On heels of the premiere of Kelly Spencer’s harness racing documentary Race Day and the launch of HBO’s horse racing drama Luck this past weekend, two-time O’Brien Award winning writer Andrew Cohen has shared his thoughts on both projects
.
The legal analyst for 60 Minutes and CBS Radio News commends Race Day on its “kinder, gentler” look into the world of the horse racing industry as opposed to “Hollywood’s stylish portrayal” of Luck.
In his review posted on The Atlantic, Cohen states “the brief story they shot about their horses showed the true highs and lows of the sport--not the often exaggerated ones you'll see so much of in Luck. ‘A Day In The Life’ is short and sweet, almost a response to Luck.”
Cohen fixates on a scene in the documentary, which he believes illustrates “the true highs and lows of the sport.”
“The scene at the end of this clip, with Stephanie Horner looking into the camera at the end of a long and frustrating day, dead tired but still game, is really what horse racing is about when you break it down and strip it of its hype,” he writes. “All over North America, hard-working people like Horner live their lives at the mercy of their racehorses and the horse industry, honestly seeking out a living. Luck only hints at these people in its first season--like the gorgeous horses themselves they are mostly props, in the background.”
Luck premiered Sunday, January 29 to 1.1 million viewers and has already been renewed for a second season in 2013.
Race Day premiered at the O’Brien Awards on January 28, 2012 in Mississauga to a crowd of nearly 500 and a private screening at the Galaxy Cineplex Theatre in Milton is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8 to help launch a publicity campaign to promote the film for inclusion in film festivals and contests, and for distribution across global broadcast mediums. Details will be announced soon on the documentary being broadcast on Cogeco and Rogers Television networks.