1969 Pop Ballad, Considered a Flop by the Band, Became a One-Hit Wonder
Some commercial succesful songs have films to thank, with Racing Cars' "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" inspired by a 1969 film of the same name. Many believe the song was part of the film's soundtrack and became the band's only major hit.
The pop-rock band formed in Wales in 1973 and released their debut album Downtown Tonight in 1976. One of their songs was "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" that landed them high on the UK Singles Chart and was a commercial success. It was inspired by the 1969 psychological drama film of the same name directed by Sydney Pollack.
Based on Horace McCoy's 1935 novel, the film starred Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young, Bonnie Bedelia, and Red Buttons. It follows a group of characters during the Depression who become obsessed with winning a dance competition for a cash prize, no matter the consequences. The film became a box office success and among critics.
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? recieved nine Oscar nominations at the 42nd Academy Awards, with Young winning for Best Supporting Actor. Up until 2025, the film held the record for the most nominations in history without winning Best Picture. The film's soundtrack was filled with classics from the '20s and '30s, with many believing the Racing Cars song was included due to its name.
According to SongFacts, Racing Cars keyboardist Simon Davies told Mojo magazine in 2011 that it, "was the perfect pop song at three minutes 45 seconds. The chorus had the perfect hook and I'm sure the success of the film helped tremendously. Even now, when it has airplay, presenters still associate it with the film and claim it was on the soundtrack - it never was."
"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" was Racing Cars' only big hit of their careers, and a track they never saw being successful. Guitarist Graham Williams revealed it was a "throwaway" song on their album until their manager and record company believed differently. He claims that their manager walked into rehearsals and told them to create a track fans could sing along to.
Racing Cars didn't achieve the same success with their other tracks, but were well-known among concert goers enough to release two more albums.
Related: 1970 Rock Classic, Helping Define the Power Pop Genre, Remains a Timeless Anthem
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 11:53 AM.