A documentary is in development following former British professional jockey Jo Lodder‘s plan to run an unbroken course taking in every one of the U.K.’s 59 licensed racecourses this fall, raising money and awareness for charities focused on the racing community and mental health.
Lodder, who now lives in Hong Kong, was a multi-winning professional jockey who competed for a decade across the U.K. and Europe before his career ended abruptly in his late 20s after he broke his back. He has since found a new sporting life in ultra-distance running, completing a number of major long-distance events.
The documentary will be produced by Hiu Man Chan through NGO U.K.-China Film Collab, weaving together footage shot on the route with archive racing material and interviews with Lodder and figures from across the sport. U.K.-China Film Collab, whose previous credits include the Hong Kong documentary “Four Trails,” plans to pursue a tailored release strategy across festival and cross-border markets, with a focus on U.K., Hong Kong and international audiences.
“Injury took racing away from me and I hid away. Now I’ve risen my head and seen how amazing the racing community is. I want to give back by running all 59 racecourses, telling their stories, and helping the less-seen people critical to our sport,” Lodder said.
Chan said: “When I hear about Jo’s stories, I can already see a film. Oftentimes, the greater impacts are driven by an individual’s intense and unexplainable passion. It’s the extraordinary imagination and sometimes madness that will continue to inspire the next generation to question and reflect on life. With a similar determination, I hope to translate Jo’s journey into a cinematic endeavour.”
The project is not Lodder’s first time as a documentary subject. In 2025 he featured in “Run China Run,” which chronicled his team’s 3,140km journey on foot from the Great Wall of China to Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong, completed over 60 days.
The project was developed over conversations at the U.K. Film Pavilion during FilMart 2026 in Hong Kong.
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