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Independent Lens (1999 – ...)

1999 • 27 seasons • Documentary • TV-PG
JustWatch▲ +2#10634IMDb7.9/10654TMDB66%16Rotten Tomatoes—Metacritic—
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On October 4, 2026
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Season 27

Independent Lens · S27E9 — BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing

Season 27 episodes

1. Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech RevolutionOct 6, 20252. RatifiedOct 20, 20253. Life AfterOct 27, 20254. Vivien's Wild RideJan 26, 20265. The LibrariansFeb 9, 20266. The InquisitorFeb 23, 20267. Keep Quiet and ForgiveMar 23, 20268. The Tallest DwarfApr 6, 20269. BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse RacingApr 13, 202610. NatchezMay 11, 202611. Light of the Setting SunMay 18, 202612. Third ActMay 25, 202613. AssemblyJun 22, 202614. True North: Canadian Myths and Black PowerJul 6, 202615. FloodJul 13, 2026

Synopsis

Immigrant grooms work year-round on the hidden “backside” of Churchill Downs. Rising before dawn, they care for some of the world’s most prized Kentucky Derby racehorses, revealing how race, labor, and class shape an elite American industry. BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing honors the resilience that’s behind the spectacle.