Remembering Ruffian: Part 2
Ruffian’s 2-year-old campaign ended prematurely due to injury, but the promise of her 3-year-old campaign and stretching out to two turns had racing fans all over the country excited over the amazing feats in store for them. As brilliant as she was at 2, she still was considered an untapped phenom who hadn’t even come close to exhibiting her true greatness. Even with so much expected of her she would surpass those expectations many times over. Look for the third installment of our three-part Remembering Ruffian series scheduled for release the first week of July. ~ Steve Haskin
The Juggernaut Continues
By Steve Haskin
Following Ruffian’s spectacular victory in the August 23, 1974 Spinaway Stakes in her final start at 2, and the subsequent discovery of a small hairline fracture, trainer Frank Whiteley gave the filly phenomenon plenty of time to recover in Camden, South Carolina. As a result, she did not make her return to the races for her 3-year-old debut until the following spring. What transpired that year would elevate Ruffian from being considered the fastest young filly ever seen, competing in only sprints up to six furlongs, to arguably the greatest filly ever witnessed on an American racetrack, crushing her opponents at distances of 5 ½ furlongs, six furlongs, seven furlongs, one mile, 1 1/8 miles, and 1 ½ miles.
She was so fast and so powerful she dashed the hopes of many horsemen who thought they had champions until they ran up against this black bullet who defied all the rules.
Ruffian in the April 14, 1975 Caltha allowance.
Sent off at odds of 1-10, Ruffian, as expected, went right to the front and was in no hurry early, setting fractions of :23 and :45 4/5, and coasted home under Jacinto Vasquez to win easily by almost five lengths in a swift 1:09 2/5. Her vanquished opponents included Sir Ivor’s Sorrow, who finished second and whose trainer Jerry Hirsch gets the prize for persistency, as he would take on Ruffian two more times that year. Finishing fourth and beaten almost seven lengths was Tartan Stable’s Land Girl, who had won the Demoiselle Stakes at 2 and would go on to win the Gazelle Stakes later in the racing season.
The champ still had not run farther than six furlongs and the allowance race would set her up perfectly for the seven-furlong Comely Stakes 16 days later. When Ruffian went to the post on April 30, she was far from the biggest news that day; on the world stage, it was announced that the Vietnam War officially was over following the fall of Saigon.
In the Comely, Ruffian, sent off at 1-20, broke last in the field of five, but shot to the front and ran the talented Aunt Jin off her feet with a :45 half and 1:08 4/5 for the six furlongs before drawing off under a hand ride to win by almost eight lengths in a sizzling 1:21 1/5. This was faster than Dr. Fager’s victories in the 1967 Vosburgh and 1968 Roseben. And it was still only April. Finishing 12 lengths behind Ruffian was Proud Delta, who would go on to win seven major stakes, including the Grade 1 Beldame, Top Flight, and Ladies Handicap and be named Champion Older Filly or Mare in 1976. The sheer dominance Ruffian had demonstrated over top class opponents as a 2-year-old had continued in the Comely and would carry on throughout her 3-year-old season.
Ruffian, with jockey Jacinto Vasquez aboard, easily wins the Comely for her first stakes victory as a 3-year-old.
Her next target was the one-mile Acorn Stakes, the first leg of the Filly Triple Crown, just 10 days after the Comely. But the week before the Acorn something happened that would start putting ideas in people’s heads.
During the spring, Ruffian’s male counterpart, 2-year-old champion Foolish Pleasure, would extend his unbeaten streak to nine races with victories in an allowance race and the Flamingo Stakes before finally tasting defeat in the Florida Derby, then rebounding for victory in the Wood Memorial. Foolish Pleasure then won the Kentucky Derby, his 11th victory in 12 career starts and eighth victory in his last nine starts under Jacinto Vasquez. Many racing fans wondered, what would Vasquez do if Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure happened to run on the same day at different tracks? Has any jockey ever had to choose between two champions of such caliber? Little could anyone have known that he not only would have to make that decision only two months later, and it would be in the same race.
The May 10 Acorn could not have been easier as Ruffian, the 1-10 favorite, was all business and went to her customary lead, opened up on the turn and easily drew off to an 8 1/4-length victory over Betsy Ross Handicap winner Somethingregal, covering the mile in a stakes record 1:34 2/5.
As easy as the Acorn was, her two-turn debut came three weeks later in the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose. Aside from Dan’s Commander in the adjacent gate to Ruffian stumbling at the start and throwing his rider Rudy Turcotte, brother of Secretariat’s regular jockey Ron Turcotte, the race turned out to be nothing more than a paid workout as Ruffian strolled home by 13 ½ lengths. Finishing third was C.V. Whitney’s Sun and Snow, who had won the Ashland Stakes and Kentucky Oaks, defeating future Hall of Famer My Juliet by 5 ¾ lengths in the latter, but in the Mother Goose she was beaten 16 lengths by Ruffian.
Ruffian (second from left) breaks from the gate on her way to winning the May 31, 1975 Mother Goose Stakes.
What was most amazing about this victory was that Ruffian was able to win with ridiculous ease and still run the nine furlongs in 1:47 4/5, yet another stakes record, with a final eighth in :12 1/5. For comparison, prior to his Derby victory, Foolish Pleasure had won the Wood Memorial run at the same distance in 1:48 4/5.
Three weeks after the Mother Goose, Ruffian faced her toughest assignment yet – attempting to stretch her blistering speed out to 1 ½ miles in the June 21 Coaching Club American Oaks run at Belmont Park. If anyone could harness that speed it was Frank Whiteley, an old-fashioned hardboot who had great success in the classics with Tom Rolfe in 1965 and Damascus in 1967. But not only was Ruffian a pure speed horse, her sire Reviewer and her half-brother Icecapade, though both brilliant milers, had pedigrees geared more toward speed rather than distance.
Ruffian had easily handled every filly she had faced that year, but in the CCA Oaks there were several compelling contenders including Let Me Linger, who would later win the Maskette Stakes by almost five lengths over Honorable Miss, one of the leading sprinters in the country who defeated colts in several big stakes and future Hall of Famer Susan’s Girl. However, Ruffian’s most intriguing challenger was a late developer owned and bred by King Ranch with three victories under her belt and a classic pedigree that screamed a mile and a half. Her name was Equal Change and she was by Horse of the Year and Belmont Stakes and two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Arts and Letters, out of Fairness, a half-sister to Prove Out, who upset Secretariat in the 1 ½-mile Woodward Stakes and Riva Ridge in the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup. And Fairness was by Belmont Stakes winner Cavan, out of Equal Venture, a full-sister to Triple Crown winner Assault.
So if there was a serious upset possibility, it was this regally bred and improving filly whose talent level was still unknown, and whose entire family had been unbeatable going 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park.
As expected, Ruffian shot to the lead, and when Equal Change, tracking in third, got carried wide going into the first turn, Ruffian spurted to a four-length lead and increased it to six lengths heading into the backstretch with Equal Change still in third. With no one to immediately challenge her, Ruffian was then able to slow the pace down to :49 for the half and 1:13 2/5 for the three-quarters.
But Let Me Linger in second and Equal Change quickly closed the gap to a length going around the far turn, with Equal Change the stronger of the two. How good was this exciting newcomer who you knew was loving the distance and was just starting to rev up the engine with three furlongs still to run? Could Ruffian find enough to hold off what was starting to look like the newest version of Prove Out?
Just as Equal Change moved up to Ruffian’s flank and looked like a serious threat, Vasquez let out a notch and Ruffian pulled clear by two lengths. Turning for home it was a two-horse race. Equal Change kept coming down the stretch, but couldn’t get any closer. Ruffian crossed the wire 2 ¼ lengths in front with her ears pricked, equalling the stakes record of 2:27 4/5, even though Ruffian, as usual, never changed leads and had run the entire mile and a half on her left lead.
Ruffian defeats Equal Change in the June 21, 1975 Coaching Club American Oaks to sweep the filly Triple Crown.
Equally impressive, Ruffian had run her final quarter in :24 3/5, only a fifth of a second off the record final quarter Equal Change’s sire Arts and Letters established in the 1969 Belmont Stakes. And Arts and Letters had run his first six furlongs three full seconds slower than Ruffian. (There would be another trainer who came along two years after Ruffian with a colt that was so fast he was also concerned about him getting the mile and a half distance in the race. That trainer was Billy Turner, his horse was Seattle Slew, and the race was the “Test of the Champion” — the 1977 Belmont Stakes. Turner always said he used Frank Whiteley’s training of Ruffian as a blueprint on how to get a lightning-fast horse to go a mile and a half.)
With the Coaching Club victory and Ruffian having swept the Filly Triple Crown, the big question was where to go next. Could she possibly square off later in the year with the reigning Horse of the Year, the mighty Forego? Just the thought of such a showdown was already getting people excited. But little did anyone know there was a plan already being hatched that not only would ultimately include Ruffian but also would change the course of Thoroughbred racing history, and for some, cast a pall that even 50 years later still hangs heavy over the sport with the mere mention of Ruffian’s name.
Photos courtesy of New York Racing Association
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
There will never be another Ruffian
Yesterday was a truly a sad day for horse racing with the passing D Wayne Lukas. A stalwart for the “Sport of Kings” and a great Ambassador for it. He will be missed greatly !!!
The unmount horse, at Churchill Downs was touching….this is a man who was not embraced, initially by Thoroughbred Racing, especially by the eastern sector…he was a “dusrlty western cowboy track upstart!”..
After all the sad news today, did anyone else see Lambourn’s magnificent win in the Irish Derby? He’s now one both the English and Irish derbies. A gutsy horse!
Yes, Ms Blacktype, I did. I’m not sure about the quality of these three year olds but it was a good effort.
Aidan O’Brien trained his 17th Irish Derby winner. That’s historic and will never be repeated.
….but only improved upon by the the man himself, Aidan O’Brien.
I have no doubt of that!
Heartfelt condolences to D Wayne’s family, friends and associates.
Yes, indeed. Terribly sad news. But he has left a wonderful legacy–he will never be forgotten.
Hi Matthew…
Romeo (Honor A.P. – Fancy Love by Not for Love) wins the Bashford Manor Stakes rather easily clocking a Stakes record time -1:08.61 for 6 furlongs-. Comport was the runner-up with the maiden Password in third.
Churchill track is playing very fast today…
A spectacular 2-year-old debut winner named Dazzle d’Oro (Bold d’Oro-Sunnysammi by First Defense) logged 21.33, 44.47, 56.23 and 1:08.65.
The Bashford Manor has not been very relevant to the Classics since Classic Empire back in 2016… but is still exciting to watch the new generation trying to climb the highest echelon of racing…
Romeo ran 2.39, 44.39, 56.21, 1:08.61 … which makes Dazzle d’Oro more interesting to follow the second half of the year for Thomas Amoss.
*21.39
Hello Nelson. Hope you cashed this weekend.
Hi Mike…
My only bet this weekend will be in the upcoming Maxfield Stakes… a great handicapping challenge there…!
Keying Captain Cook with a couple of longshots and the other two favorites … exciting race indeed!
I’m old enough to remember a horse named Ro.eo that I liked and would bet; when I could…In the mud 1970, I think—and I want to say he was by T V Lark—and THATS A name from yesteryear!…
(Romeo)
David, Romeo win the Bashford Manor impressively – really bounced back from his disappointing Tremont
I’m still devastated about AP Kid, but I am happy today – this sport is all about hope
Yes, Betsy, Romeo’s win is what you needed. I’m still slightly stunned reading that Wayne Lukas has passed away.
I needed it, but it’s also encouraging that HAP has a quality 2 year old already in his second crop
He has to make hay now, with only 39 foals in his next two crops
It happened so quickly….😭
Betsy, Percy’s Bar by Upstart won the Debutante Stakes by 5 lengths which was fist pumping as well.
I LOVE Flatter, so I’m happy to see Upstart doing well
Very sad news … D. Wayne Lukas passed away today.
Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Rest In Peace Coach… you will be greatly missed.
He went with class. He knew it was time.
Just heard. He looked great just a couple of weeks ago. Tremendous loss.
What a life and legacy, though!
Ride like the wind!
Oh no, I thought he’d have more time…
There are few people for whom the term legend truly applies…D Wayne was one
RIP Coach
I just saw that too, Nelson. I knew it wouldn’t be long, but it’s still a shock. I’m so glad he had to go out with a blaze of glory with Seize the Grey in 2024. Not the world’s greatest horse, but Lukas got him to peak on Preakness day, and the rest is history.
Wayne, you’ve given us all so much pleasure and so many thrills. God bless you and rest in peace.
D. Wayne Lukas….. what a ride! You’re home, Coach, rest easy.
Closing Day at Churchiill Downs today….Two 2yos I like: Password (7/2) in the Bashford Manor….Light Won Up (5-1) in The Debutante….
Matthew, I meant to write earlier Maymum is back in training again – June 27, Santa Anita 5f in 59.60 handily, track was fast.
Oh great! Remember Tamara? She hasn’t worked since January–I wonder if she was retired….Beholder’s gr1 winner….she looked so good at Del Mar, in The Debutante….
Why is that noteworthy?
Majestic Mindframe, defeats both Sierra Leone, last years Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 3 year old champion, Mystik Dan, last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, both for a second time as well as 2025 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show in the 9f Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes.
Progressing from winning the 7f Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes to winning the 9f Stephen Foster Stakes next up is some feat by Mindframe while remaining undefeated for the year.
Claiborne Farm were very astute in selecting Mindframe for future stud duty.
A Grade I for older horses that actually had Grade 1 talent running like Grade 1 horses! Mindframe got the perfect set-up and looked great winning. Sierra Leone didn’t get the pace duel that would have helped. him, but he kept in touch with the field, moved up comfortably into position, and his acceleration at the end was exciting.
Mystik Dan cut the corner and had a good position. Did he hang a bit or was he simply outgunned today? You had to love the way that First Mission fought on and kept Dan out of third place. Really, the top four horses all showed quality.
Big smile for this race!
David D, I don’t think Mindframe needs any kind of setup to win races, any horse that wins a Grade 1 at 7f then wins a Grade 1 at 9f in their next start is a superior runner.
Mindframe, isn’t really truly professional yet. Beating the best sprinters at their own game then defeating the best two turn horses next out is pure class.
Betsy, I am so, so sorry.
This just came up on X per Walsh at DRF
The very promising A.P. Kid runaway winner of the Pennine Ridge S at Saratoga 3 weeks agowas euthanized after suffering an irreparable fracture when “taking a funny step switching leads” per trainer Todd Pletcher upon entering the stretch working over the Oklahoma turf on Friday.
Lynda, thank you!
I’m just shattered, and empty inside. I love all HAPs, but I loved APK so much – he was special. I’m going to always think of him – I’m so sorry for Donegal; they are such good people
Betsy and Lynda, I was going to say you must watch Whirl, by Wootton Bassett, win the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes it’s a brilliant race but reading that A. P. Kid has been euthanised has taken that enthusiasm away. Perhaps later in the week. Too sad.
I saw the replay (final furlong), David….noce filly, but I don’t get why that race makes her a co-fave for the Arc?
You have every right to be enthusiastic – I don’t want to bring you down!
Betsy, Bluestocking, as a 4 year old, won the Pretty Polly last year and went to win the Arc. Whirl beat her elders.
Whirl, as a 3 year old, will have a distinct advantage in the weights for the Arc over her elders but here is the sealer. Whirl won the Pretty Polly a staggering 6, repeat 6, seconds faster than Bluestocking did last year as a 4 year old. That’s about 30 or more lengths better.
Whirl is getting stronger, according to Aidan O’Brien, while the 3 year old colts don’t appear to be terribly strong at the Arc distance. It’s way too early but that’s why Whirl are at those odds. Whirl has speed to kick home. Deadly in the Arc.
Ah, I didn’t realize she beat older fillies….impressive!
Wootton Bassett strikes again!
Lynda, I replied below…but I wanted to add that we need more owners like Donegal. They are mourning their beloved APK, but still took the time to message me to let me know…
I’m devastated for them…
Betsy, that is perfectly understandable.
When I found my donkey deceased and two days later my sweet Great Pyrennes had to be euthanized it took me a few days to process the sadness and grief. I am just now getting over it a couple of months later.
I was watching the race when Ruffian broke down. I was so broken hearted. Then the next morning the announcement was made that she did not make it. For almost 20 years I could not watch live horse racing.
It never, ever gets any easier no matter how many times one goes through it.
Lynda, I’m so sorry… 💔💔💔💔
Oh I can just imagine…we always love horses first, before the sport…..knowing that there’s a chance of serious injury every day, it’s so hard…..
No, it doesn’t…the unfulfilled promise 😭😭
Wonderful post, Nelson. Thank you!
This homage to Ruffian is a great celebration for the 50th anniversay of her spectacular American Triple Crown feat and matchless 3-year-old campaign.
Ruffian was the embodiment of the perfect Thoroughbred. Her incredible speed and physique made her the hallmark of power and beauty.
Like Secretariat and Seattle Slew, Ruffian represents the zenith of equine athleticism and grace.
Winning wire to wire in Stakes record time, every time, is a feat never witnessed before and conceivably never to be seen again.
Still unbreakable are Ruffian’s record times for the Spinaway Stakes (6 furlongs in 1:08 3/5), the Comely Stakes (7 furlongs in 1:21 1/5) and for the 1 1/2 mile of the Coaching Club American Oaks (2:27 4/5).
The summer of 1975 saw Ruffian elevated as the greatest filly of the Golden Age of racing. The black beauty was the fastest filly in the world.
No one could touch Ruffian on the track but during the seven months she needed to recover from a hairline fracture (suffered in October of 1974) a potential competitor in speed was bursting in the West. There was a hype surrounding a newcomer daugher of Damascus out of Durga by Tatan (Arg).
Many of you may remember the name Sarsar. She was a winter sensation…
David Whiteley, the son of Ruffian’s trainer, wintered Sarsar in California where she went on to win the so-called Santa Anita Triple Crown – comprising the La Centinela, Pasadena, and Santa Susana Stakes.
Back in New York, Sarsar won the Prioress Stakes on March 21 … a week after Ruffian’s 3-year-old debut in a 6-furlong Allowance.
The daughter of Damascus was scratched from the Comely and the Acorn Stakes dodging Ruffian – his owner would say “we will run if something happens to Ruffian”… It was an easier task for Sarsar to face the colts and she ended up defeating the boys in the Withers Stakes in a scintillating 1:34 3/5. This time was only 4/5 slower than Dr. Fager’s Stakes record (1:33 4/5).
Sarsar defeated the Gotham and Bay Shore winner, Laramie Trail, by two easy lengths. In fourth came Canadian speedster Greek Answer winner of the Hutcheson Stakes (7f in a dazzling 1:21 3/5) and the Fountain of Youth.
The Withers, held on May 24 at that time, was considered a prep for the Belmont Stakes; Sarsar’s fractional time were 22 4/5, 44 4/5, and 1:08 4/5. Seeing that Sarsar was only 1/5 of a second slower than Ruffian in her Acorn record time (1:34 2/5) made many people regard her as a credible new challenger to “The Greatest Filly Who Ever Lived”… However, Sarsar’s owner never thought of opposing Ruffian after witnessing the champ winning the Acorn with astonishing ease.
Sarsar must have had a health hiccup as she was inactive for a month and a half after her peak performance at Aqueduct.
Sarsar reappeared on July 4th as the 2-to-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Monmouth Oaks at 1 1/8 mile. But she could not stay the distance finishing 5.5 lenghts behind the winner Aun Jin… the same Aunt Jin who was obliterated by Ruffian in the Comely Stakes…
In the Hempstead Handicap, two weeks later, Sarsar was again the favorite despite being the only 3-year-old in the field. And, again, the fast chestnut faded to third 7.5 lengths behind Raisela (at 20 to 1 for Laz Barrera). The split times were 23 2/5, 45 4/5, 1:10 1/5, 1:36 1/5 with final time of 1:49 1/5. Sarsar was overcome at the 3/4-mile pole.
Sarsar was retired after two Allowances failures as a 4-year-old becoming another name drowned in history by the collossal wave of a black marvel.
Just another APK comment – my friend from another board had reported that HER friend saw the APK break down
But there’s this:
The friend that saw the incident didn’t see any visiivje sign of injury 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
What is going on here? Friend of friend saw breakdown, but NO visible sign of injury. Commenter wrote earlier of death of A.P. Kid. I have been searching reliable news sites and found not a single report of anything that happened yesterday to the colt.
DRF sucks for not reporting the breakdown
Someone on HRN sucks for reporting APK as deceased prematurely
But the horse is no longer on Todd’s website, so yes -something happened
Betsy, please don’t announce anything here unless you can cite a reliable news source. There’s no reason to insult the DRF when BloodHorse, Paulick Report, Equibase, Thoroughbred Daily News, and -YES- HRN have not published a single word about A.P. Kid. You should know that any registered reader can edit information on HRN. The short-lived “deceased” status has been changed now to “active.” I recently saw a list of probables for a 3yo filly stakes that included a 4yo colt! It is NOT reliable information.
I have issues with DRF, so yeah I’m not apologizing for having an opinion ….I expect more from DRF than those others
Ladies I have checked Donegal Racing (X and FB), Blood Horse, Paulick, Equibase and Pedigree, racing groups I belong to for info on the colt and see nothing as of the morning.
Ownerships, trainers are not obligated to tell us anything. Not the first time there has not been some sort of announcement about an accident, fatality, illness. As Davids as mentioned there was never on word about the mare Tepin to this day.
I am hoping against hope that this was erroneous news about AP Kid. Still possible he had an injury or perhaps heat exhaustion and was taken off the track for treatment and/or evaluation.
Betsy, please do not fret yourself. The media is overloaded with erroneous information. Just think about all of falese leafs and information about the B-2 flights over Iran (and no, I AM NOT making this political).
Of course the place you would come to is here as I would do the same.
We love these horses as if they are our very own. We grieve when the pass away for whatever the reason.
Lynda, I’ve hesitated to contact Donegal because they’ve been so good to be re: updating me on AP Kid’s races, and I don’t want to bother them in case it’s bad news. I think they’d tell me if it were, after they had time to process…
Thank you for checking other news sources side from DRF…!
I hope it was just something precautionary, or like you said, heat exhaustion or related. I’m sorry for potentially jumping the gun – I admit that I’ve been frazzled and tired the last few days, and I was just so taken aback by a report that be was hurt
Yes, I think everyone who loves racing, loves horses first….who else understands like we do?
Thanks for understanding !
Lynda, thank you for confirming what I posted earlier. I’m fairly certain that in most jurisdictions, the death of a horse in training must be reported to the appropriate authority. I don’t know how quickly a death needs to be reported or if it is required to be made public within a specific timeframe.
You seem to be conflating the legitimate news organizations with social media. Your reference to the B-2s relates, I’m guessing, to the AI-generated fake videos and photos of downed B-2s circulating through platforms such as TiKTok, X, and Instagram. The comment sections of Internet sites are similar in many respects. It was news organizations that debunked the fakes.
As for Tepin, she apparently died as a broodmare sometime in 2023. It was reported in October of 2024 in numerous thoroughbred and racing media. The “announcement” came after a daughter of Tepin won a Group 1 race in France. I’m sure the requirements (or absence of requirements) for a broodmare death are very different from the death of a race horse in training.
Steve, Ruffian came before my time, but she was one of few racehorses our small public library had a specific book about. I was probably 8-9 reading it, and I’ve forgotten much of the backstory. Thanks so much for making sure we remember her accomplishments.
It is really interesting that Ruffian was able to win her longest race in spite of never making a lead change. Was a lead change just not something Frank Whiteley worried about training because she was so brilliant, or was he trying to get her to work on it?
David, AP Kid broke down on a turf workout today – he’s already off Todd’s website, so I fear the worst
I’m sick – there are no words as to how devastated I am. I don’t know if I can continue wtwith racing, or even following HAPs…
I’m trying not to cry like a baby, but Its so hard
Oh Betsy, I am so sorry. He was lovely, and just coming into his own. horseracingnation.com indeed lists him as deceased. They are among the last of the gladiators. It’s so hard.
Katy, I had a feeling it was bad…I just saw it on HRN
I’m sobbing …I loved this horse so much
It doesn’t make it better, but you aren’t alone. Poor, beautiful pony. I am just crushed about this one. Hang in, friend. ❤️
Hugs, Katy !!!!❤️❤️💔💔
Betsy, sometimes it’s not worth getting out of bed. I know how devastating this must be for you and everyone involved with A. P. Kid. I’m just going off to have a silent prayer and let the tears flow. Glad you’re back home ok.
Thanks, David !
No, it’s not – I forget who said it, but a trainer once said that these horses will break your heart, sigh
DRF, by the way, is disgraceful. Even if the death report is premature, they didn’t even bother to mention the breakdown in an article on today’s Todd workouts
Betsy, I am so sorry.
I truly feel your hurt and pain over the loss of A P Kid.
Hugs
Lynda, thank you!!
I’m hoping Horse Racing Nation is wrong …see above
Donegal has been so good to me with updates on him. I so badly want him to be ok – for them
The Lis Al Derby….formerly The Swaps–,(The Swaps was an important race)…Rank is in the 5-horse field, 3 are Bob’s—there just aren’t that many good 3yos out here—Im rooting for Rank, but he is in tough….perhaps Kimura will send?
The only one he’d probably struggle to beat is Nevada Beach, who he’s finished behind twice…albeit closely
I doubt they’ll send him – they took blinkers off last time – he ran very well in the Affirmed. I’m not sure how far he wants to go because he usually loses ground at the end, but his best races ads excellent
Betsy—there’s not much speed….if Rank gets away with a lonly first half……still a maiden but over $100k earnings…out here that’s a lot! I think Nevada Beach is probably going to win…I love Omaha Beach as a sire, dirt or turf!..
The names of some wonderful fillies and mares have been mentioned here, inspired by this beautiful tribute to Ruffian. I would like to offer as my personal favorite, Personal Ensign. The Phipps Stable and Shug McGaughey couldn’t have done better with her, as she won all 13 of her races, including the Whitney against males, from age 2 through age 4.
As a broodmare, Personal Ensign produced G1 winners My Flag, Miner’s Mark, and Traditionally. She did it all!
Roberta, can you remember why Personal Ensign only had 2 competitors in her triumphal win in the Whitney and, moreover, why Spectacular Bid won the Woodward Stakes in a walkover?
I’m not trying to demean the winners but I’ve lost the facts, memory ha ha, on why this occurred.
Ha! David, I don’t know why only two tried. It probably has something to do with a sense of impending doom.
Ha ha!! Doom can be interpreted in many ways, Roberta, but I think I get the drift.
One day Winning Colors is going to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff over Personal Ensign. I wish it was a dead heat.
LOL. Maybe if Winning Colors had been able to go the first half in :48 instead of :47 4/5.
Davids—I remember in 1979–Laz Barerra didn’t want to carry 130 vs Bid, in the Marlboro Cup–and I think Bud Delp was concerned about giving big weight to Winter’s Tale, the following year….also…Bid had a “hot spot”…a sore tendon…Bud was training him easy—after his walkover in the Woodward—the only walkover I can recall as a race fan of 55 years….the plan was the Jockey Club Gold Cup but Bid was retired, suddenly—-I got to see him run ONCE—he was amazing!..He settled back early—like Secretariat—he had gears—early mover—with another kick—I never saw another like him, Secretariat had more stamina….I think Flightline might also have had more stamina….I never saw a horse with more gears, than Bid—Bid and Bud….
I’ve always liked Winter’s Tale. No Bid, but a real solid horse for Mack Miller. Winter’s Tale is one of the great names in racing, along with my favorite, Coastal.
Coastal….never got his due, for winning The Belmont! Coastal was a stayer!
Thanks Matthew, I never saw much of Spectacular Bid live as we were living back in the Netherlands so The Blood-Horse was the main source or a flash news report.
Mindframe, as expected, cemented himself as the top older horse in the US by easily winning the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. That’s twice Mindframe has beaten Sierra Leone and Mystic Dan.
What miffed me was that many on various YouTube racing podcasts had him has their third or fourth horse. lol.
I just read a disturbing story this morning about Doug O’Neill and a suspension and fine he received for a horse he put on the track for a work out and had a fatal breakdown. This horse had not raced since last year and this was his first workout. Their is a rule in place that states horses coming back from a long layoff needs to pass a “TRAINING SOUNDNESS EXAM” by an attending Vet. O’Neill “did not” have this done and subsequently sent the horse out for the workout and it “fatally” brokedown. O’Neill gets off with a 7 day suspension (to me a slap on the wrist ) and a $2500 fine. and says he take responsibility for this oversight and is taking steps to correct this oversight (too little too late in my opinion). What gets me why did Santa Anita ,with its previous history of breakdowns, allow this horse on the track for the workout? Why didn’t the CHRB also fine them? This is a joke as I feel the suspension and fine is not severe enough since his carelessness resulted in the loss of life of the horse. The fine he got would have been minimum for if his horse had worked out and came back unscathed and was discovered after the fact. I feel he should have been suspended minimum 3 months with a fine in the 6 figures. This would send a clear message to all trainers there are rules to be followed and you must comply with them. Santa Anita should be fined for their “lack of accountability” on not making sure the horse was eligible to be worked out.
In my opinion this is another black eye for racing !!!
Unfortunately, Doug O’Neill has a long history of serious violations. At what point should the racing authority step in and say NO MORE?
I do not know everything about this….I do lnow—whenever there’s a trainer having a BBQ for the backstretch workers and families—the BBQ guy is Doug O’Neill….whenever there’s a group standing UP FOR HORSE RACING—it’s always led by Doug O’Neill…..and I know the guy…not best friends—I know he loves his horses….
Matthew, I commend you for admitting to a bias. But your sentiments are not in tune with his record. Standing up for HORSE RACING is what anyone who benefits from HORSE RACING would be expected to do. He may be a nice guy in some respects, but his history of violations speaks for itself.
It was not very long ago jockeys were roding races with masks over their noses and mouths…local governments urging people to rat on their neighbors, if they aren’t all masked up in their backyards….I detest thus “gotcha” era—when the HISA rules appeared…The pendulum started swinging out further in the other direction—yes, I’m biased…I know the guy—“ending” him, would he bad, for the spirt—ever see a Doug O’Neill winners circle? He brings hundreds into the sport—but they got’im—you win!….
You might be confusing Doug the person with Doug the trainer. Unfortunately, the sport has been mired with a long history of trainers bending the rules.
I don’t know enough about this particular incident, but O’Neil is a very good manager of the stock he receives. Two kentucky derbies, Raging Torrent, and winning several races in Dubai with moderate horses. Those jurisdictions have pretty strict testing standards, and i recall no problems. He’s also more of a claiming trainer than many others, which always makes one more vulnerable to problems.
And for “those” who say I only complain about one barn only as usual, are incorrect. O’Neill needs far more than seven days. Not enough to discourage this type of behavior.
I find the cavalier attitude by Santa Anita quite disturbing, is this a sign of ‘we don’t care anymore’ because we’re out of here pretty soon?
Santa Anita was paving the way in how to scrutinise an ethical racing conglomerate a few years back. Have they dropped the ball now?
Doug O’Neill used to be a prominent trainer a few years back but has dropped down in prominence over the past five years or so. Racing, especially Californian racing loses out here.
Betsy I hope by the time you read this you are safely home.
Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.
My Daughter and Grandaughter are now in Pisa, Italy. Yesterday they walked the 235 steps up to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Walking up dozens of steps in different buildings seems to be a personal goal she has set for herself.
She has been uploading a couple of dozen photos everyday unless she is traveling from one country to another or from what part of a country.
Considering the alert the US State Department sent out a few days ago for Americans traveling or living abroad I am concerned. They are not scheduled to return until mid July.
As to your knee injury, it took about 6 months for mine to heal and from time to time I have a flare up. Surgery is not an option for me because of my husband’s health issues. My PCP did tell me that many knee surgeries now are arthroscopic which is less invasive, often performed on an out patient basis with a faster recovery time. My cousin in Virginia who is in her mid eighties just had outpatient surgery to remove her gall bladder. She was back home by 8 that evening!
Take care!
Hi Lynda – Thanks! I’m on the plane now – paid for internet to try and get me to relax, lol – with all the craziness, I’ve been kind of frazzled!
You’re welcome! Wow – your daughter & granddaughter are awesome – that must have been spectacular!
I’m glad I didn’t know about the alert until now, lol – I’m sure they’ll be fine!
I’m really hoping that if I did tear something, that it’s something to be healed by physical therapy …even minor surgery is risky. But I’m not going to think negative – what good would that do me?
Wow, that’s amazing – gotta keep the hospital beds for those who are sick!
That’s the spirit, Betsy!!
I’m home!
Great!
Hope all will be OK with your knee.
The girls will be going to Greece next. Not sure when.
Thanks, Lynda!!
Wonderful – I hope they have a fabulous time!
This is an open post for Bill ( Mr. “Into Mischief” ) Dawson.
Saw your post in last week article about not returning to this site because of the deletion of your post on support of the president (BTW I am in agreement with you on) and the current Iran situation. But you got to look at this from the moderator point of view in that this site is set up for the purpose discussing horse racing the sport we love and for me , and I am sure others here too, it is an “escape” from the outside world events. This president is a very polarizing figure and you can see hopefully were these kind of posting can go. We don’t want this site to become were the next thing we are discussing is what Martha Stewart puts on her hot dog.
So Bill I hope you see this post and reconsider and comeback. I enjoy and respects your insights and opinions (sometimes we agree on and some we don’t) and besides were else am going to find out were the next Into Mischief “rocket” is going to run.
Before you jump to conclusions I was told by Leonard that post was not sent to our website. There is no record of it at all so he must have been mistaken and sent it to another website. Leonard said he was going to email him and tell it was not sent here.
Steve, Bill, DTS, et al. – I have had posts disappear into the ether without ever making it to the site, and just figure there was a glitch in my rural internet connection. (Usually, they were probably silly and it was a blessing that they disappeared.) Point being, sometimes the mechanism is just imperfect.
Hope Bill will miss this and rejoin the conversation.
It takes all kinds, and it works best when all are kind.
Katy, he always returns sooner or later without fail.
David, I’m off for home tomorrow … what a dsy yesterday , lol
By the way, they’re looking at the Jim Dandy for AP Kid…he’s also nominated to the Belmont Derby
Betsy, you had a marvelous holiday dashing here, dashing there even with your teeth and knee problems. Same time, next year? It’s always sad ending a holiday. Hope everything goes well on your flight back.
Yes, I know about A. P. Kid’s possible future races, I hope they stay with the Belmont Derby.
It ended on a messed up note, lol – but yes. I went to a clinic today to be checked out because my leg and ankles were puffing up. No infection, thank god, but the knee is not great. Dr said I need to see an orthopedic surgeon – I need an MRI to see if I tore something. I’m getting assistance at Heathrow – so that will help
Let me tell you about Tuesday! So the Eurostar was supposed to leave Paris at 4:40, by we were delayed 3 hours by what turned out to be a fatality as a train ahead of us hit someone. Then along the way, we were delayed by for about 45 minutes. There was another fatality on the same line, but I’m not sure that caused this smaller delay
So it was already after 10 pm, and I kept trying to reach my hotel to confirm someone would be there. No luck, so I had to start thinking of other hotels …the few I tried were booked.
By the time we arrived In London, it was 11:15 pm. I asked the taxi driver to wait in front of my hotel … which he did. The guy in the hotel said I could come in, but he thought I should another hotel because my room was at the top floor, and there were lots of stairs.
So, off my taxi driver and I go….we must have been searching for 30-45 minutes – every room in London, it seemed was booked! He would call places, I’d pop into a few places….We ended up back at my original hotel!
How distressing, Betsy. I hope everything works out ok with the MRI. Thank goodness for your taxi driver. It’s probably best to put your leg up if you can, with a chair etc.
Is your leg ok sitting in a plane, they can be very confining and restrictive. Ibuprofen or aspirin helps to take the swelling down along with ice packs, cold therapy, and compression bandages.
Did you manage to sleep ok?
Thanks!!! I just don’t want surgery – if I tore something, I just want to do physical therapy ….I didn’t hear a POP, so I’m hoping if I tore something, it’s not a HUGE deal
I bought a flight socks per DR – to avoid getting a Deep Vein Thrombosis …I’ll need to walk around quite a bit. I’m going to ask if they can give me a seat with extra leg room….I’ll ask for ice a lot, lol
I dozed off a couple of times, fairly deeply, but I’m going to try go to sleep for an hour or so now!
Thanks for your concern!
Oh and David, just to add to everything else, my flight was canceled & I was rebooked on a later flight !
Betsy, yes skip surgery if possible. I was going to mention deep vein Thrombosis but thought it may distress you but definitely make sure you wander around as much as possible. Next to the enter/exit doors would be good as there are no seats in front of you.
On better thoughts, did you see that Rank is running in the Los Alamitos Derby at 9f and Romeo is running in the Bashford Manor on Sunday at Churchill Downs. Fingers crossed.
David, I’m trying not to break down, lol
So my original flight was canceled and I was rebooked on a flight at 1:40 pm. Now that’s been delayed to 3:10 pm – with who knows? Maybe more delays
Not only am I stressing out, but I don’t want my friend who’s picking me up to have to keep on edge wondering when she needs to leave for Miami IA
I feel like changing the flight to tomorrow – no charge- & spending the night at the airport might be the best thing
Yep, and I’ll drink lots of fluids..
I’ll make a separate reply on the horses
I figured on Rank – but honestly, I wish he weren’t going; he deserves the chance to win and gain his confidence
I’m not sure how he stacks up against most of those horses -but he’s finished behind Nevada Beach twice
I like Romeo, but no excuse in the Tremont. I assume he’s running in the BM because there’s nowhere wise to run
Bayakoa….ran several 9 furlong races in the 1:47s—she was great—–but when MacAnally put her into the Big Cap—last place…..when Wayne put Serena’s Song into the Big Cap—last place—the year she was HOY—Lady’s Secret was put up against Precisionist—bad idea—-fillies do neat males, on dirt—but it’s something I wouldn’t ask them to do….
Matthew, when Gorgeous finally beat Bayakoa in the 1990 Apple Blossom Handicap they sent Gorgeous to the Grade 1 Pimlico Special where she was soundly beaten by males. Gorgeous was an absolute favorite of mine.
I’ve never been keen on fillies/mares competing on dirt. It’s ok on turf but on dirt horses need more muscle to plough through the sand/dirt. Everyone knows that running on grass is much easier than running on the beach.
Completely agree….
Glad you picked up I meant – “fillies/mares competing on dirt against male horses.”
Sometimes I’m thinking faster than I’m typing and leave out words. I’ll learn one day to read before submitting.
Mine, too – what a filly, completely underrated. I loved Gorgeous!
Betsy, did you ever see Golden Opinion by Slew 0’Gold? She was stunning, I saw her live winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Happy day!!
Never in person, but I loved her – i was so excited to have a horse to root for in Europe! How exciting that you saw her !
I just read a recap of her career – she was a fabulous filly. She won her debut in a listed stakes, and barely lost to Cadeaux Genereaux in the July Cup. She must have gotten hurt after her last start, because otherwise why retire her ?
Betsy, Cadeaux Généraux was so lucky to win the July Cup, the next jump she passed him she was unrelenting. Watch the race again on Youtube.
Guess who was third, Danehill.
I will, David!
Wait, what? Wow!!!
This reminds me of Azeri going up against Ghostzapper in the BC Classic in 2004.
Plus Gamely (finished 2nd) to Dr, Fager in the 1968 Californian. Some trainers don’t really know what they are doing. Especially pertaining to this blog, Whitely putting a high strung legendary filly (Ruffian) against Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.
I don’t know Doug O’Neill seemed to do a pretty training job with I’ll Have Another.
I was a big Ruffian fan, living in California I never saw her race–ever…we did not get the videos….but I did get the Racing Form ($.75)…one thing I DID see was match races, the big one was Typecast/Convenience, and speed won nearly every match race….it was a shock to see Goolish Pleasure being sent to the front—they were flying….people say “well…she was sterting to pass him”—to be fair it was only around a quarter mile, as she wasgetting her head in front…the race was only beginning—-Ive saud this ad nauseum….pn dirt—fillies vs males is an uphill battle, because males are stronger….speed and stamina are equal—but males are stronger….I am reminded of the story of when TlRail Trip was being schooled, at Hollywood Park…and Zenyatta came into the paddock—she twice looked over at him, and twice he looked down….she was the ALPHA! Ruffian was large….but she was very feminine—boy do I wish they never asked her to beat the Derby Winner, straight up—what a career we lost…..
Totally off topic—-does anyone know If Journalism is still at Saratoga or back in California?
He is in California. Another website just had an article about him and were he would race next ( nothing decided on yet ) . Trainer said all is well with him.
Thank you so much for info.
Having read Davids’ comment below, I too was reluctant to read this piece — but you reminded me WHY Ruffian burned a whole in my heart as well as burning up the racetrack. Her legacy will never be forgotten.
Steve, thanks for all the photographs you have assembled to go with your reflection of Ruffian. I am guilty in not reading your prose but it’s too painful, the memory. I never read anything about Go for Wand anymore either for the same reason.
Racing in Europe this weekend is centred around the Emerald Isle with the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday and the Irish Derby on Sunday.
In the Pretty Polly Stakes, Whirl, by Wootton Bassett, should be too strong here while in the Irish Derby their are a raft of Wootton Bassett colts that are poised to trip up the Epsom Derby winner, Lambourn. But which one?
The Jessie Harrington colt, sired by Wootton Bassett, Green Impact looks the winner to me but that is the easy part- guessing!! Enjoy the races.
Here in Melbourne the everlasting warm days have retreated, resulting into icy cold winds blowing hail all over the widows. Freezing.
Davids, your description of your weather took me by surprise, even though, of course, it shouldn’t have. There’s a widespread heat wave in the eastern United States, and Vermont has had two days of temperatures in the high 90’s with the heat index well over 100. That’s not the usual situation here. But I always tell people I can live with this–I’m saving my complaints for when it’s 20 below.
Davids, I wrote a long comment thanking you for the reminder of the big Irish races — but perhaps I waxed too long with my impressions of Royal Ascot Week (both off topic for this column). So I’ll just say thank you.
Ms Blacktype, that’s one of the treasures of Steve Haskin’s column the absolute pleasure of sharing your love of racing with people of the same penchant.
So glad you enjoyed the Royal Ascot races but there is so much more to look forward to.
Yes Jiffy, I’ve been watching the weather pattern extremes in the US. It’s not just the heat but the humidity is hitting places that seldom suffered with humidity. While winter months are truly frigid as you mentioned above. Lynda writes quite a bit about the extremes are affecting her.
Melbourne, when I first lived here as a child, used to have a typical Mediterranean climate – hot dry summers and cool wet winters – now it’s semi-tropical in summer with humidity along with rain now and again. Conversely, in winter there are heavy downpours in patches where as, in the past, Melbourne had light rain downpours once or twice a day. You never really needed an umbrella.
Fall and Spring don’t really exist anymore apart from two weeks if you’re lucky. Trying to grow Spring bulbs is a waste of time, all that grows are foliage. Traditional roses in Fall don’t really bloom anymore either as summer lingers on and on. I like the cold ha ha.
Go Wootton Bassett!!!
Betsy, Wootton Bassett goes from strength to strength his progeny have the sheer determination to win; Galileo passed on that same trait to his progeny.
David, yes!!
She was Brilliant! I’m fortunate that I got to see her. She still stirs emotions of her brilliance but I still lower my head and bite my lip and well up a tear. At least I haven’t turned callused with age!
She was once described as being a locomotive in a black silk dress.
The greatest filly to ever step on the dirt track in my opinion.
Thank you Steve for the moment to moment account of her story from 50 years ago.
LYNDA, 1000% agree…………..Lucian Lauren said he thought she may be better than Secretariat. Up to a mile, maybe but Big Red was in a league with 3 or 4 others.
Hi Deacon.
That would have been a match made in heaven, Ruffian bred to Sectetariat!
What a poetic description.
Katy, guess that is why I remember the description after all these years. I cannot recall who said it, otherwise I would have given them credit.
Ruffian vs. Rachel, who ya got?
Ruffian, Lady’s Secret, Landaluce. There are so many great one…………..
Back in the day, I frequented the DRF comment sections. When Rachel won The Woodward, I asked Dan Illman if he could research the last 3 year old filly to beat older males on dirt in a Grade 1 route race.
He went back 40 years and couldn’t find another.
My money’s on Rachel .
1986—Snow Chief haf been busy…flying across country to win The Flirida Derby…back to Santa Anita to win their derby—an 11th place finish in THE Derby—two weeks later winning The Preakness then nine days later winning The Jersey Derby—the plan was to accept an appearance fee and running at the fledgling track Canterbury Downs, but Marj Everett called in a favor—she had been loyal to Mel Stute, when stable space was hard to procure—and Stute agreed to go next, in the Silver Screen…after all—it was a mile out of the chute against CAL BREDS—12 horses…and despite drawing the dreaded rail post–Snow Chief was the 3/5 favorite….127 lbs…. but no worries—2,ND choice was 9/5 odds…this little grey filly, a homered whose dam was a $7500 claim….before the race–highly respected trainer D Wayne Lukas said the connections of Melair were doing the right thing…..and he was right! From the 12 post—the little filly blew the field away, in remarkable time—I made this post not to champion the amazing Melair…after all it’s a column about the amazing Ruffian—I made this post in honor of Wayne Lukas…who never passed on a chance to represent Horse Racing in a good light….he ran his horses and he represented his sport in a classy way—
I remember Melair… she was “brilliantly” fast and even though D Wayne did not train her he had a great eye for fast horses. Scary that it has been nearly 40 years from that race.
Melair colic’d soon after her amazing performance….forcing an early retirement….as a broodmare she continued to colic—and it caused her early demise….Horse Racing is cursed, with the early demise of brilliant fillies…..Ruffian being the most profound…Lansaluce…Mellair …Go For Wand…Eight Belles….and that lovely grey MY bred, who broke down on nationally televised race at Saratoga…..I guess the one that stung me the most, was Melair—she beat the Eclipse Winning 3yo male by 11 lengths, then she was gone….
Yhe Dilver Screen Handicap is now run as The Affirmed Stakes…it was only run at one mile on two occasions–1985 won by Pancho Villa, trainedby D Wayne Lukas….1986 was Melair—she ran the fastest one mile dirt time for a filly—in Horse Race History..
(Silver Screen)..
Maple Leaf Mel. I’d hate for her to be forgotten. So full of promise. Hope her trainer is doing OK.
I believe John Sadler trained Melair. If I am not mistaken.
Yes he did…. funny thing is when Matthew made this post I thought to myself I thought Mel Stute trained Melair and why would he race her against Snow Chief. But it was John Sadler.
I’ve enjoyed these first two installments very much, Steve – you can tell Ruffian’s story as no one else could. Unfortunately, you’re setting us up for heartbreak next time. I have a few pictures on my office wall, Secretariat, Barbaro, Zenyatta, and Ruffian is right there with them. What a wonder she was!
I hope you get more out of it than grief. This is a salute to her life. There will be nothing graphic in there. It’s not like having to watch it, which I never have since it happened.
Update on D Wayne Lukas condition. This is from another website. Lukas has contracted a form of MRSA that it is apparently resistant to antibiotics. The MRSA has affected his heart, intestines, and inflamed other chronic conditions he has. His doctors proposed aggressive treatment to combat it would require several surgeries and there was no guarantees it would work and it also sounded like afterwards he would require 24/7 care the rest of his life. He has declined this treatment and decided to live out his life to be with his family. God Bless D Wayne and enjoy the rest of your days in peace.
In the 1970’s TV coverage of racing in our area was at best spotty and at worst almost non-existent. I never saw Ruffian run until her final race. I knew she was good and I knew she won the Filly Triple Crown–sad that it no longer exists–, but I never had the opportunity to really become a fan. This column brings her races to life and helps me get to know her in a way that I couldn’t in 1975, Thank you.
I also was not familiar with Equal Change, but her pedigree is mind-boggling. I hope she had a chance to live up to it.
Steve.
I really enjoyed reading this 2nd part about Ruffian (can’t say I will be anticipating the 3rd installment as I already know the ending and it is a heartbreaker) . Your re-enactments of her races reminds me of my radio days of listening Vince Scully calling a Dodger game , Dick Enberg calling an Angel game or Chick Hearn’s calling a LA Laker game. It makes you feel like you were right there. The amazing part of racing back then was how fast a horse was brought back after there previous race with seemingly no ill effects. Was it drugs trainers were allowed to get away with back then or training methods but that is a debate for another time. I do feel trainers today for the most part wait too long before race and any good they get they got out of their previous race is long gone before there next start.
But back to Ruffian… she definitely was special and the mold was broke when she was born. Your last sentence says it all about what she did for racing and for future of racing. Have a great week Steve and as always nothing but the best !!!
Thanks very much. I hope you can enjoy part 3 despite it’s conclusion.
David, from the previous thread…
Oh what a tragic fate for Digression. …sigh
I vaguely do remember Cudas breaking down then…I thought he’d made it, just never ran again? Such a shame, especially as Seattle Song died young
I remember Septieme Ciel! Also, Le Voyageur, who came over and ran very well in Easy Goer’s Preakness
Not sure about Tapit – despite his being a very good grass sire, has he had one group winner in Europe?
Betsy, Tapit has had several stakes placed on turf in Europe, nonetheless, Wissahickon won the Winter Derby but that’s on AW. Christophermarlowe won the Investec Derby Trial but that race is not considered a stakes race.
As de Trebol won a stakes race in France but lost it in the steward’s room.
Constitution and Tiz the Law have sired some good turf runners so fingers crossed there but Flightline is the big hope. If Flightline sires some top turf runners the Europeans will flock to him.
Flightline and Winter by Galileo is a mating I’m hoping for. Dreaming…
But David, those are hardly big races ….I haven’t seen many Constitutions in Europe, and of course it’s too early to say with Tiz
But you’re right about Flightline …they might flock to him anyway, when his first yearlings are sold
Yes Betsy, that’s the point with all his success Tapit didn’t have much of an impact in Europe so the search of reconnecting the Nasrullah line to Europe to it’s influential status of the 70s and 80s is still on.
Frosted has been reasonably successful in Australia with quite a few promising 2 year olds earlier in the year.
Tiz the Law could be quite fruitful but if an early son of Flightline were to score an early Group 1 by lengths then the gold-rush could be on!! Ha ha
Ah, I got it ….
I’m not sure European breeders care about returning the Nasrullah line to prominence, but they probably will throw tons of cash at Flightline yearlings. I’m not sold he’s going to be a great turf sire, though
Betsy, Golden Pal is standing at Ashford…
Tiz the Law is having success on turf also at Ashford.
I know, but he’s by Uncle Mo, not Tapit
He is, but it’s just a gut feeling I have. We’ll find out soon enough!!!
Betsy, Golden Pal comes from the Nasrullah sire line, if the progeny of Golden Pal emulate the success that Justify is having you can be assured the Europeans will be snapping up his progeny.
Brilliant story, Steve – I feel like I’m there! What I wouldn’t have given to have seen Ruffian …
Looks like Equal Change never won after the CCAO.
Nice but sad trip down memory lane. Horse racing is the best of times & the worst of times. I qill never get over that breakdown on the back stretch of Belmont Park.
So gut wrenching to witness that.
IMO, she is the the standard, the greatest filly of all time.
Landaluce was on her way to immortality also before Colitis X.
These premature deaths are the sad part of horse racing.
You don’t see baseball, basketball, hockey players & most sports players dying after a ballgame
I don’t think I will ever get over her death.
Nevertheless, this was a great read. Thank you Steve.
Agreed Deacon. Difference is horses have no choice to compete or not.
Another difference is that baseball, basketball, and hockey players are not put down because of major injuries. They may never compete again but they usually survive. Horses’ bodies are too often unable to recover even partially.
Great comment Jiffy!
Thank you.
No they do not…………..you are correct.
I have always hated match races. I see no purpose in them.
Absolutely! Only a recipe for possible disaster.