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Ruffian raced 10 times and won 10 times -- a remarkable filly!
Ruffian was the graddaughter of Native Dancer, who was alo a famous race horse.
After winning her maiden race in 1974 by 15 lengths, Ruffian went to Belmont and raced against 5 other horses, 3 which were unbeaten -- and won by 7 lengths.
In the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga, Ruffian held a 3 length advantage, even with her jockey holding her back, still setting a record -- winning by 13 lengths!
In 1975, Ruffian entered into the filly tripple crown -- the Acorn, Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks, winning all three races and setting more records.
After winning the filly triple crown, Ruffian was considered invincible.
A rare match race against a colt named Foolish Pleasre, was the last field for Ruffian to conquer.
Foolish Pleasure was a Kentucky Derby winner who has won 11 out of his 14 races.
Ruffian had won all 10 of her races, breaking seven stakes records, and winning by an average of 8 lengths.
Prior to the Great Match between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure, people who would not normally be excited about hrose races and betting were showing support by wearing buttons displaying Ruffian or Foolish Pleasure on them -- 200,000 were sold!
Weighing in on July 6, 1975, Ruffian was 3 inches taller and 64 pounds heavier than Foolish Pleasure.
While Ruffian was considered a horse that could "race with an ease of motion" making her strides gracefully, Foolish Pleasure was a rugged colt and not overly large.
Even though Foolish Pleasure came away from the gate first, in a few strides Ruffian caught him and stuck her nose slightly in front of his by a matter of inches.
Racing as a team side by side, Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure ran the first quarter in 22 1/5 seconds, probably setting the fastest pace by any two horses in a relatively long race.
Ruffian was pulling ahead of Foolish Pleasure and by the time she was half a length in front of him, it happened -- Ruffian had taken a bad step and her right front ankle cracked.
Even though Ruffian must have been in pain, she began bumping into Foolish Pleasure and leaned on him as they ran, even as her jockey tried to stop her.
Only after the bone splinters were ripping through the skin, did Ruffian finally break down and stagger to the right, still determined to keep running.
There would be an attempt to save her, not for running, but because she was Ruffian, perhaps the greatest filly that ever lived.
After X-rays showed the extent to the injury, she went through an immediate operation, and had a complex boot-shoe encased in a plaster cast to take pressure off of the injured area.
When Ruffian came out of the anesthesia and while still lying on her side, she stretched out and began paddling her legs as if still running onthe racetrack -- the effects causing the boot-shoe to loosen and reopen the wound.
Ruffian was laid to rest in the infield of the Belmont racetrack with her head pointing toward the finish line -- "the horse that wouldn't stop running."
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