The incredible and moving life story of Albert Race Sample, Racehoss is an award-winning film documentary directed by Sean Hepburn Ferrer. This powerful, one-man show takes viewers on an unforgettable journey of resiliency, revelation and redemption.
Born in 1930 in Texas, Sample was the mixed-race son of Emma (a hard-drinking black prostitute and gambler) and Mr. Albert (a wealthy white cotton broker and one of her tricks). He emerged from an abusive childhood an angry young man on a straight path to the penitentiary. By his early 20s, Sample was serving a 30-year prison sentence at Retrieve, a plantation-style prison known as “the burnin’ hell.” After a profound spiritual awakening, Sample’s future changed dramatically.
In 1972, he was released after serving 17 years and soon received a full pardon and restoration of all civil rights. Sample went on to become the first ex-convict in Texas to work out of the Governor’s office and to serve on the staff of the State Bar of Texas. In recognition for his work in the field of corrections and rehabilitation of ex-offenders, Racehoss received numerous high-profile humanitarian awards. This true American treasure passed away on May 19, 2005.
“Albert ‘Race’ Sample (1930-2005) is an American treasure.” -Sean Hepburn Ferrer
Reviews
“… of the most remarkable stories I’ve come across, perhaps the most remarkable is the story of Albert Race Sample, known as Racehoss.” Studs Terkel, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author“These stories are worthy of Twain, Faulkner and Lardner.” -Chicago Tribune
“Racehoss folds together three American traditions… literary storytelling, the belief in personal transformation, and the faith in the individual to buck all odds – - but docu is more than anything else ex-con Albert Race Sample standing on a stage before an audience recounting his remarkable life story. Elegantly recorded by director Sean Hepburn Ferrer, pic preserves Sample’s vivid presence on stage. A good fit for select fest slots, the troubled and colorful yarn should draw the biggest crowd on the more intelligent side of the tube spectrum.” -Robert Koehler, Variety.com
“If you appreciate a powerful story, Racehoss is not to be missed… This wise man weaves two hours worth of revelation with raucous, desperate, incredible episodes of poverty, racism, love and tragedy around every corner. Racehoss’ descriptive yarns are better even than the tall tales of Southern fiction, and more poignant because they happened… Listening to Racehoss talk is like sitting at the feet of a charismatic philosopher and being awed by his life lessons.” -Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Recently, some friend of mine told me that they had just heard (and seen) “the world’s greatest storyteller” perform in an amazing two-hour documentary film. Admittedly, such praise sounded excessive, but when I asked where I could get it, a friend named Mike Barbee over in Brevard gave me a copy. I watched “Racehoss” with four friends recently, and I believe I can speak for all of us. For sheer power, emotional impact and masterful performance, Albert Race Sample is the best I have ever seen or heard. Special credit goes to the filmmaker, Sean Hepburn (son of Audrey Hepburn), who uses high definition film to capture the subtle changes in Racehoss’ remarkable face — as well as the bleak features of his world: railroad tracks, prison yards, shacks, cotton fields, etc.” – Gary Carden, Smoky Mountain News
“Acclaimed filmmaker Sean Hepburn Ferrer presents the life story of former convict turned do-gooder Albert Race Sample in the 2003 biographical documentary Racehoss. Sharing the name of Sample’s enormously popular book, Racehoss begins as Sample relates to an audience his frightening and troubled upbringing, which started in the neglectful and abusive care of his prostitute mother, ‘Big Emma’. As an passive participant in his mother’s dangerous lifestyle, Sample quickly developed into a social deviant in his own right, with one of his early formative experiences including his assault and stabbing of one his elementary school teachers. Shortly thereafter, Sample dropped out of school and was abandoned by age 12, leaving the young man homeless and a frequent traveler of the nation’s railway system — via boxcar. After a brief, yet tumultuous, stint in the army, Sample was sentenced to a 30-year prison term for an unidentified violent crime. After serving 17 years, he was paroled and found work in the Texas state prison system, and eventually turned his life around to become a high ranking official within the Texas Criminal Division. Racehoss was included in the program for the 2003 New York Independent Film and Video Festival.” -All Movie Guide
“From acclaimed filmmaker and humanitarian Sean Hepburn Ferrer comes ‘Racehoss’: the moving real life story of a man who could overcome the wounds of an abusive childhood and race discrimination. Set in the difficult early decades of the Twentieth Century, Albert Race Sample takes you to his world of inner transformation — from the 17 years he spent in a plantation-style prison known as “The burnin’ hell” to a profound spiritual awakening. During these two hours of intense story telling, Race himself performs his life on stage, making you laugh and cry as you never have before.” -Artist’s Interviews
Acclaimed filmmaker Sean Hepburn Ferrer (the son of iconic Hollywood actors Audrey Hepburn and Miguel Ferrer) presents the life story of former convict turned do-gooder Albert Race Sample in the 2003 biographical documentary Racehoss. Sharing the name of Sample’s enormously popular book, Racehoss begins as Sample relates to an audience his frightening and troubled upbringing, which started in the neglectful and abusive care of his prostitute mother, whom he identifies as “Big Emma.” As an passive participant in his mother’s dangerous lifestyle, Sample quickly developed into a social deviant in his own right, with one of his early formative experiences including his assault and stabbing of one his elementary school teachers. Shortly thereafter, Sample dropped out of school and was abandoned by age 12, leaving the young man homeless and a frequent traveler of the nation’s railway system — via boxcar. After a brief, yet tumultuous, stint in the army, Sample was sentenced to a 30-year prison term for an unidentified violent crime. After serving 17 years, he was paroled and found work in the Texas state prison system, and eventually turned his life around to become a high ranking official within the Texas Criminal Division. Racehoss was included in the program for the {~2003 New York Independent Film and Video Festival}. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
Details
LENGTH: 1 x 120 Minutes
FORMAT: Special
CAMERA: HDTV
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: No
TEXTLESS: Yes
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2003
RELEASE YEAR: 2007
SUPPLIER: Breezeway Entertainment
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide
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