Horse racing has endured as one of the UK’s greatest spectator sports for hundreds of years, but for it to continue, it needs to be represented more in the world of entertainment. Horse trainers are a crucial aspect of racing, but their amazing work often goes unnoticed, overshadowed by the riders, who lead altogether more glamourous lives, so it seems.

That’s why it could be the perfect time for a behind-the-scenes documentary that gives a detailed look at the daily lives of these passionate people. There are a few names that would be great for this style of programming, with Venetia Williams arguably a standout contender.

Arguably the most successful trainer in National Hunt history

Williams started out as an amateur jockey before becoming a huge name in the British jump racing business and has trained some famous horses over the years.

She has made headlines on various occasions, with one of her greatest achievements coming in the 2009 Grand National. She trained the 100-1 outsider Mon Mome, who went on to shock everyone and win the race. This made Williams only the second female trainer in history to win the race. She acts as an inspiration to other women in the business and is seen as a trailblazer in the sport. Along with her excellent record, Williams has a unique training approach worthy of greater exploration in a documentary.

Bringing racehorse training to an online generation

With more people than ever discovering sports and other interests online first rather than in the real world, it’s clear that more needs to be done to ensure that horse racing reaches this digital generation. More documentaries are needed, detailing all the aspects of the sport and not just the thrill of the track.

There have been some online offerings aimed at bringing horse racing to a wider audience, with the gaming industry doing its bit to represent the sport. Virtual horse racing is on the rise, and now there are games like ZED RUN that aim to replicate all aspects of real-world horse racing in a digital environment. There are also various slot games like Gold Horsey Winner and Big Horsey Fortune that open up the sport to the iGaming crowd. These can often be played with casino bonuses such as free spins deals, meaning that even non-horse racing fans can easily discover them.

Sporting docuseries are hugely popular on streaming platforms

It would make a lot of sense to release more horse racing documentaries, as there’s clearly an audience out there for this type of behind-the-scenes content. There have been numerous successful docuseries on streaming services in recent years, with Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix and the All or Nothing series on Amazon among the best of them. Full Gallop received a terrific audience, whilst series on Dettori and McCoy were also very popular.

It feels like horse racing needs its Netflix moment as well, and the story of an inspirational figure in the sport could be the ideal premise. Williams is a legend among horse racing fans, and her story deserves greater attention in popular culture.