Would Cheltenham Benefit from a Drive to Survive-Style Docuseries?
The Cheltenham Festival may be one of the most important events in the British sporting calendar for horse racing enthusiasts in the country, but it arguably doesn’t have the international fame that it deserves.
However, in the modern entertainment era, there are plenty of ways for it to reach a much wider audience. Drive to Survive has been an incredible boost to Formula One in recent years, so Cheltenham could potentially benefit from a similar treatment.
Docuseries Could Allow Viewers to Experience Cheltenham in a Different Way
Most of the Cheltenham Festival coverage is only available to approved broadcasters, including ITV Racing and Racing TV, so it may be hard for a streaming service like Netflix to get in and make its own documentary. However, an offering on a streaming service would be an excellent way to help more people discover it, as these platforms are available to people all over the world.
If Netflix were to commission a Drive to Survive-style docuseries for the event, it wouldn’t need to step on the toes of the live broadcasters. Instead, it could capture the essence of race day in different ways, showing clips of the trainers and fans along with snippets of the races themselves.
The docuseries effect could also provide a strong narrative, with professionals, horses, and stories viewers can get behind. This would make horse racing more accessible, as it would give horse racing fans alternative ways to enjoy it beyond simply watching the action on the track.
Horse Racing Has Proven to Be Adaptable in Entertainment
It wouldn’t be out of the question for horse racing to be featured in a docuseries, as it has already proven to be highly adaptable in entertainment. Film and gaming have given people new ways to experience the sport.
For example, films like Seabiscuit and Secretariat were hugely popular and showed how audiences love a good equestrian story. Various games provide a completely fresh perspective on the sport too. For instance, Big Bass Day at the Races and Slingo Racing are just a couple of the games that can be found at some of the best bingo sites. With all these different ways to experiment horse racing online, a stylish new docuseries on a leading streaming service would be an excellent addition.
Drive to Survive Has Been a Revelation for F1
There’s a strong argument for other sports to follow in the footsteps of Formula One with a high-budget docuseries, as Drive to Survive has been an incredible boost for the sport. Indeed, according to some analysts, it has changed F1 fandom and racing culture.
To continue to attract new spectators in the modern age, horse racing festivals like Cheltenham need to be marketed in a variety of formats. While many people enjoy watching it live, others may want to watch docuseries or play games related to it.
The Cheltenham Festival would most certainly benefit from a Drive to Survive-style docuseries. However, there are currently no reports that anything like this is in development.