Historical Fiction Analysis Did Hidalgo really participate in a long-distance race? February 9, 2026 by Riding Hidalgo, a fictional horse from the 2004 film of the same name, did not actually participate in a long-distance race. The movie, starring Viggo Mortensen, is a work of historical fiction that dramatizes the story of Frank T. Hopkins, a legendary horseman. While the film claims that Hopkins and his mustang Hidalgo competed in a […] Read more »