Down the Stretch is a 1936 American sports drama film directed by William Clemens and written by William Jacobs. The film stars Patricia Ellis, Mickey Rooney, Dennis Moore, Willie Best, Gordon Hart and Wild Bill Elliott. The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 18, 1936.
Contents
Plot
Snapper Sinclair's father once rode for stable owners Patricia and Cliff Barrington, but later was found to have thrown races and was banned from the track. To keep Snapper from being sent to reform school, Patricia offers him a job.
A fast but untamed horse called Faithful quickly becomes Snapper's favorite. He wins races as its jockey, but when he refuses to throw one for gamblers, they reveal publicly who Snapper's father was and suspicion falls on Snapper, who is no longer allowed any mounts.
He leaves for England, where he becomes a very successful rider. One day the Barringtons are there to enter Faithful in a race. Snapper discovers that they are nearly broke. He deliberately loses the race so that Faithful can win. Not sure where to turn next, Snapper is pleased when the Barringtons invite him to come back home.
Cast
Patricia Ellis as Patricia Barrington
Mickey Rooney as 'Snapper' Sinclair, aka Fred St. Clair
Dennis Moore as Cliff Barrington
Willie Best as Noah
Gordon Hart as Judge Adams
Wild Bill Elliott as Robert Bates
Virginia Brissac as Aunt Julia
Charles C. Wilson as Tex Reardon
Joseph Crehan as Secretary C.D. Burch
Mary Treen as Nurse
Robert Emmett Keane as Nick
Charley Foy as Arnold Roach
Crauford Kent as Sir Oliver Martin