Documentaries - Sport

Ourasi, the Lazy King (2003)

Ourasi is a champion trotter. A player, a rebel, and a conqueror, this handsome chestnut has a personality and liveliness which set him apart. This documentary shows the destiny of a mythical horse who today is enjoying a well-deserved rest. With fifty-eight victories, including four American Prizes (in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990), this unsurpassed track record surely made Ourasi the trotter of the century. "When he came out of the last bend, he would flatten down his ears and then no-one could catch himï¿½, says Rachel Tessier, his first owner. ï¿½He flies out of the hatch like Concorde taking off. Thereï¿½s him, then there are the other horsesï¿½ adds Olivier, his stable lad. A rebellious horse, Ourasi had the individual quirk of always leaving it until the last few seconds before beating his adversaries, hence his nickname of ï¿½the lazy kingï¿½. His end-of-race speed-ups had the effect of sparking the crowdï¿½s enthusiasm. He was imperial in his efforts - this burnt-chestnut horse, with a golden coat, never did anything like the others. ï¿½He was always more in control than I was. Out of the pair of us, I felt like I was actually the horse and he the jockeyï¿½ confesses Jean-Renï¿½ Gougeon, nicknamed "driver of the sublime". "That horse really enjoyed pushing the limits of his world", adds Philippe, his first stable lad. But despite thirteen years of equine mastery, Ourasiï¿½s line was not to be up to his great standard. To the immense disappointment of his buyers, he turned out to be a lousy stallion, apart from with one pretty bay mare: from three encounters three colts were born. Was Ourasi perhaps in love? A mythical horse, with an extraordinary destiny, he now whiles away his days happily at Gruchy stud farm.

Photos

Credits

Directed by

Jackie Bastide

Co-writers:

Homeric

Produced by

Cie des pahares et balises, France 2, Arte

Technical information

2003

Running time:

70 minutes

Broadcasts :

France 2 (10/11/2003) - Arte (06/20/2004)

Awards

This film was awarded the top prize at the EPONA international festival 2003 (the gold of Arman's horses)

Press reviews

ï¿½The right words, real emotion and production which is at once discreet and seductive help in uncovering the extraordinary career of this mythical horseï¿½ - TELERAMA, TV magazine