Racing Stripes

Directed by
Frederik Du Chau

Writing credits
(WGA)
David Schmidt (story)
Steven P. Wegner (story)
Kirk De Micco (story)
Frederik Du Chau (story)
David Schmidt (screenplay)

Release Date:
14 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:
Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

Cast :
* 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.

Original Sound Track :
1 Taking the Inside Rail Sting/Isham 4:16
2 It Was a Dark and Stormy Night Isham 4:05
3 At Home on Walsh Farm Isham 5:00
4 I'm a Racehorse Isham 2:50
5 The Blue Moon Races Isham 3:39
6 A Pelican Named Goose Isham 1:19
7 Tucker Lays It Out! Isham 2:24
8 Goose Makes a Hit on the Iron Horse Isham 2:09
9 Run Like the Wind Isham 2:03
10 Twilight Run Isham 2:27
11 Upstaged by a Zebra Isham 2:46
12 A Brave Decision Isham 1:47
13 Glory Days Isham 3:17
14 If You Build It, They Will Come Isham 2:20
15 Out of Africa Isham 1:06
16 Spring Training Isham 2:30
17 Ambushed! Isham 4:47
18 Filly in Distress Isham 1:04
19 Race Day Isham 1:03
20 They're All In Isham 1:11
21 The Big Race Isham 7:19
22 In the Winner's Circle Isham 1:53
23 It Ain't Over Yet Adams/Peters/Kenned 3:18

Plot :
In the middle of a raging thunderstorm, a traveling circus accidentally leaves behind some very precious cargo -- a baby zebra (voiced by Frankie Muniz). The gangly little foal is rescued by horse farmer Nolan Walsh (Bruce Greenwood), who takes him home to his young daughter Channing (Hayden Panettiere). Once a champion thoroughbred trainer, Walsh has given up horse training for a quiet life with Channing on their modest Kentucky farm.

The little zebra, or "Stripes," as Channing calls him, is soon introduced to the farm's misfit troupe of barnyard residents, led by a cranky Shetland Pony named Tucker (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) and Franny (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg), a wise old goat who keeps the family in line. The group is joined by Goose (voiced by Joe Pantoliano), a deranged big-city pelican who's hiding out in the sticks until the heat dies down in Jersey. The un-aptly named bloodhound Lightening (Snoop Dogg) keeps a lazy eye on goings-on at the farm -- in between naps.

The Walsh farm borders the Turfway Racetrack, where highly skilled thoroughbreds compete for horse racing's top honor, the ultra-prestigious Kentucky Crown. From the first moment Stripes lays eyes on the track, he's hooked -- he knows that if he could just get the chance, he could leave all those other horses in the dust. What he doesn't know is... he's not exactly a horse. But with characteristic zeal, he devotes himself to training for the big time, with a little help from Tucker, who has coached a host of champion racehorses in the past.

Channing has a similar ambition -- she longs to train as a jockey, but her protective father refuses to let her compete in the potentially dangerous sport. But Walsh can't ignore her enthusiasm (or her stubbornness) for long, and she convinces him to come out of retirement to train her and Stripes for the Kentucky Crown.

The neighboring Estate is run by the ruthless queen of the Kentucky racing circuit, the incredibly wealthy and exceptionally coldhearted Clara Dalrymple (Wendie Malick). Stripes constantly battles the ridicule of the Estate's thoroughbreds-in-training, led by spoiled bully Sir Trenton's Pride (voiced by Joshua Jackson), who taunts him relentlessly about his lack of breeding and... unusual appearance. But the Estate is home to some kinder residents, particularly Sandy (voiced by Mandy Moore), a beautiful mare whose admiration and affection for Stripes further enrages his rival.

Stripes makes some friends down at the track as well, most notably the manic horsefly duo Buzz (Steve Harvey) and Scuzz (David Spade), whose love of song and dance is eclipsed only by their love of hot dogs and horse poop.

As he thrusts himself into a world of elite athletes, intense competition and enormous stakes, Stripes must prove he's fast enough and tough enough to run with the big horses if he wants to land in the winner's circle at the legendary Kentucky Crown.

Some champions are born, not bred!

Pictures :