Racing Stripes

This article is about the film. For the design element used on racecars, see Racing stripe.

Racing Stripes
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Frederik Du Chau
Produced by	Broderick Johnson Andrew Kosove Edward L. McDonnell Lloyd Phillips
Screenplay by	David Schmidt
Story by	David Schmidt Steven P. Wegner Kirk De Micco Frederik Du Chau
Starring	Frankie Muniz Hayden Panettiere Bruce Greenwood Mandy Moore Dustin Hoffman Whoopi Goldberg Wendie Malick Fred Thompson
Music by	Mark Isham
Cinematography	David Eggby
Editing by	Tom Finan
Studio	Alcon Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures (USA/Canada) Momentum Pictures (UK) Summit Entertainment (International sales)
Release date(s)	January 6, 2005 (2005-01-06) (Australia) January 14, 2005 (2005-01-14) (United States)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million
Box office	$90,754,475

Racing Stripes is a 2005 comedy film directed by Frederik Du Chau, the director of Quest for Camelot. Although set in Kentucky, the movie was filmed in Pietermaritzburg and Nottingham Road, South Africa.

Plot

In a rush to pack up during a thunderstorm after blowing a tire, the Circus Sorano (a traveling circus) accidentally leaves behind a baby zebra. The foal is rescued by Nolan Walsh, a retired thoroughbred-racehorse trainer. Nolan takes the zebra home to his farm, and leaves it in the care of his daughter Channing, who names him "Stripes". The other farmyard animals try to educate him about life on the farm, but he is convinced that he is destined for the nearby racetrack, even though he isn't a real racehorse (a fact he doesn't realize for three years). He spends his time training, helped by Tucker, a Shetland Pony who had helped coach champion racehorses in the past.

Channing has a similar ambition: To become a jockey. Her father had refused to let her train, as he believed it to be too dangerous; he had retired from training after her mother, also a jockey, had died in a racing accident, several years before. However, her enthusiasm eventually wins Nolan over, and he agrees to train her and Stripes, with the aim of winning the illustrious Kentucky Open. Being a zebra to participate in the Kentucky Cup wasn't easy for Channing and Stripes. There were also Stripes rival Pride who was Sir Trenton's son, who sees his son only to win and beat Stripes.

Cast

Live actors

• Hayden Panettiere as Channing Walsh. She is determined to race just like her mom and has a natural talent for it.
• Bruce Greenwood as Nolan Walsh. Channing's father has been unwilling to train horses since his wife was killed when her racehorse stumbled. He also prevents Channing from riding, fearing that she will hurt herself.
• Wendie Malick as Clara Dalrymple, Nolan's former employer.
• Gary Bullock as John Cooper, Clara Dalrymple's trainer.
• M. Emmet Walsh as Woodzie, an old racetrack gambler who sympathizes with Channing's frustration at not being allowed to ride.

Voice actors

• Frankie Muniz as Stripes, a zebra who wants to compete in the Kentucky Open.
• Mandy Moore as Sandy, a white filly who is a professional jumper.
• Dustin Hoffman as Tucker, a Shetland pony who used to help Nolan Walsh train racehorses. Years of training horses who never give him any thanks for his help has left him grumpy.
• Whoopi Goldberg as Franny, an old nanny goat who takes Stripes under her wing.
• Fred Thompson as Sir Trenton, an arrogant thoroughbred stallion who sees his son, Pride, as having no purpose other than to carry on the Trenton legacy.
• Steve Harvey and David Spade as Buzz and Scuzz, a pair of horsefly brothers who are old friends of Tucker's.
• Joshua Jackson as Trenton's Pride, Sir Trenton's son, who is a bully.
• Michael Clarke Duncan as Clydesdale , a Clydesdale (horse)
• Jeff Foxworthy as Reggie, the Walsh farm's pea-brained rooster.
• Joe Pantoliano as Goose, a former mob hitman American white pelican from New Jersey. Fleeing his boss after a botched assassination, Goose crash-landed on the Walsh farm.
• Snoop Dogg as Lightning, the farm's lazy Bloodhound and family pet.
• Michael Rosenbaum as Ruffshodd, a horse who bullies Stripes.
• Jansen Panettiere as Young Stripes
• Frankie Manriquez as Young Ruffshodd
• Kyle Alcazar as Young Pride

Visual Effects

The bulk of the visual effects work on the film was carried out by the Santa Monica based company Digiscope. The visual effects supervisor was Dion Hatch, and the animation supervisor was Alexander Williams.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack album was released 2005-01-11 on the Varèse Sarabande label. The film's score was composed by Mark Isham, who also co-wrote the first of the two original songs on the CD (both heard in the movie over the closing credits).

1. Taking the Inside Rail - Sting (4:16)
2. It was A Dark And Stormy Night (4:05)
3. At Home On Walsh Falm (5:01)
4. I'm A Racehorse! (2:51)
5. The Blue Moon Races (3:39)
6. A Pelican Named Goose (1:19)
7. Tucker Lays It Out! (2:25)
8. Goose Makes A Hit On The Iron Horse (2:10)
9. Run Like The Wind (2:04)
10. Twilight Run (2:27)
11. Upstaged By A Zebra (2:46)
12. A Brave Decision (1:48)
13. Glory Days (3:18)
14. If You Build It, They Will Come (2:21)
15. Out Of Africa (1:06)
16. Spring Training (2:31)
17. Ambushed! (4:48)
18. Filly In Distress (1:05)
19. Race Day (1:03)
20. They're All In! (1:12)
21. The Big Race (7:19)
22. In The Winner's Circle (1:54)
23. It Ain't Over Yet - Bryan Adams (3:18)

Reception

Critical response

Overall reaction to Racing Stripes was mixed. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 35% based on 98 reviews, with the consensus stating, "An entertaining children movie that ought to be tolerable for adults."

Box office

Despite reviews being mixed, the film was a commercial and financial success, grossing nearly $50 million in Canada and North America a final total of over $90 million worldwide.

See also

• 2005 in film
• Quest for Camelot
• Underdog

External links

• Official site
• Racing Stripes at the Internet Movie Database
• Racing Stripes at AllRovi