Horse Tour de Force

With Creator's win at Belmont last Saturday, another Triple Crown season is in the books, but Dark Horse, a documentary that chronicles a group of regular Joes staking a claim in the sport of kings, is the perfect extension of racing season—with a twist. The heartwarming film tells the story of Jan Vokes, a barmaid at a pub in a Welsh coal-mining town, who recruits a group of retirees, shopkeepers and barflies to go in on a thoroughbred. Each member of the syndicate contributes £10 per week to purchase and develop a gelding they name Dream Alliance, a horse as ordinary as its owners—until he starts winning. The inspirational tale, in select theaters, is a testament to the power of persistence over pedigree.