Public
television station
WUFT-TV
captures the thrill of the race and the essence of the
relationship between horse and human in this one-hour documentary
hosted by Bo Derek.
The
Jumping Game introduces its audience to the world of the
race horses that jump, where horse and rider hurtle over fences,
thick brush and water-filled ditches at speeds up to 35 mph. The
program explores the ancient and passionate bond between people
and horses and traces the 150-year history of the steeplechase
in the United States through archival film and photographs.
Today,
as many as 50,000 fans can be found at a steeplechase event which
includes tailgate picnics, Jack Russell Terrier races and pony
rides for children. Solely a “gentleman’s game”
for many years, now women are in the winners’ circle as both
jockeys and trainers.
The
Jumping Gamewas photographed at wide-ranging locations
- from New Hampshire to Florida and from Pennsylvania to California
- and features steeplechase events in Virginia, Tennessee, New
Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
The
Jumping Game is a production of WUFT-TV, Channel 5 in
Gainesville, Florida
Producer,
Writer and Director - Letitia Langord
Associate Producer, Director of Photography and Editor - Dennis
Gaston
Field Engineer and Sound - Dennis Ogle
Funding
for this program was provided by a grant from the Margaret Dorrance
Strawbridge Foundation and by WUFT-TV, University of Florida.
The
Jumping Game introduces its audience to the world of the
race horses that jump, where horse and rider hurtle over fences,
thick brush and water-filled ditches at speeds up to 35 mph. The
program explores the ancient and passionate bond between people
and horses and traces the 150-year history of the steeplechase
in the United States through archival film and photographs.
Today,
as many as 50,000 fans can be found at a steeplechase event which
includes tailgate picnics, Jack Russell Terrier races and pony
rides for children. Solely a “gentleman’s game”
for many years, now women are in the winners’ circle as both
jockeys and trainers.