'Dark Horse' is a slight but winning tale of unlikely success

( PG ) ( Monitor Movie Guide )

'Dark' tells the story of Welsh inhabitants of a former mining village who decide to pool their resources and breed a racehorse.

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Sony Pictures Classics
Breeders Brian and Jan Vokes in the movie 'Dark Horse'

Louise Osmond’s “Dark Horse” is a slight but winning documentary about a most unlikely event, and I hope Hollywood doesn’t get wind of it. In early 2000, a group of rowdy Welsh inhabitants of a former mining village, led by Jan Vokes, a local bartender, decided to pool their resources and breed a racehorse.

The notion that these working-class folk would dare invade the elitist sport of horse racing is funny enough, but when the horse, Dream Alliance, actually starts winning some big races, the fairy tale becomes almost too good to be true. But of course, it is true. As I said, keep Hollywood away from this. Grade: B+ (Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and language.)

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