Grab the popcorn: 10 movies, shows to watch to get in the mood for the Kentucky Derby

You've likely heard of Disney’s 2010 "Secretariat" film, but did you know that "The Addams Family" and even "Rocky and Bullwinkle" have shared some screen time with the Kentucky Derby, too?

Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the first known footage of the Kentucky Derby's annual run at Churchill Downs. With a little help from the Kentucky Derby Museum, last year I brought you a story about the 15 minutes of priceless Louisville Derby history that are wedged in between a silent, 1922 melodrama called, fittingly, "The Kentucky Derby."

That got me thinking, there had to be more films and other Kentucky Derby-related movies and television shows out there.

And yes, there are.

In fact, Jeff Kennedy, director of technology at the museum, tracked down so many movies and television shows with Kentucky Derby ties that there are enough for you to watch at least one a day, and then some, throughout Kentucky Derby Week.

So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and brace yourself for some classic takes and extremely stretched fictional interpretations on this storied Louisville tradition.

Derby 101: Who has won the most Kentucky Derby races? Kentucky Derby trivia facts you should know

Just like we indulge in holiday movies in December and spooky flicks in October, these televisions shows and films can help put you in the mood for the 149th Kentucky Derby this spring.

'The Kentucky Derby' (1922)

Hollywood came to the Kentucky Derby for the first time in 1922, and it brought the Run for the Roses to the big screen. This silent film uses actual footage from Morvich's win during the 48th Kentucky Derby to tell the fictional story of Duke Charles. Copies of this film are exceptionally rare, but courier-journal.com has a short digital clip of the 1922 footage available for viewing.

You may like: First footage: Groundbreaking silent film shows the Kentucky Derby as it was 100 years ago

'Sporting Blood' (1931)

This Clark Gable film includes newsreel shots of the Kentucky Derby. It's based on the short story "Horse Flesh" by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, which appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, according to Turner Classic Movies. The story follows a horse named Tommy Boy and his multiple owners until he eventually becomes a stakes winner. This film was rereleased on DVD in the early 2000s and is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

'Kentucky Blue Streak' (1935)

This is a classic movie about the Kentucky Derby, but the racing footage was taken at Santa Anita Park in California. The story follows a Kentucky woman, who goes to California to visit her brother, who is a jockey. There is a scandal and eventually a murder. Amid the chaos, the sister returns to Kentucky to enter her horse, Blue Streak, in the Kentucky Derby. The entire film is available to watch on YouTube.

Derby 101: What time is the Kentucky Derby? Here's your complete guide to the 2023 race

'Kentucky' (1938)

This film is a Romeo and Juliet-style love story but with a Kentucky horseracing twist. This family feud began in the Civil War and then persisted through generations. Walter Brennan won an Oscar for his role in this movie. This movie also features the first known color footage of the Kentucky Derby. You can rent this film on Amazon Prime or watch it on YouTube.

'Glory' (1956)

This is the story of a young woman on a Kentucky horse farm, who has a deep affection for a filly named Glory. The heroine tries to prevent the horse's sale, and eventually, she enters her in the Kentucky Derby. This film was produced by Admiral Gene Markey, who ran Calumet Farm with his wife Lucille (Wright) Markey. You can rent "Glory" on iTunes.

'Peabody’s Improbable History: The First Kentucky Derby' (1959)

During a season one episode of “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends,” Peabody goes back in time to help a fictional horse survive sleeping sickness just in time to race in the very first Kentucky Derby. You can watch this short cartoon on YouTube.

Derby 101: Don't want to sound like a Kentucky Derby newbie? Here's how to sound like a true insider

'The Addams Family at the Kentucky Derby' (1973)

The final episode of the 1973 Hanna-Barbera Saturday-morning cartoon "The Addams Family" takes the spooky family to the Kentucky Derby to buy Pugsley a horse. The family meets a wobbly horse named "Bones" that the seller tries to pass off as horseracing legend Man-O-War. Pugsley runs Bones in the time trials for the Kentucky Derby. The 20-minute episode is available for viewing at dailymotion.com. The episode can also be rented on iTunes.

'Run for the Roses' (1977)

This is a made-for-TV movie that features footage from Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week, but not from the race itself, according to Kennedy, the museum's technology director. It's a story about a young boy from Puerto Rico, who meets a horse that he believes can win the Kentucky Derby. The film is available using the streaming app, Tubi.

'Bluegrass' (1988)

This two-part mini-series starring Cheryl Ladd is based on Borden Deal's 1970s novel "Bluegrass." The story is about a woman who tries to break into the elite, male-dominated horseracing culture. Both episodes are available for viewing at archive.org.

You may like: The end of his offspring: A day with Secretariat's last known daughter, Trusted Company

'Secretariat' (2010)

Perhaps the most famous of all Kentucky Derby films is Disney's 2010 production of "Secretariat." This film is based on the true story of Secretariat's record-setting Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown win. You can rent "Secretariat" on Amazon Prime.

'50 to 1' (2014)

Based on the true story of Mine That Bird's wild Kentucky Derby win, this movie follows a group of New Mexico cowboys, who find themselves on a wild adventure their horse unexpectedly qualifies for the 2009 Run for the Roses. You can rent "50 to 1" on Amazon Prime.

You may like: Secretariat sired 660+ horses. This woman is tracking them down. Here's how she finds them

Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky unique, wonderful, and occasionally, a little weird. If you've got something in your family, your town or even your closet that fits that description — she wants to hear from you. Say hello at mmenderski@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4053.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2023: 10 Derby-themed movies, shows to watch this year