group went looking for a horse Trainer to which they agreed to pay top dollar for securing his knowledge. Their logic in securing an experienced Trainer was they could have paid less for an inexperienced Trainer but they felt that since their yearling had no experience and neither did they, they had a better chance drawing from a well experienced Trainer to pass his knowledge on to their horse, than having an inexperienced Trainer pass on as little experience to an even greener horse.

This story has its ups and downs and rather than give away any spoilers it is suffice to say that this group of 30 shared in Dream Alliance's victories and losses and that they seemed to have accomplished the impossible going from Nags to Riches over a several year period.

What Mrs. Shullivan and I drew from this truly inspirational film was the sheer pride and joy Dream Alliance brought not only to this group of 30 investors and their extended families, but also to the small town they lived in, and eventually across all of Wales. This is a heartwarming true story with many narrative scenes occurring in the local towns pub where the original investor Jan came up with her idea to breed her own racehorse. It is a warm and sincere film well worth watching. I give it an 8 out of 10 rating.

A heart-pumpingly great tale. Told with real passion and emotion.

[markgorman · 8/10 · 6 April 2015]

Once in a while fairy tales come true in real life. This documentary charts the story of one of those times.

Louise Osmond unfolds her story in real time using a mix of interviews, reminiscences, TV footage and a variety of amateur video moments of varying quality, but the story is so compelling that some of the rougher bits merely add to the gritty reality of the tale set in the grimmest of Welsh valleys. In a former pit village (Cefn Fforest, Caerphilly) that could certainly not be described in any way as idyllic.

It really is a ripping yarn for our times and concerns the career of a racehorse called Dream Alliance owned by a motley crew of 30 working class Welsh men and women, bred by the cleaner at Asda and mared by what could best be described as a bit of a dray horse with literally no discernible racecourse form whatsoever. The sire perhaps had a bit more form, but hardly of Nijinsky proportions.

The subplot of the story is about class. The most noble, most royal and most privileged sport of them all (apart from, say, polo) is horse racing. So to enter the world of horse racing as a bunch of 30 complete amateurs who could barely afford the £10 a week the syndicate they formed in their local pub to breed and then race a horse was more than simply a "challenge" it was verging on the insane.

But slowly but surely Dream Alliance's story is told, from the search for his mother and father to his birth (caught on CCTV), his childhood being raised on an allotment and then his entry ("like a snotty nosed comprehensive schoolboy arriving at Eton") into Phillip Hobbs' Minehead yard.

It's perhaps ironic that Hobbs assistant trainer, Johnson White, who tells the story from the trainer's side has every familiarity with the concept of silver spoons and was initially horrified at the prospect of these oiks and their second rate unschooled horse infiltrating his yard but at the end of the day money is money and given that many a mickle make a buckle the thirty Welsh dreamers had amassed enough of a muckle to give it a go.

I won't spoil the story by going any further other than to say what now unfolds is Dream Alliance's at times roller coaster career. Told in almost breathtaking style. There were three or four moments that had me close to tears. Mainly in sheer admiration at Jan Vokes whose vision the whole idea was.

This is a beautiful documentary, truly heartfelt, and utterly compelling with a vestry, very warm heart and a tremendous fillip for all those dreamers out there who dare to be different.

Go and enjoy!

Not surprised this won the Audience Award at Sundance

[asc85 · 7/10 · 4 December 2016]

It's a definite feel-good movie, and in addition to that, it's one of those movies that if it was a fiction piece rather than a documentary, you'd say that something like this couldn't happen. As I live in the USA, I was completely unfamiliar with this story, as there's not exactly a lot of coverage here regarding thoroughbred racing in Wales. But that's a good thing, because I had no idea where this story was going to lead, and how it was going to end.

My only small criticism of this movie is that like many documentaries, there are a number of re-enactments of what occurred at earlier times. I'm not a big fan of those, but other than that, it's an enjoyable experience seeing this film.

Feel-Good True Account That'll Have You Jumping

[SLUGMagazineFilms · 26 January 2015]

Who doesn't love a rags-to-riches story, especially when that unbelievable tale didn't come out of the mind of some writer in Hollywood but was, in fact, true? Such is the case with barmaid Jan Voxes and her wild idea to convince a group of locals, later known as The Alliance Partnership, to invest in breeding a championship racing horse. With the coalition in agreement, they set in motion the procurement of their potential equestrian moneymaker, Dream Alliance. While the initial bouts were not promising, the stallion proved to have as much heart as he did might. As the company makes astonishing accomplishments, they are soon challenged with a horrific tragedy and only the strongest of fighters comes out on top. You can't help but smile as these "village idiots" invade the sophisticated "sport of kings" and bring all us yahoo audience members along for the ride. The sheer joy and passion Voxes has for her horse forces onlookers to shed a tear of sadness and joy in one blink. There are few films that jolt you to the core forcing you to stand up and cheer, but Louise Osmond's feel-good account is pure perfection that'll have you not only on your feet but jumping up and down as well. -Jimmy Martin

A Dream Alliance - Comes True!

[BazNZ · 7/10 · 30 December 2018]

A beautiful told story of a dream come true. Battling Welsh working class folk put faith and love in a racehorse who pays them back in spades! Inspirational story of highs and lows that reflects faith in humans and horses alike! Like so many racehorse owners they love and care for there animal long after there racing days are over.

Great movie. Lives enriched by an animal to a very high level.

[carlofiorletta-1 · 9/10 · 22 January 2017]

This movie is about a bunch of human friends who do not have movie star looks nor a lot of money. They chip in to syndicate the birth of a race horse. They go into the financial details and negotiations in a good humored way. The mating process happens and the horse born is a beautiful creature.

The connection of this horse to the owners might be more sentimental than average because they are not rich people. They are not experienced but hire an experienced trainer.

Some of the discussions take place at a pub table. There is some digression, mostly humorous. The background music is simply beautiful classical.

If you have gone to a race or ridden or touched a horse you know they have a personality. You get that from this movie. You might feel greater things about your pets.

The horse is not perfect. I will not divulge any race results. We all have our own first and last races. I won't mention how much they invested nor if they gained or lost money. In the end, this is a movie about working friendships and collaboration between humans and animals. A beautiful movie which evokes emotions and memories. This is a great movie about great relationships with a great animal. And we are all imperfect even the great.

A Decent Horse Documentary

[tabuno · 7/10 · 13 January 2019]

26 June 2016. With a great sound track, this documentary style drama about a Welsh horse bred by commoners doesn't quite have then flash and sizzle of a Secretariat (2010) feature length drama. The documentary style format using extensive personal interviews while insightful and sometimes quite humorous seemed to slow the pacing of the movie at times. The movie succeeds mostly because of the story which had an unnecessary voice-over at the beginning which almost gave away the ending. The movie picks up about two-thirds through the movie offering a fascinating personal experience of anticipation and dread. There was some effort to offer some insight into the high and low class of society, but it didn't have the classic feel of snobbery and reaction from the upper class. And some of the footage used in the movie also seemed choppy at times and edited too much when the races were going on or there were a lot of skipping over such exciting outcomes.

Truly Remarkable Tale

[larrys3 · 8/10 · 4 March 2017]

This documentary tells the truly remarkable true story of the thoroughbred race horse Dream Alliance, and it is quite the Cinderella tale.

In a small economically depressed Welsh mining town, a barmaid and cleaner at a local department store Jan Vokes was determined that despite all odds she was going to breed a race horse, and was the driving force behind a syndicate of local townspeople pooling and saving their money to do just that.

They eventually found the mare Rewbell, who had a very brief unsuccessful racing career and was considered "mental" by her connections. She would be bred to the American stallion Bien Bien for a 3,000 pound stud fee, and this would lead to the birth of Dream Alliance.

Incredibly, the horse was raised on an allotment, and would eventually be placed in the care of trainer Philip Hobbs and his assistant Johnson White. They evaluated Dream Alliance as not being very fast but having the "heart of a tiger".

Well, as they say the rest is history as Dream Alliance would prove he could race and win steeplechase events among the racing elite, including the most prestigious Welsh Grand National. He would even be able to return to racing after a near fatal injury on the track, and became one of the first thoroughbreds to receive stem cell surgery.

Of course, during all this time the Welsh townspeople in the syndicate were just thrilled with this amazingly improbable series of events. They seemed to particularly enjoy hobnobbing with the gentry at the racetracks and causing them all kinds of consternation.

All in all, here in the States every once in a while a horse will come along with less than elite breeding, be backed by blue collar folks, and upend racing tradition by being hugely successful. This is one of those true stories and the film can be a feel-good tale for viewers of any age.

A story that would be too far fetched if it weren't true

[webstercharlotte · 7/10 · 13 December 2021]

Great documentary and respectful portrait of a quiet, very reserved and mild mannered lady from Wales who decided after overhearing a conversation that she fancied breeding a racehorse despite zero experience (if you don't count the time she spent breeding whippets, budgies and racing pigeons) and the group of thoroughly decent human beings that chipped in endured a roller-coaster lasting several years.

From newborn foal to racing yard joke to a possible contender, the brink of death and back to ultimate glory. Sounds like the worst, cheesiest storyline straight out of a Disney movie but it's as further from it as you can possibly get.

This works so well because of the talking heads and interviews with those involved and there's absolutely no airs, graces, kiss my arse or suck my fat one. They're as genuine, down to Earth and honest as it gets. Even the posh folk from the elite world of racing have to be given full credit for their searing, brutal honesty.

A TB chestnut mare and failed racehorse, heavily scarred, overweight and with a poor temperament and tendency to throw her riders was bought from a muddy paddock for just a few hundred quid with the intention being for her to foal what these novice owners hoped would become a decent racehorse. The owners - all 23 of them could only afford the cheapest stallion available so picked him and not long after, a gangly chestnut foal was born nobody saw coming and even Disney would deem too far fetched if they were creating him for a feel good family movie.

Kept on an allotment and fed veg peelings and whatever was going spare initially, the owners eventually saved up enough to pay the fees for him to be professionally trained. The yard staff and trainer admitted when Jan and Daisy rocked up enquiring about training "Dream" for them, they really thought the couple were tourists that just wanted to have a day of tyre kicking and time wasting before going back to their Butlins chalet.

With a slow, inconsistent start, this gangly outsider owned by commoners turned out to be an actual contender, full of cocksure confidence and with attitude, arrogance and deciding on his terms when and where he felt like running. That quirk reminded me of so many horses I've known, loved, ridden and been infuriated with as they give everything for you and would jump through a brick wall if asked one day only to go "Nah.. don't feel like it today mate gonna kick back and watch The Kardashian's" another.

"Dream" became the surprise to everyone but suffered an injury that sees the majority of racehorses euthanised. The footage of him hit the landing side and his foreleg just go made me wince and mentally pull him up and the screens appearing and surrounding him straight after made my heart sink even though I know his story and that it didn't end there on the course that day.

Due to his success on the track, his insurance value had risen and at the time of his injury he was worth around £180,000 so in the nicest way, Dream was worth more to them all dead than alive but with only a small chance the vets could do something to keep him alive - even if he never raced again in his life - the syndicate agreed to try doing everything possible and opted to have him transferred to an equine hospital immediately and attempt to treat and save his life.

It's worth keeping in mind how incredibly unlikely it was vets would be successful saving his leg at all and how much the insurance money that mean to these people who barely had a pot to pee in at the end of each month. Say what you will about the racing industry and its often cruel, cold-minded mentality in many respects, this lot genuinely cared about this horse and did what they felt was right for him not what was recommended and they stood to gain financially from doing.

Against all odds Dream recovered and went on to return to win the Welsh Grand National at which point he'd safely assured his place in the history books.

I did feel for Jan and Howard in their differing ideas following his win at the Welsh. On one hand I understood how and why Howard felt strongly there was just one last step left in this incredible journey and go big in the Grand National but on the other, I sensed and shared Jan's regret at having not retired him right after he won the Welsh.

He ran his heart out, he earned his place amongst the elites and had done more than anyone ever imagined so I would have personally retired him the second he passed the finish post and let him bow out gracefully rather than dare push my luck and risk him going over the fences in the Grand National.

Howard's wife came over as the only person that didn't support him, understand the love her husband had for this horse and I suspect she might have been one of a select few who was maybe even annoyed at their decision to save and not euthanise him on the course. Harsh I know but that's the feeling I got from the interviews she gave. Not sure if she was included to balance things out or what but she just comes across as a woman that wouldn't give a tiny toss if Dream had ended up in her lasagne.

Jan however - totally different soul and I felt her tears talking about the "pact" she made with Dream and promise to bring him back home to her when he'd had enough and couldn't or didn't want to run any more. She made good on her promise and made sure after his retirement he remained well cared for as he rightly deserves and still is to this day.

The only thing I'd have liked is to hear a little more background and info as to what Janet and Daisy's prior experience was with horses. Although new to racing, they both had some knowledge and Daisy talked of his love for both riding and driving so they didn't go in entirely blind. Maybe that was skipped over because of the likelihood their background is with hardier Welsh Cobs and not TB chasers but it's still relevant or at least it is to me.

I learned to ride as a very young kid with Irish gypsy cobs and later rode racehorses and showjumpers so to me it's not remotely irrelevant or insignificant.

If you've had the sort of quiet conversations with a horse that Jan talks of having with Dream, you'll understand and not need another word of explanation.

If you read this and think I sound like a 10yr old girl with a bedroom full of pink and silver unicorns, I can't explain it anyway so won't waste time trying.

If you've ever ridden / competed with a horse you know inside out, back to front and whose one consistency is being so bloody inconsisent, you'll appreciate this fella. He's a diamond.

A Beautiful and Delightful Story

[rutzelb · 9/10 · 4 February 2017]

This is a true story

In 2001, Jan, a barmaid in a local English pub decides she wants to breed a race horse. She convinces 30 of her townspeople to invest in this venture. They do and name the horse Dream Alliance. Jan and her group pay the hefty costs of getting a known trainer, Phillip Hobbs, to train Dream Alliance. To the amazement of all Dream Alliance wins races, but in one race was kicked by the hoof of a horse in front of him and a tendon was sliced. Stem cell surgery saves him and he is able to race again.

This is - without a doubt - some story. It is a documentary and starts out like a Ken Burns documentary with still pictures and narratives. After a while the still pictures go away and we see actual footage of Dream Alliance in races and posing for pictures with the owners. The narratives continue throughout with interviews of the owners. Many of these personal quips are pure gold and some are truly funny and there are too many to relate here, but you will enjoy them.

There are 2-things that I didn't understand: (1) we never see trainer Hobbs with Dream Alliance; we do however, see him talking about Dream Alliance; and (2) we never see or hear any jockey with Dream Alliance. I thought these were huge oversights. Okay, one other thing; we never hear or see news blurbs about Dream Alliance, but we do see the headlines. Also there are never comments from the rich owners about Dream Alliance. One would think they would say something whether good or bad and maybe they declined comment for this production. Who knows?

In any event this is a beautiful, most delightful and unbelievable true story. Yes, there may be times you will need a box of Kleenex at the ready. You will get the feeling that Dream Alliance knew what was expected of him and he did all he could to do his best. If he could talk I am sure he would have said that. (9/10)

Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: No.

A charming take on animal abuse

[aramiak · 2/10 · 22 November 2021]

A documentary film that tries and fails to excuse a group of people's persistent abuse and risk of and to an animal even after it became abundantly clear that the sentient being was ailing, by drawing on the joy and sense of community it brought to its 'owners.' It tries hard to convince its audience that they had a counter-cultural care for the animal, when in fact they pressed Dream Alliance harder and further than is the norm, and showed an exceptional disregard for its welfare, particularly in its final years. It makes for uncomfortable viewing, even to those less inclined to concerns for animal welfare in the increasingly controversial sport of horse-racing. This story could have provided a fascinating context for confronting real issues, but instead avoids even acknowledging them, and ends on a sickening post-script of the revenue this now disabled being produced for its owners.

Beautiful horse. Beautiful film

[JohnDeSando · 20 June 2016]

"There are other things that I could do, but there's really nothing that I love as much as horse racing." Chantal Sutherland

I dislike being forced to feel good, as movies from the likes of Disney Studios regularly do, but Dark Horse, writer/director Louise Osmond's documentary about the Welsh "thoroughbred," Dream Alliance, made me feel better than when I walked in because it's true! Owned by a group of Welsh commoners from a small town, Dream is a winner from its beauty to its heart.

Not only is the story a rouser, but Osmond also uses cinematic techniques like artful slow motion, and she has the real characters from the story narrate with their abundant charm and impish humor. To listen to their affection for their horse and see how it has changed their lives to a loving community is to experience an authentic story. Although I'm not a fan of living anywhere other than the city, this town could easily win me over.

Not surprisingly, Dark Horse won the Sundance audience award this January. It appeals to those who love a story about working folk one-upping the gentry in the sport of kings, and those, especially Americans, who favor the underdog winning the gold ring. In this story, the horse, in 2000 the brainchild of a local barmaid, Jan Vokes, is comfort and joy for a town that has experienced the shutdown of its mine and the loss of spirit.

The strength of the doc is, as it should be, in the talking heads on camera, working-class folk with ample personality and pluck to make engaging commentators and models for a happy citizenry who never envy the swells, the usual owners of race horses. The class theme is handled by Osmond subtly and respectfully, easy enough because the Welsh are an independent and proud lot not about to envy anyone, much less the rich.

Osmond crafts this story as if it were a seamless fiction, so filled it is with the vicissitudes of life that affect all of us not able to live off fortunes. The heroes of this story are the townspeople who invest in the horse when economic times are tough and ROI not certain.

Beautiful horse. Beautiful film

It's PR for animal abuse

[clas_mail · 4/10 · 21 December 2021]

Yes, sure, it has the making of a feel good, winning against the odds, underdog (well, horse) story. But at a closer look, it feels like it's just PR for animal abuse.

All competitive animal sports are problematic, but to push a horse from a life threatening injury to competitive racing shows that the main concern was never the horse's welfare. Brought the community together? Yeah, sure, but maybe you can do that in ways that are not abusive to animals?