The Racing Game

For many years British thriller writer Dick Francis sold millions of books on both sides of the Atlantic, most of them having something to do with the world of horse racing—a milieu quite familiar to the former jockey. This six-episode 1979 Brit miniseries, broadcast stateside on PBS's Mystery!, was based on the novel Odds Against and other Francis yarns. Not one of the better British imports, The Racing Game disappointed some of the author's hardcore American fans 30 years ago, and still disappoints today. A lackluster Mike Gwilym plays Sid Halley, a jockey who becomes a private eye following an accident in which he loses his right hand. With the dubious assistance of his annoying, perpetually gruff sidekick Chico Barnes (Mick Ford), Halley specializes in cases taking place in and around various racetracks and other places where “the horsey set” congregates. The six episodes here paint a less than complimentary picture of British horse racing, with Halley going up against unscrupulous owners, double-dealing bookies, smarmy touts, and even ruthless murderers as he tries to solve crimes involving blackmail, fixing races, kidnapping riders, and doping horses. The Racing Game has the superficial attributes one expects of tough, contemporary detective shows, but it's hamstrung by decidedly uncharismatic leads and farfetched, repetitious situations. Not a necessary purchase. (E. Hulse)