PBS Documentary Shines Light on Immigrant Grooms at Churchill Downs

BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing explores the labor and social structures behind the Kentucky Derby.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:33pm

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring stark, jagged black silhouettes and geometric shapes, conceptually representing the hidden labor and unseen hands that sustain the horse racing industry.The documentary BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing sheds light on the immigrant grooms who work tirelessly behind the scenes to maintain the glamour of the Kentucky Derby.Louisville Today

PBS premiered the documentary BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing on April 13, 2026, as part of the Independent Lens series. The film examines the work of immigrant grooms who provide year-round care for some of the world's most prized racehorses on the backside of Churchill Downs, revealing the hidden labor that sustains the glamour of the Kentucky Derby.

Why it matters

The documentary aims to shed light on the race, labor, and class dynamics that shape the horse racing industry, highlighting the resilience and contributions of the immigrant workers who maintain the spectacle of elite American horse racing despite operating away from public view.

The details

BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing was directed by Mexican immigrant filmmaker Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana, whose previous work includes the feature film Border South. The filmmaking team also included Puerto Rican anthropologist and filmmaker Patricia Alvarez Astacio and Colombian American producer Gabriella Garcia-Pardo.

  • The documentary premiered on April 13, 2026, as part of the PBS Independent Lens series.
  • The current streaming window for the film is set to expire on July 12, 2026.

The players

Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana

The Mexican immigrant filmmaker who directed BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing. His previous work includes the feature film Border South.

Patricia Alvarez Astacio

The Puerto Rican anthropologist and filmmaker who was part of the BACKSIDE production team. She previously served as the director of the Society for Visual Anthropology Film and Media Festival.

Gabriella Garcia-Pardo

The Colombian American filmmaker who served as a producer for BACKSIDE. She has focused her work on relationships to land and the nonhuman, and has received support from organizations like Firelight, Creative Capital, Catapult, and Sundance.

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What’s next

The documentary is currently available for viewing on PBS, with the streaming window set to expire on July 12, 2026.

The takeaway

BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing shines a light on the immigrant grooms who provide essential care for the racehorses at Churchill Downs, revealing the hidden labor and social structures that sustain the glamour of the Kentucky Derby.