Racing Stripes

This article is about the movie. For the design element used on racecars, see racing stripe.

Racing Stripes is a 2005 American sports comedy family film directed by Frederik Du Chau. The film was produced by Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Lloyd Phillips and Edward L. McDonnell, based on a script written by David Schmidt, Steven P. Wegner, Kirk DeMicco and Du Chau.

Racing Stripes
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Frederik Du Chau
Screenplay by	David Schmidt
Story by	David Schmidt Steven P. Wegner Kirk DeMicco Frederik Du Chau
Produced by	Andrew Kosove Broderick Johnson Lloyd Phillips Edward L. McDonnell
Starring	Bruce Greenwood Hayden Panettiere M. Emmet Walsh Wendie Malick Frankie Muniz David Spade Steve Harvey Snoop Dogg Mandy Moore Jeff Foxworthy Joe Pantoliano Dustin Hoffman Whoopi Goldberg Michael Clarke Duncan Joshua Jackson Michael Rosenbaum Fred Thompson
Cinematography	David Eggby
Edited by	Tom Finan
Music by	Mark Isham
Production company	Alcon Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures (United States and Canada) Summit Entertainment (International)
Release dates	January 8, 2005 (2005-01-08) (Hollywood) January 14, 2005 (2005-01-14) (United States)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million
Box office	$90.8 million[1]

The film tells the story of Stripes, a circus zebra who is accidentally abandoned in Kentucky and raised on a farm next to a racetrack. Believing he is a racehorse, Stripes dreams of training for and competing in the races. The film stars Hayden Panettiere, Bruce Greenwood, Wendie Malick and M. Emmet Walsh, with the voice talents of Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jeff Foxworthy, Joshua Jackson, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Rosenbaum, Steve Harvey, David Spade, Snoop Dogg, Fred Dalton Thompson, Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg.

Racing Stripes was released theatrically on January 14, 2005, by Warner Bros. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $90 million worldwide.

Plot

During a thunderstorm, a traveling circus, Circus Sarano, accidentally abandons a baby zebra after replacing a flat tire. The foal is rescued by widower and former racehorse trainer Nolan Walsh, and taken to his farm, where he is named "Stripes" by Nolan's thirteen-year-old daughter, Channing, and meets a Shetland pony named Tucker, a goat named Franny, and a rooster named Reggie. The next day, Stripes becomes convinced that he is destined for the nearby racetrack, Turfway Park, unaware that he is a zebra and is not qualified. Two thoroughbred foals named Trenton's Pride and Ruffshodd decide to race Stripes, but Pride's father, Sir Trenton, notices and forbids them to play with Stripes again.

Three years later, after losing to the mailman in their usual race, an adult Stripes meets an Arabian filly named Sandy and develops a crush on her. After talking to Sandy, Stripes is approached by Pride, Ruffshodd, and Sir Trenton, and Pride challenges him to a race at a secret racetrack in the forest called the Blue Moon Races, which Stripes ends up losing.

The following day, Tucker, having watched Stripes in secret, approaches him and suggests that he gets proper training first. Stripes chooses Channing, who is now sixteen-years-old, for his rider, and convinces a pelican named Goose to sabotage Channing's motorcycle and ‘Old Blue’’, Nolan's old pickup truck, so that Channing can ride him to her workplace at Turfway Park. The plan works, and Channing, with Nolan's reluctant approval, rides Stripes to Turfway Park. There, Channing is antagonized by her boss, Clara Dalrymple, for bringing Stripes to the racetrack, while Stripes himself meets a pair of horsefly brothers named Buzz and Scuzz.

At night, Channing, remembering her first horseback ride with her late mother Carolyn, completes a lap around the track with Stripes. They are approached by Woodzie, a racetrack gambler and old friend of the family, who encourages Channing to sign herself and Stripes up for a tryout race the next day. She agrees, despite Nolan's disapproval stemming from Carolyn's death in an accident years ago, which discouraged him from horse-training, but Stripes has a meltdown after getting scared by the horse gate. Once he calms down, Stripes begins running, but he gets hit by flying dirt and causes Channing to fall off. Although she is uninjured, Nolan chastises Channing, but he defends her when Clara ridicules Channing's riding skills. In response, Clara sarcastically signs Stripes up to compete in the Kentucky Open.

Meanwhile, Stripes finally learns that he is a zebra after being told off by Sir Trenton, which severely discourages him. Despite Channing's pleas and Woodzie's encouragement, Nolan refuses to let his daughter race Stripes. Realizing this, the farm animals lure Nolan into the barn to show him a table with pictures of his past accomplishments, and he changes his mind. The following day, due to Stripes' misbehavior during training, Franny reveals to Stripes that Tucker helped Nolan train many racehorses, including Sir Trenton, without getting any thanks, which encourages him to begin training.

Refusing to let Stripes race, however, Sir Trenton and several thoroughbreds ambush him and Sandy at a creek at night while they are making up for their previous argument, and they kidnap Sandy, threatening to hurt her if Stripes, who they then knock unconscious, races. The next day, after finding Stripes and waking him up, Tucker, Franny and Goose agree to rescue Sandy for him. With help from Buzz and Scuzz, the rescue is successful, and they get back in time for Stripes to go to the race.

At the race, Nolan makes a deal with Clara that he will buy Sandy if Stripes wins, but will come back to work for her if he does not. During the race, Ruffshodd and his own jockey try to stop Stripes and Channing from winning, but Scuzz gets them disqualified by biting Ruffshodd's rear end. Later, Stripes starts wearing out, until he finally remembers what Tucker taught him: "Don't look back. Leave it all on the track", which boosts his confidence. Stripes wins the race in a photo finish and earns respect from Pride and the other racehorses. At the end, they all come together in a group photo, which is later shown with the past Walsh wins.

Cast

Humans

Hayden Panettiere (left), Bruce Greenwood, M. Emmet Walsh and Wendie Malick play Channing Walsh, Nolan Walsh Sheriff Woodzie and Clara Dalrymple.

• Hayden Panettiere as Channing "Chan" Walsh, Nolan's free-spirited sixteen-year-old daughter who is determined and willing to ride Stripes, and despite her lack of opportunity, has talent for horseback like her late mother, Carolyn.
• Bruce Greenwood as Nolan "The Chief" Walsh, Channing's widowed father, a veteran Kentucky corn farmer, and a retired racehorse trainer who has been unable to train horses after his wife, Carolyn, died when her racehorse stumbled years ago. Fearing that Channing will hurt herself if she rides Stripes, Nolan refuses to let her go to the Turfway Park racetrack, until halfway through the movie, when the animals make him remember his accomplishments as a trainer, and he ultimately helps Channing and Stripes train for the Kentucky Open.
• M. Emmet Walsh as Sheriff Woodzie, an old, wise racetrack gambler and friend of the Walsh family, who sympathizes with Channing since he sees the same talent in her like Carolyn.
• Wendie Malick as Clara Dalrymple, Nolan's former employer, Channing's boss, and the film's main antagonist. She admires Trenton's Pride and Ruffshodd, only sees the Kentucky Open as a means of business and money, and is not concerned for the health of her horses, as well as Stripes.
• Gary Bullock as John Cooper, a racehorse trainer who does not share his boss, Clara's views on pushing her horses past their limits, but follows her instructions in order to get his paychecks.
• Caspar Poyck as The Mailman, who beats Stripes after the zebra runs into a tree in their usual race.

Voice actors

Top: Frankie Muniz, Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg voice Stripes, Tucker and Franny.

Middle: Mandy Moore, Steve Harvey and David Spade voice Sandy, Buzz and Scuzz.

Bottom: Jeff Foxworthy, Joe Pantoliano, Snoop Dogg, Fred Thompson, Joshua Jackson and Michael Rosenbaum voice Reggie, Goose, Lightning, Sir Trenton, Trenton's Pride and Ruffshodd.

• Frankie Muniz as Stripes, a foundling plains zebra and the film's main protagonist, who dreams of competing in the Kentucky Open, which leads to him being bullied by the local horses except for Sandy, his love interest.
  • Jansen Panettiere, Hayden Panettiere's brother, voices Stripes’ younger self.
• Dustin Hoffman as Tucker, a Shetland pony who used to help Nolan train racehorses, including Sir Trenton, and presents himself with a grumpy demeanor after years of training ungrateful horses before retiring, but later helps Stripes by teaching him to race.
• Whoopi Goldberg as Franny, a Saanen goat who encourages Stripes to pursue his racing dreams and gives him good advice. She also seems to be the only animal on the farm aware that Tucker is upset about his retirement.
• Mandy Moore as Sandy, an Arabian filly who is a professional jumper and the only horse who supports Stripes' dream to become a racehorse. She and Stripes also have romantic feelings for each other, which becomes mutual by the end of the film.
• Steve Harvey and David Spade as Buzz and Scuzz, a pair of horsefly brothers who serve as the film's comic relief and are friends with Tucker. Buzz is larger and has blue eyes and combed hair, while Scuzz is smaller and has red eyes and messed-up hair. They also have different opinions on music: Scuzz enjoys rap music, while Buzz favors classical music.
• Jeff Foxworthy as Reggie, the farm's Rhode Island Red, who means well, but is not very bright. He also serves as the news announcer for the other farm animals.
• Joe Pantoliano as Goose, a New York-accented American white pelican from the big city, who states that he moved to the farm in order to escape other birds who have placed a hit on him, and that he was a "hit bird".
• Snoop Dogg as Lightning, the family's lazy bloodhound who makes jokes while sleeping.
• Fred Thompson as Sir Trenton, an arrogant and strict thoroughbred horse who sees his son, Trenton's Pride, as having no purpose besides continuing his legacy, and sees the Kentucky Open as his property, which leads to his antagonism towards Stripes. He was also one of Tucker's former racehorses-in-training before the latter and Nolan retired from training.
• Joshua Jackson as Trenton's Pride, Sir Trenton's son who bullies Stripes, but strongly believes in winning a race the fair and honest way, unlike his father and the other horses.
  • Kyle Alcazar voices Pride’s younger self.
• Michael Rosenbaum as Ruffshodd, Pride's friend who, at first, seems to bully Stripes alongside Pride out of sycophancy for him and fear of Sir Trenton, but in reality, is a greater bully who proves eager to help the latter keep Stripes from racing in the Kentucky Open.
  • Frankie Ryan Manriquez voices Ruffshodd’s younger self.
• Michael Clarke Duncan as Clydesdale, a Clydesdale horse who hosts the Blue Moon Races.

Production

Kirk DeMicco is the film's writer.

On September 10, 2002, it was announced that Frederik Du Chau was hired and set to direct Racing Stripes. David Schmidt, Steven P. Wegner and Kirk DeMicco wrote the script for the film. Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Lloyd Phillips and Edward L. McDonnell produced the film with the budget of $30 million, for release in 2005. On March 25, 2003, it was announced that Mark Isham would compose the music for the film.^{[citation needed]}

Two racing zebras, Sam and Daisy, were used in the film. Sam was more well-behaved, and "kind of wanted to be a horse", according to Tim Rivers, who trained him at the Animals in Motion farm near Citra, Florida. Sam had previously appeared in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Second Noah and Sheena.^[2]

During production of the film, Hayden Panettiere was thrown off a zebra and ended up hospitalized with a concussion and a pinched nerve in her neck. The producers forbade her from mentioning the injury during publicity for the film; she finally revealed it during a 2013 episode of British talk show The Graham Norton Show.^[3]

Casting

In March 2003, Frankie Muniz was cast following his performance in Agent Cody Banks. On July 27, 2003, other cast members were announced, such as Hayden Panettiere, who would star opposite the voices of Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Pantoliano, Mandy Moore, and Patrick Stewart.^{[citation needed]}

Also joining the cast of voices were Joshua Jackson, Michael Rosenbaum, Steve Harvey, David Spade, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Jeff Foxworthy. In August, Bruce Greenwood was cast in the film. Patrick Stewart was originally going to voice Sir Trenton.^{[citation needed]}

Filming

It was filmed at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa,^[4] and Riverholm Country Estate in Nottingham Road, South Africa.^[5] Development of the film was completed in Los Angeles, California. On May 21, Summit Entertainment and Warner Bros. acquired distribution rights to the film.^{[citation needed]}

Soundtrack

The film's score was composed by Mark Isham, who also produced and cowrote "Taking the Inside Rail" with Sting; "It Ain't Over Yet", heard when Channing and Nolan train Stripes, as well as at the end of the film, was written by Bryan Adams, Gretchen Peters and Eliot Kennedy, and produced by Adams. The soundtrack album was released January 11, 2005, on the Varèse Sarabande label.^{[citation needed]}

1. Taking the Inside Rail - Sting
2. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
3. At Home on Walsh Farm
4. I'm a Racehorse!
5. The Blue Moon Races
6. A Pelican Named Goose
7. Tucker Lays It Out!
8. Goose Makes a Hit on the Iron Horse
9. Run Like the Wind
10. Twilight Run
11. Upstaged by a Zebra
12. A Brave Decision
13. Glory Days
14. If You Build It, They Will Come
15. Out of Africa
16. Spring Training
17. Ambushed!
18. Filly in Distress
19. Race Day
20. They're All In!
21. The Big Race
22. In The Winner's Circle
23. It Ain't Over Yet - Bryan Adams
24. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Ennio Morricone
25. My Girl – Steve Harvey
26. U Can't Touch This – David Spade
27. Here Comes The Hotstepper - David Spade
28. Ebony and Ivory - Steve Harvey and David Spade
29. Overture, from 'Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)' K.492 - Hungarian State Orchestra
30. Exsultate, jubillate, K.165 - Kosice Teachers' Choir/Camerata Cassovia
31. Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.
32. The National Anthem USA
33. Who Let The Dogs Out? - Steve Harvey and David Spade

The theme song for the Japanese version is "I Will" by Hitomi Shimatani.^[6]

Reception

Box office

Racing Stripes grossed $49.8 million in the United States and $41 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $90.8 million.^[1]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 35% based on 97 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Racing Stripes might be good for a few laps with younger viewers, but it's too blandly predictable to truly recommend for an all-ages audience."^[7] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 43 out of 100 based on 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.^[8] Audiences polled by CinemaScore give the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.^[9]

Awards

International Film Music Critics Award (IFMCA) 2005

Award	Category	Nominee	Result
IFMCA Award	Best Original Score for a Comedy Film	Mark Isham	Nominated

Teen Choice Awards 2005

Award	Category	Nominee	Result
Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie: Animated/Computer Generated	Frederik Du Chau	Nominated

See also

• List of films about horses
• List of films about horse racing