Remembering Ruffian
Special Guest Spotlight
The 1970s was known as Racing’s Golden Decade, when the Sport of Kings was graced by the presence of three Triple Crown winners – Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed – and superstars such as Forego and Spectacular Bid. But right smack in the middle of the decade came a near-black filly the likes of which no one had ever seen before. Her name was Ruffian.
She looked like no one before her, ran like no one before her, and exuded an air of invincibility that made her seem like some mythical Pegasus we read about in Greek literature.
From the time Ruffian first stepped foot on the track she overwhelmed her opponents with her blazing speed and the ability to carry it long distances, which led her to equal or break records in all eight of her stakes races, from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 ½ miles.
Ruffian’s speed and stamina were not her only weapons. She had such a powerful presence that she took on the persona of a female “Black Stallion,” something wild and beautiful.
Ruffian was showered with admiration and adoration throughout her career – and still is half a century later. Her ability to captivate people may have been best articulated by none other than Lucien Laurin, the trainer of Secretariat. After having been around Secretariat every day for two years, Laurin was familiar with greatness.
But with Ruffian, he was witnessing greatness from afar, and, like everyone who saw her, he became one of many in awe of her.
So it was quite the statement when Laurin told Sports Illustrated writer Whitney Tower following Ruffian’s magnificent performance as a two-year-old in the 1974 Spinaway Stakes, “As God is my judgment, this filly may be better than Secretariat.”
While jaw-dropping to some, those words didn’t seem so far-fetched the following year when the Ruffian phenomenon began to get stronger and spread across the country throughout the spring and summer of 1975.
As the home of Secretariat.com, we too are fans of racing history, and over the course of the next few months, we will remember Ruffian and celebrate the legacy of this immortal filly on the 50th anniversary of one of the most exhilarating, dramatic and emotional chapters in the annals of the sport.
Enjoy a selection of photos and our three-part commentary series by resident historian Steve Haskin chronicling the life and legacy of the beloved champion Ruffian, who was recognized by many as the greatest filly of the 20th century.
By Steve Haskin
Part 1: "Just an Ordinary Wednesday at Belmont..."
Part 1 in our series revisits Ruffian's maiden debut and 2-year-old championship season.
By Steve Haskin
Part 2: "The Juggernaut Continues"
Part 2 chronicles Ruffian's early 3-year-old campaign and New York Filly Triple Crown victories.
By Steve Haskin
Part 3: "And A Way Out Yonder, Ahead of Them All"
Part 3 looks back at the fateful Match Race, Ruffian's place in racing history and lasting legacy.
Ruffian Maiden Race Winner's Circle Photo
Ruffian Photographs Now Available for Purchase
Enjoy a selection of rare Ruffian-related imagery by the esteemed New York Racing Association photographer Bob Coglianese, offered with the option of being originally hand-signed by her Hall of Fame jockey Jacinto Vasquez.
Stay tuned for more Ruffian-related postings, commentary and offerings as well as Part 3 in Steve Haskin's "Remembering Ruffian" series posting July 5.
Great job Leonard
Beautiful tribute to a larger than life filly.
A tribute to horse racing. Beautiful and bold she rode to stardom ❤️🐎
So loved watching her run… she was a sports legend icon. I have a large photgraph on my wall of her to this very day. A life cut short and she’s missed.
I was about 8 years old when I saw her race on TV and my late Aunt and Uncle were at the Belmont when she had her fall. It was so upsetting to see that happen and has always stayed with me. She was beautiful and died such a tragic death. Ruffian will always be remembered and live on in our hearts. Thank you for remembering her.
Thank you for doing an article on Ruffian. She was definitely one of the great ones. It was such a heart-breaking tragedy when we lost her. I guess we will always wonder how truly spectacular she would have been.
The name Ruffian has been in my mind since I was 20 years old / 1973.
Thank you for helping us. All remember.
Or maybe some people are just learning? Wow .
Shenanigans!
I was there at Belmont Park on July 6, 1975…..the day I will never forget as Ruffian walked passed me in the post parade I then waited for her at the finish line that she never made it to……needless to say I left in tears, listened to the radio and in the early morning hours of July 7th the news broke Ruffian came out of surgery thrashing, damaging her cast and had to be euthanized.
I so remember watching that race on TV that day as a 15yr old and it just broke my heart. To see her that day in person… wow… so bittersweet.
I followed Ruffian’s short career and was devastated when I heard she had kicked off the cast and was euthanized. I was 11 years old. Never has a horse captured my heart as Ruffian did.
The first time I ever heard of her was when I bought her Breyer model with my saved allowance at Kentucky Horse Park when I was 7. Her life story was printing on the side of the box and I was captivated by her heart and tragic end. She was two weeks older than I was and I felt kindred although I’d never had the privilege to see her run. From then on, she was my favorite horse. I loved them all, but when my friends and I were racing our ponies, everyone fought for their ponies to be Secretariat or Man O War but my pony was Ruffian. “Who’s that?” they’d ask. So I told them all about her. Her dam, her sire, how she was Secretariat’s niece and how she was the biggest filly at Claiborne in her foal crop…all of it. When I went to vet school, i saw her portrait in one of my attending’s offices and I asked, excitedly. He had seen her run and grew up around her home track at Belmont. We shared a common love. To this day, my heart skips a little when I see her picture or read an article. She was the real deal. As a child, she was my dream horse, as an athlete, she was my idol and as a vet, she changed the way equine trauma surgery is performed, saving countless after her from sharing her fate. She is my Secretariat. RIP Ruffian, forever the Queen of the Fillies.
I was 17 that fateful Summer and like many of us was devastated. To this day I have a flashback whenever I see a horse break down and cry. I love the movie made about her but mentally I am begging them not to race her when she goes in the gate. When I hear the snap of the bone breaking the tears flow. I have a couple walls with pictures of my favorite race horses- Secretariat and Ruffian having the largest sections.
The only 2 horse pictures on my bedroom wall! Secretariat and Ruffian 🙂
Bless you ! I will always remember her and sobbed when she broke down. I was around 10 yrs old. I showed horses but was excited to see her. race. Stopped watching racing for many yrs after that heartbreak.
Thank you for bringing her memory back. for us to honor.
So beautiful, so strong. She could not be held back. I was 11 years old and now in my 60s. I will never forget that fateful Match Race. I will never forget hearing that she was euthanized. This little girl cried in her pillow for hours. We were fortunate to see her miraculous power, strength, and beauty.
Long live Greatness! A Gem! Her heart breaking race is frozen in time!
Thank you for remembering and celebrating the magnificent Ruffian. Just imagine the greatness that would have been created if she and Secretariat ever had a “date.” Looking forward to the stories.
Thank you so much for remembering Ruffian and her many great accomplishments. I look forward to future stories about her (and hopefully, some merchandise!) THANK YOU AGAIN!!❤️🐎❤️
We welcome your comments and reflections regarding Ruffian.