Recently purchased a framed numbered print of Ruffian,1972-1975?

Question

winner of Triple Crown for Fillies 1975, Belmont Park in background, signed by Joe Fears 751. I am a fan of Kentucky Derby. Could not find info on Ruffian, jockey Jacinto Vasquez UP. Does anyone have any info on this horse?

Answer 1

Ruffian is one of the greatest fillies of all time. There is TONS of information on her - she was one of the greatest.
A book about her is "Ruffian - Burning From The Start" -- awesome read. Ruffian broke down in a match race with the top 1975 colt, Foolish Pleasure. She survived the surgery but coming out of the anesthetic began thrashing around, shattering the leg and making it impossible to save her. She is buried on the infield at Belmont Park.

http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/biographies/ruffian1.htm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581500599/103-7962277-7062202?v=glance&n=283155

Ruffian won the 7 furlong Comely Stakes by 7 3/4 lengths, then ten days later the 1 mile Acorn Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths. Ruffian stepped up to 9 furlongs for the Mother Goose Stakes and sailed home an easy 14 length winner. In the mile and a half Coaching Club Stakes she went to the lead and stayed there. She did not even appear to be seriously extended during these momentary "challenges". Only one filly, Equal Change, could keep near in the closing stages, but Ruffian won by 2 3/4 lengths. It was 9 lengths further back to third placed filly Let Me Linger.

In the match race she had pulled ahead of Foolish Pleasure then broke down and had to be pulled up.
Sadly, within two years her parents met the same fate - Shenanigans (a daughter of Native Dancer) underwent colic surgery and broke two legs thrashing around coming out of anesthesia; Reviewer fractured a hind leg, got through surgery and 2 weeks later when the cast was being changed he, too, broke a leg coming out of anesthesia and had to be euthanized.


Ruffian was never headed in a race and set records in each race she won. She is a legend.

Answer 2

As mentioned previously, Ruffian broke down in a match race against a top male contender...Foolish Pleasure.

If mankind has grown a bit smarter over the past 30 years, then they'll never pit a female horse against a male horse.

Okay, I may be wrong, but the female racehorse is built a little different than the male.

If you disagree, okay...I'll accept my opinion as nonsense.

But I have to ask this question:

Why don't they have races for females where males are also accepted, like they have for races where females can participate.

In the Ky. Derby we once and awhile see a female entered, and some have actually won it (Winning Colors).

Who knows, maybe it will be mostly for female horses with a male entered sometimes. That will prove my theory wrong.

Any information you want on Ruffian can be found in the search part of this web site.

She would have been a great brood mare had they decided to retire her instead of coming up with the match race.

Answer 3

Jan gave you the best answer. but let me add this as I also love this great filly. On Broadway, in town, in taxicabs, and in the subway, wherever an eavesdroper went yesterday he heard whispered reference to Ruffian. It is not often if ever that dismay is evoked by the death of a non-human. Indeed, has it happened before? men mostly are concerned with the fate of men and usually the death of a stranger is noted only in passing. But Ruffian's death touched a nation, perhapes a world, and who would have had it otherwise?
Seventeen-hundred flowers were placed on Ruffian's gravesite at Belmont Park this morning while the N.R.A. flag continued to fly at half mast. And yet it isreal, so real that it hurts. This beautiful vibrant, alive filly is no longer with us. This magnificant animal who had never tasted defeat, had rerely seen the hind rump of a horse in front of her, was no more. Through some stroke of fate, a magic mixture of genetic potion had been created to bring joy and thrills to every of the breed.
It give pause for reflection that this sport is not simply a number on a saddle cloth or a letter on an OTB sheet. It is real live animals, some better than others, but still real flesh and bones. And in back of every animal are people who care and are still involved and prepare and plan and hope and pray. And sometimes, rare times, a Ruffian comes along to show that it is all not in vain.And she is still gone.
I find it much the same with Barbrao. I do not know who wrote those words so many years ago, but when I read them, I still tear up.

Answer 4

Jan H answered very well but may I add that ESPN just completed a film on Ruffian that they will be airing. And they just announced the following:

ABC to Air ESPN-Produced Race Horse Movie

John Consoli

JANUARY 12, 2006 -

ESPN Original Entertainment, in a synergistic move, will produce an original movie based on the super race horse of the '70s, Ruffian, but the movie will premiere on sister broadcast network ABC, in conjunction with the network's airing of the Belmont Stakes.

ESPN made the announcement today at the Television Critics Association's annual winter press tour in Pasadena.

The movie will first air on ABC in June 2007, and it is still being discussed as to whether it will air in prime time or on Saturday afternoon preceding the telecast of the Belmont Stakes.

Answer 5

on ruffian? Yes i do plz e-mail me if you need my help.But Ruffian was a legend she broke a record every time she graced every one with her presence on the track. She could do it all she easily won the filly triple crown and many other stakes all in eye popping times. But that horrific day she took a wrong step her career and life was sadly over.

Answer 6

I just want to restate Jan H's first line.
She's already given all of the relevant info that you need.

Jan H wrote:
"Ruffian is one of the greatest fillies of all time."

Actually it should read like this:
Ruffian is the greatest filly of all time.

Answer 7

ggthekid wrote Ruffian is the greatest filly of all time. He may be right; but Kincsem's awesome career would give her a shot at the title.