I saw Ruffian live at the Coaching Club American Oaks, later on in 1995, people dont remember this was a very strong group of fillies, Copernica (One eyed Filly) was actually higher rated early on as was Hot n'Nasty, You had Sir Ivors Sorrow and Point in time, as well as Laughing bridge. Ruffian beat them all and beat them handily. One reason records where shattered, as this group could fly, Ruffian was just faster...
Ruffian was breezin! In most of her races the jockeys were instructed to hold her back some! What an amazing filly . . . what an amazing equine . . . no matter the gender!
people forget..in this race ruffian ran the fastest 6f EVER by a 2yo male or female at saratoga....pretty amazing considering the likes of secretariat,man o war,dr fager,affirmed, native dancer etc.. ran there..and ruffian was faster than all of them...she had the speed of a dr fager or a seattle slew and the stamina of a secretariat...absolutely amazing
Look at how she won with complete ease. That mare would run as fast as you needed, but nobody could stay with her! That my friends is one of the great ones!
haha! that was funny, the camera couldnt even see her in the end. geese that would of been a match race, secretariat and ruffian, secretariat is a much better horse than foolish pleasure ever was.
There is quite an interesting story on this race that I believe Steve Davidowitz or Andy Beyer mentioned in one of their books on the second finisher, Laughing Bridge: One of them (I forget which) wanted the trainer to run Laughing Bridge against the boys in the Hopeful because Ruffian was in their minds far superior to any male horse racing at that point. No one believed that because it would mean going against tradition, but I would have done that if it were me seeing that.
Andy Beyer thought Laughing Bridge would beat Ruffian. His "speed figures" made her a no brainer and run her against the boys. Guess he was wrong on that! Kinda like a Sham and/or Alydar. Perhaps in a different year they would be Triple Crown winners/champions.
I don't have the complete match race, but I do have a clip of the point of breakdown along with the track announcer's call. I used part of that clip in the video with my song "The Great Match." I'll try and remember to dig that clip out later, and post it with the call. With the holidays coming up, I haven't been getting around to anything new to post of late. :)
Thanks, that'd be greatly appreciated, to be able to hear the actual call. I'm a glutton for punishment on that sort of thing. ;p Can't be helped. lol. Enjoy the holidays!
I don't think there has ever been a better filly. There have been some great ones over the past 25 years - Bayakoa, Personal Ensign, Go For Wand, Lady's Secret - but I don't think any of them could have beaten Ruffian.
At 7 furlongs or less, I'd like her chances against males or females.
omg...ruffian was just a wonder horse. but your song is right...if you ask the ones who know she's still the fastest one...i honestly think that ruffian would have not only beat foolish pleasure..but crushed him..just like man o' war crushed sir barton and seabiscuit crushed war admiral. ruffian was amazing and there will never be another filly quite like her.
I should have added that this race was a true demonstration of her speed and stamina. At the point the jockey turned her loose, she had an 8 length lead, in the short span to the finish line, she increased her lead by 5, winning by 13 lengths and setting a new stakes record.
If you haven't read the book about Ruffian by Jane Schwartz, you should check it out. The stories surounding her races are great, and offer a lot of insight into what actually happened. In this case, I don't think Jacinto was riding. Frank Whitely had told the jockey of this race to take it easy with her, which he did. However, his curiosity got the best of him, and he turned her loose near the finish, which was the reason for the sudden burst of speed at the end.
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1badls6 11 months ago
I saw Ruffian live at the Coaching Club American Oaks, later on in 1995, people dont remember this was a very strong group of fillies, Copernica (One eyed Filly) was actually higher rated early on as was Hot n'Nasty, You had Sir Ivors Sorrow and Point in time, as well as Laughing bridge. Ruffian beat them all and beat them handily. One reason records where shattered, as this group could fly, Ruffian was just faster...
bri6760 1 year ago
This was probably her best race.
RidingWithRuffian 3 years ago
Ruffian was breezin! In most of her races the jockeys were instructed to hold her back some! What an amazing filly . . . what an amazing equine . . . no matter the gender!
okgal888 3 years ago
people forget..in this race ruffian ran the fastest 6f EVER by a 2yo male or female at saratoga....pretty amazing considering the likes of secretariat,man o war,dr fager,affirmed, native dancer etc.. ran there..and ruffian was faster than all of them...she had the speed of a dr fager or a seattle slew and the stamina of a secretariat...absolutely amazing
ruffchamp1 3 years ago 3
Look at how she won with complete ease. That mare would run as fast as you needed, but nobody could stay with her! That my friends is one of the great ones!
BE109 4 years ago
Why the hell didn't they show Ruffian, instead of the second and third place horses at the end!? Surely, they could have got the camera to show her.
ellemenno3000 4 years ago
If you looked up CHAMPION in the dictionary, Ruffian's picture would be right next to it!
ellemenno3000 4 years ago 6
She was amazing...such blazing speed. She is the true meaning of a champion. I love you, Ruffian.
wildredvixen 4 years ago 5
haha! that was funny, the camera couldnt even see her in the end. geese that would of been a match race, secretariat and ruffian, secretariat is a much better horse than foolish pleasure ever was.
k7m4 4 years ago
Thanks for sharing this with us. She sure was something else.
shutterbug29 4 years ago 2
There is quite an interesting story on this race that I believe Steve Davidowitz or Andy Beyer mentioned in one of their books on the second finisher, Laughing Bridge: One of them (I forget which) wanted the trainer to run Laughing Bridge against the boys in the Hopeful because Ruffian was in their minds far superior to any male horse racing at that point. No one believed that because it would mean going against tradition, but I would have done that if it were me seeing that.
Wallyhorse 4 years ago
Andy Beyer thought Laughing Bridge would beat Ruffian. His "speed figures" made her a no brainer and run her against the boys. Guess he was wrong on that! Kinda like a Sham and/or Alydar. Perhaps in a different year they would be Triple Crown winners/champions.
federicojoe 4 years ago
Do you have anything on the match race, with real race audio in it? I'd be interested in watching that...
crazedweazels 5 years ago
I don't have the complete match race, but I do have a clip of the point of breakdown along with the track announcer's call. I used part of that clip in the video with my song "The Great Match." I'll try and remember to dig that clip out later, and post it with the call. With the holidays coming up, I haven't been getting around to anything new to post of late. :)
oktahahorses 5 years ago
Thanks, that'd be greatly appreciated, to be able to hear the actual call. I'm a glutton for punishment on that sort of thing. ;p Can't be helped. lol. Enjoy the holidays!
crazedweazels 5 years ago
That just goes to show, speed kills. I am too young to have ever seen her run but, omg!
Kelse99 5 years ago
Greatest filly ever. I got chills watching this video. Thanks.
wcrimi 5 years ago
I don't think there has ever been a better filly. There have been some great ones over the past 25 years - Bayakoa, Personal Ensign, Go For Wand, Lady's Secret - but I don't think any of them could have beaten Ruffian.
At 7 furlongs or less, I'd like her chances against males or females.
Bassman968 5 years ago
omg...ruffian was just a wonder horse. but your song is right...if you ask the ones who know she's still the fastest one...i honestly think that ruffian would have not only beat foolish pleasure..but crushed him..just like man o' war crushed sir barton and seabiscuit crushed war admiral. ruffian was amazing and there will never be another filly quite like her.
rebecca11391 5 years ago
I should have added that this race was a true demonstration of her speed and stamina. At the point the jockey turned her loose, she had an 8 length lead, in the short span to the finish line, she increased her lead by 5, winning by 13 lengths and setting a new stakes record.
oktahahorses 5 years ago
If you haven't read the book about Ruffian by Jane Schwartz, you should check it out. The stories surounding her races are great, and offer a lot of insight into what actually happened. In this case, I don't think Jacinto was riding. Frank Whitely had told the jockey of this race to take it easy with her, which he did. However, his curiosity got the best of him, and he turned her loose near the finish, which was the reason for the sudden burst of speed at the end.
oktahahorses 5 years ago
i like this announcer's lisp haha but this is an amazing video..but they should have filmed ruffian
rebecca11391 5 years ago
I believe that "lisp" effect is due to the audio quality. The track announcer then, Dave Johnson, generally speaks very crisply.
davemock 5 years ago