# Francis Goes to the Races

Francis Goes to the Races is a 1951 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Arthur Lubin, that stars Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, and Cecil Kellaway. The distinctive voice of Francis is a voice-over by actor Chill Wills.
This is a sequel to Universal-International's 1950 film Francis.

## Plot

Francis the Talking Mule and his sidekick Peter Sterling visit Colonel Travers and his granddaughter on their family horse farm. Peter soon finds himself involved in the world of horse racing and a crime boss and his men trying to "fix" races involving the Travers' horses.
Petr and Francis are hitch-hiking past the Travers farm when one of their race horses takes a liking to Francis. It doesn't take much to convince Peter to allow Francis a comfortable stall at the racetrack; where Peter is hired as an odd job man. Peter quickly learns that horse racing is an expensive business, and that the Travers' are deeply in debt and counting on one of their horses, SUDDEN STORM, to win the big $100,000.00 Handicap Race. But creditors led by "Square Deal" Mallory and Rogers confiscate their horses, Frances gives Peter her personal savings of $25,000.00 and asks him to buy back SUDDEN STORM,But Peter ends up with a filly named OAKWOOD GAL, a long shot of all long shots.
Francis can "talk to horses" and as a result he is able to give Peter solid tips of prospective race winners. Peter wins 7 races in a row and wins back the "lost" $25,000.00. But his lucky streak gains the attention of Square Deal AND the racing commission, who demand to know the source of his tips. Peter, of course, is judged to be either crazy or "holding out" when he mentions a Talking Mule. Racetrack dick Frank Damer shadows Peter constantly but only gets more confused by the day. Square Deal kidnaps Peter and demands he pick winners for them at the track. Without Francis' advice, Peter's picks cost the big shot crooks $200,000.00. Square Deal decides it would be too risky to kill Peter.
The Travers' only asset remains OAKWOOD GAL---but Francis is convinced he can coax her to victory---and gives away his "special talent" to The Travers'. Square Deal sends two thugs to injure Oakwood Gal, but Francis kicks them into submission. The mule is comically shot in the rear end; and insults the veterinarians who are treating him.
Oakwood Gal wins the big race by a nose when Sudden Storm stops short of the finish line. Peter is suspected of race fixing, but Francis walks in and explains that the two horses are brother and sister and Sudden Storm was just doing the gentlemanly thing.
Racetrack officials are frightened that Peter and Francis may t ake their "race fix" talents nationwide,but Francis assures them he's through with racing.He and Peter leave town in a luxury van provided by the racing commisison.

## Cast

* Donald O'Connor as Peter Stirling
* Piper Laurie as Frances Travers
* Cecil Kellaway as Colonel Travers
* Jesse White as Frank Damer
* Barry Kelley as 'Square Deal' Mallory
* Hayden Rorke as Rogers
* Vaughn Taylor as Harrington
* Larry Keating as Head Steward
* Don Beddoe as Dr.Quimby;Veterinarian (uncredited)
* Bill Walker as Sam,Negro Track Groom (uncredited)
* Peter Brocco as Dr. Marberry;Veterinarian (uncredited)
* Willard Waterman as Exerciser (uncredited)
* Dick Wessel as Chuck (uncredited)
* Kenneth Mac Donald as Steward (uncredited)

## Production

Francis had been a success, and in May 1950 Universal announced they had bought the film rights to David Stern's character Francis. These included rights to his 1948 novel Francis Goes to Washington and to any other Francis books that he may write. Universal could make an unlimited number of film sequels and use the character for TV, radio, and commercials. For these rights Stern was paid a reported $60,000.
Francis Goes to Washington was meant to be the first sequel. However, the filming of Washington was postponed as there were "too many complications" for the film "to be made as things stand at the present." As a result, the film was never made.
The production of Francis Goes to the Races was then announced in October 1950. Production started November 1950. The film was shot at Santa Anita racecourse. Hill Prince, Coaltown, and Moonrush were among the real-life horses who appeared in the film.

## Reception

The Washington Post called the film "smooth and cheery".

## Home media

The original film, Francis (1950), was released in 1978 as one of the first-ever titles in the new LaserDisc format, DiscoVision Catalog #22-003. It was then re-issued on LaserDisc in May 1994 by MCA/Universal Home Video (Catalog #: 42024) as part of an Encore Edition Double Feature with Francis Goes to the Races (1951).
The first two Francis films were released again in 2004 by Universal Pictures on Region 1 and Region 4 DVD, along with the next two in the series, as The Adventures of Francis the Talking Mule Vol. 1. Several years later, Universal released all 7 Francis films as a set on three Region 1 and Region 4 DVDs, Francis The Talking Mule: The Complete Collection.