Ruffian, her last complete race

[19Bnanendrink98]

Wow have you seen Ruffian? She was beautiful

[wolfsrule100]

Can i use this clip for a video im making?

[wolfsrule100]

i have this girl as my screensaver :}

[bellasararoxursox]

i Love Ruffian :) so sad that she broke down tho :(

[bon1042]

:) :)... yes.... I have trouble remembering the name of "that other horse sometimes too", :) :) :) ! Oh, I've learned a lot about horse racing in the last six yrs. Some S detractors claimed his time was invalid bec track was fast all week. But Nack & Andrew Beyer nixed that. Following Barbaro's tragedy closely on blogs triggered my memory of Secretariat. I wondered if there was anything on S on YT.... not for long !!

[cowgirl9125]

i love and miss Ruffian and 625smith is right Queenluccia just because she is dead she still needs to loved and on her last day alive she still wanted to run evan before the vet put her down she showed she was a real RACEHORSE

[cowgirl9125]

i love and miss Ruffian and 625smith is right Queenluccia

[625smith]

Queenluccia.You have been cursed with

Autism by Karma.You are truly a disgusting

human being.Ruffian was pure heart. You

are heartless and you wear your autism

like a badge.

[bon1042]

was this a mile and a half race? 2:27 4/5...

[711ATOM]

@bon1042 Yes 12 furlongs. It was cut back to 10f and in 2010 all the way back to 9f. The 1970's, when America had REAL racehorses. You have to be careful when comparing different races just on time, one really should consider the actual race conditions, but 2:27 4/5 at Belmont for 1-1/2 miles is an excellent time.  In that decade only two Belmont Stakes winners won with better times - Affirmed 2:26 4/5 in 1978, and that horse in 1973 (ahhh, ummm, what was the name?)

[bijjjoux]

@711ATOM

That's probably what triggered the match race, cuz her time for this race was better than most Belmonts...

[jtierney1963]

Ruffian's connections told Jacinto Vasquez to hold her back and she still ran 2:27 4/5. If she had been let loose, she could've run two seconds faster.

[InesTheCrazyOne]

Why and how did she die?

[JimSpoor]

@InesTheCrazyOne ....she broke down in a match race with Foolish Pleasure, the Kentucky Derby winner...

[InesTheCrazyOne]

@JimSpoor ohh :( tnx for telling

[shezcurvi]

I have a scrapbook of Ruffian, I put it together and followed her when I was a child. I even have the LA Times article of how she fought her rehabilitation, and had to be destroyed. Surely broke my heart. :(

[BarbarosDerby132]

Possibly the greatest ever.....

[Confleurify]

ruffian's heart wil running ever.

[horsegirl1097]

Where did u get these "Ruffian Videos?"

[oktahahorses]

@horsegirl1097 If you go to second running.com you'll find all sorts of great racing stuff.  :-)

[missmoo121]

would have LOVED to see her race ay! and to ride her....maann.,.that would have been an experience....but i was born waaay after her time..

[Bloo445]

I love this filly shes one of the best

[amax7895]

omg who DOESNT ♥ ruffian? i miss her :(

[queenluciaa]

@amax7895

How may I say, Miss something that was never belonging to you. You've never got to see her, or anything. Just the pixels of the Computer screen.

[amax7895]

@queenluciaa You are completely true, but how can you not feel miserable when you hear of an equine's death?

[queenluciaa]

@amax7895

I'm sorry but I do not feel the emotion you can. See, I have a form of autism [Not the extreme kind, where people rarely talk] that leaves a certain section in my brain unplugged. A horse that had died 35 years ago doesn't make me "miserable". Its another fallen star in this world, it happens every single day. She may have been special, but in her heart she was a normal horse who simply loved to run.

[thedeath4ever]

she was a legend..Sadly she had a very unfair end.. -cries-

[Daphneee1992]

She was born to be the greatest racehorse in the history.. I like her, it's sad she couldn't give the raceworld an icon like her:(

[huntresskrystle]

R.I.P Ruffian. You've inspired me in so many ways.

[animelover462]

This horse deserved every thing she got excpet her own death. The only problem she had was her blood line. Her blood line was filled to the brim with soft boned horses that were and still are prone to break downs.

[rcherasaro]

how long was that race? i lived to watch the great filly..i was so upset when she died i didn't get back into racing for a long time..still she is #1 until rachael comes back next year..then i may have to adjust my thinking.thanks for the video.

[bethleesfive]

Vasquez hit her once- I think it was her first race- just to "see what she'd do." She took off of course, and Frank Whiteley gave him hell for it! She was in the lead anyway. As far as I know, he never hit her again, but spent his time training and in races holding her back. The filly could fly.

[joefederico]

That race was a workout for her. See when the other horses started to catch up to her? Vasquez probably just chirped in her ear and she let out another notch. I believe he never put the whip to ever in her entire career. Probably why he chose her over Foolish Pleasure in the match race.

And, she was a beautiful looking filly. Just glad people can remember her. NY did right by her when they buried her in the Belmont infield. True champion!

[ginita105]

Gosh i didn't know there were videos from back then :O

[mstrunn]

How about a Ruffian vs Rachel Alexandra match-up, a race for the ages? Would have been a barn burner!

[bg147]

I am certain of the winner, but it really does not matter and just a reason for people to argue about stupid shit.

[ginita105]

If ruffian was alive ruffian would be retired by now ,so...That wouldn't be possible

[mstrunn]

Duh, can you read ginita? It was speculation, and yes, they had videos way back in the horse and carraige days of the mid 70's, jeesh!

[ginita105]

You musn't be so mean,i didn't say anything wrong -.-

[JimSpoor]

@ginita105 ...well let's hope so...she'd be 38 years old ; )

[NEShorselover]

could you imagine what Ruffian and Secretairet would produce?!?! I miss that big black Filly. I can't believe such a wonderful racer lost her life racing. well, if there is any thing that is kinda better(but nothing is good about losing a horse) is that she dies doing something she loved.

[bustacomeagusta]

its funny how you say she died doin what she loved ...lol ...the FACT is that she had no choice in the matter she was a slave to racing just like all the other horses...but i still love horse racing

[TEHFUZZEHONEZ]

@bustacomeagusta

If A horse didn't want to race, it wouldn't. Horses are much stronger than people and a horse can easily throw a person off if it wanted to.

[moonhowl977]

Racehorses are bred to race. That is the only thing they know. Racehorses LOVE it. I have seen some ex-racehorses, and anything they do, their heart just isn't in it as much as it is in racing.

[PiRoxMYeventingSox]

@bustacomeagusta

if a horse doesn't want to race, it won't

that's why there are so many TB's doing other things

[pleasantcolony]

This race always make the hairs on my neck stand up. Ruffian was in a league of her own. If I was the jockey on Foolish Pleasure I would have pulled him up after Ruffian got injured. Just to show sportsmanship & respect to the other horse. Because it was only a match race, I wouldn't do that in a full field race. Ruffian will always have a special place in my heart. I saw her grave about 3 weeks ago and it is awesome and Beautiful! RIP big girl.

[lovechihuahuas9090]

She really was such an incredible racer...I can't stand thinking about what happened to her :(

[mvmoni]

ruffian was a so handsome horse!!! wunderful!!!

[7oldschoolmac7]

ruffian was on cruise control. she probably didn't break a sweat in this race.

[arabianhorselover]

if you look shes barely trying i dont think she stretches out at all in this race

[624tog]

i cry when i watchvideos like this i miss ruffian

[starzinliberty]

i believe in break of her leg began as she broke from the gate, hitting herself and wavering. and the finality of it was in the race. so sad.

[Rememberthebest]

I have heard, and I'm not saying this is true, but I have heard that when she came out of the starting gate that she hit her shouler (which is true as far as I know) and that it caused her to switch to the other lead due to pain or whatever hence putting more pressure on the other leg. Now I don't know if that's possible, or true or whatever but its one of the things i've heard about her breakdown.

[mvlach77]

I saw an interview with the trainer Frank Whitely in which he believes this theory. I think it makes sense, better than the pigeon theory.

[Rememberthebest]

completely better than the pigeon theory! I think that theory is just rubbish. =P

[animelover462]

Watch her last race, the theory is true even with the crappy video quality you can still see her shoulder smack in to the gate and her lead change. The reason I admire her and envy her is because of her spirit, her strength, and her love for the race.

[starzinliberty]

yes, all in agreement. i always believed barbaro should have been scratched for false starting or all of the horse reloaded, giving time to evaluate the health of barbaro before sending him off again. it was ridiculous that they rushed to get he race off... TV time constraints? blame money and urgency to keep a sched, i think.

[yankeesfan2006]

Barbaro was sad I literaly cried when they put him down... I mean I fucking cried I am a die hard fan of the sport, and I Don't cry often but Barbaro I cried...

[freakishplay]

The astonishing fact is that she was held IN HAND, and restrained, until the final eighth. Wonder what she might have done if she'd actually been asked to run :(

[dulcifyfj]

being a horsefan myself but from down under(Oz)i never knew of the horse till the movie came out and even then i thought well they are going to dress it up and make her look a lot better than she really was,pure ignorance on my part! i really liked the real race footage at the end of the movie,and thanks to utube and videos like this im convinced she is one of the very best of any era and country!she may have been the geatest!?sadly though we are all left to wonder what might have been.

[starzinliberty]

glad to have you on board the ruffian respect team! i have recently realized the thoroughbreds oz has to offer, a new frontier in breeding, or better legged horses than the commercial inbreeding has to offer in the US, as the assie horse have less in breeding. ruffian wasn't fully tested and that is why the mystery. she was so courageous and seemingly invincible, until that tragic day.

[143sick]

just moved new area

someone smart please help me 0u

[nicky441x]

i never said that she wasnt the best filly, i just said that she wasnt the best race horse.

[michaelsacramone]

she may have been underated, and i think she was. if races as a 4 year old after phillies develop a little more , i could see her running under 2 minutes. its really not even fair to compare phillys at 3 with the stallions, wait till the philly is 4 or 5 and its a different story. 8 bells next year would have been a smokin horse , she had all kinds of talent. if bb wasnt on steroids , 8 bells wins. imo. she had something more important than the title, she had heart .rip 8 bells.

[xxxeventerkrystalxxx]

my tb mare has ruffian in her bloodlines.

[Ruffian4Ever]

There is no way your horse can have Ruffian in her bloodlines. Ruffian never lived to be able to breed. Your horse could have Ruffian's dam or sire in the pedigree, but not Ruffian herself.

[nicky441x]

she is not the best racehorse ever people

there are many outhers who are better. she ranked 35th out of the top 100 of the 20 century

[Doomsdayfreak]

Dude, how about you just appreciate her. And for your information, she was the best filly, so don't even talk. You don't know jack.

[Ruffian4Ever]

The reason she is ranked 35th is because 1)She died before she could run against the boys and 3)They did not take into consideration the ease of how she won the races and the times she completed them in, all the while on the lead. The ranking is complete bogus and shouldnt even be used as a reference-it is someone's opinion, not a fact, therefore not proven. So how about you find something intelligent to say before you comment.

[aftermeluckycharms33]

RIP ruffian. she got me obssessed with horseracing!!

[kafen1194]

Get out front and stay there, she is truly amazing!

[Horsesrock54]

She makes it look easy! I cannot believe that she wasn't touched with the whip!!!!! She flippin rocks, man!

[dsfiughdfuisdf]

Yes, I'm always impressed again and again when I see how she run without whip.... There no horses who do best without some pushing.... I can't imagine what she could do that she didn't lost her life in that redicilous match... She didn't have to prove anything...

[horsez411]

at the end it made me cry

thinking how much that horse could have done in her life with that heart to run and will to live. a racehorse never toched by the whip in a race is something you dont experience everyday. she won cause she had a true heart. thats why she would be forever in my heart.

ILY RUFFIAN REST IN PEACE FOR YOU ARE NOW IN HEAVEN WHERE YOU CAN RUN AT YOUR HEARTS CONTENT

<3

[DarkAngle002]

ruffian is a star ...

she is a legend ... i love this horse ...

she is the winner ... of the hearts ...

x3

[isitingood69]

Ruffian4ever is right, Ruffian would have not swerved into Foolish Pleasure she would have swerved the other way if the bird spooked her.If your a horse person then you would know that.

[famousracehorses]

if i'm not a horse person, then i guess breeding show horses is nothing?

[Ruffian4Ever]

Well, any horse person with common sense would know what a spooking horse looked like and Ruffian was not spooking, not swerving. She was running her heart out and her leg gave way-it had NOTHING to do with the bird.

[famousracehorses]

fine whatever. and i have ridden and experienced years of spooking horses so yes i do have common sense.

[fudgigulizle]

she doesnt necessarily have to have had her leg give out! missteps do happen. if youve been around horse raing then you know that. with the barbaro thing and all. Ruffian could have just stepped down wrong...

[Ruffian4Ever]

Well, when you know as much about Ruffian as I do, you would know that there was no misstep. In all of Jacinto's accounts of what happened, along with Baeza's accounts, never once did they see or feel a misstep. And watching the video of the break down, she bobbles, but that is because her leg is already broken. Yes, missteps do happen, I dont think Barbaro missteped though, according to Prado he just went weak, but Eight Belles sure did.

[fudgigulizle]

yeah Eight Belles' trainer said she had always had a hard time picking up her feet when she was pulling up. I'm not sure about Barbaro, i like to think he took a misstep, it makes sense, but i really don't know. Ruffian bobbled for sure, I just don't like accepting the fact that such an awesome racehorse had to go like that.

[starzinliberty]

Yes, it was a freak incident, like with barbaro. however, isn't it unique that both horses had "gate Incidences"? Ruffian hit her shoulder and came out of the gate all out of step and it may have had something to do with the later break in the race. same with barbaro. he false started and he should have been scratched or they should have taken all of the horses out and re-loaded to fully check him, etc. never the less, all tragic and heart wrenching. yes, horses stumble and misstep often.

[fudgigulizle]

i think that since they trotted barbaro around a little after he false started they saw he wasnt off. i think he was fine, just he mighta bumped the gate or prado checked him too sharply and the poor horse took a bad step. i really think he coulda won the Triple too. damn. but prado did an excellent job of pulling him up!

[PolloPonies]

I agree Barbaro should have been scratched, when I was watching the Triple Crown I was actually looking at the leg area of the gate right before he broke out and saw that he hit his leg and just had a gut feeling, such a sad story for him but besides that a lot of Thoroughbreds have leg issues because they are raced at such a young age that their bones and joints have not fully fused yet. So it is easier for them to break down.

[famousracehorses]

she did swerve. if you look closely, before she broke-down she swerved into foolish pleasure.

[Ruffian4Ever]

You are obviously NOT a horse person. She DID NOT swerve! She bumped into Foolish Pleasure when her right leg could not hold any weight! And why in the hell would she swerve to her right when the bird came from the right? Thats because she DIDNT! If the bird affected her, she would have swerved to the left-away from the direction of the bird. Stop trying to make things up-it just makes you look stupid.

[famousracehorses]

ruffian broke down because a pigeon flew up in front of her during the race which caused her to spook and break-down.

[Ruffian4Ever]

It was not a stupid bird. Only people that dont know anything about horses say that a bird spooked her. First-she broke down before the bird would have affected her. And she never showed any of the signs of spooking. NOTHING! No head raising, no hesitation, no swerving, NOTHING! She was a well trained professional who had seen a lot of birds before-one would NOT affect her! So please-think before you post something like that.

[moondancer4life]

she fell cause of the weight on her leg being to much 2 cope with alongside being a champion.

[RememberRuffian10]

i agree that foolish pleasure was good as well, but because he lost to Avatar, that one race, thats why people really started to believe that Ruffian could beat him. actually, i dont think this is true but, people said that the reson Ruffian broke down was because she was poinson by a 2nd man who was conected to Foolish pleasure. i think its s bunch of bologna! if anyone has any details on that please tell me. i am ALMOST certain its NOT true...

[Ruffian4Ever]

Not true...she broke her leg, which has nothing to do with being poisoned.

[RememberRuffian10]

for, one thing, Secrateriat's trainer siad, (quote) she may be even better then secrateriat. (unquote) that is a fact. u can watch the movie. im only saying what i KNOW people have said. IM not the one saying she was the best horse ever. i just have trubble comparing her to other great race horses such a Curlin or Hard Spun. she was very special, and ONE Of the greatest. she even got horse of the year at age 2, and only a few other horses have done that before.

[isitingood69]

For one thing movies exaggerate the story to make it more exciting and Secretariat's trainer said may be better that's different then saying is better. Ruffian never won Horse of the year Forego won it three years in a row 74,75, and 76.

[RememberRuffian10]

look at ruffian in te mother goose stakes... if she would of did that while raceing ANYONE she would win...so what do u think she would of done to foolish pleasure if she had not scratched that one race???...

[RememberRuffian10]

Everyone of Ruffians races she won by more then 4 lenghth. Follish pleasure would of given up. Ruffian had somthing special about her... a strong Will. even Barbaro i cant compare to Ruffian. he was a GREAT horse but he is not the same as Ruffian. imsorry, to all fans of Barbaro, but im a great match i BELIEVE that Ruffian would win. look at her races and look at his. the speed and space that she opens up at the end is amazing...

[isitingood69]

Ruffian didn't win all her races by more then 4 lengths. 8 out of 11 races she won by more then 4. It's your opinion that Foolish Pleasure would have given up BTW Foolish Pleasure was a good horse but not a great horse sure he won the Kentucky Derby but he was beaten in the Preakness and the Belmont.

[RememberRuffian10]

i always have trubble TRYING to compare a horse to Ruffian. it is so hard to explain what i mean.. u see, no horse will ever be able to run like her. a horse can be fast, but even War Pass who is a front runner, does not run like Ruffian. she was the best Filly and people even say she was the best horse to ever race the game. *think about it* the race she scratched from, when she would of been racing the boys, foolish pleasure didnt even win by more then a lenghth. Ruffian would of won...

[isitingood69]

Ruffian may be the best filly but don't go saying she was the best horse ever. You said people said she was the best ever well name the people who said this I rode racehorses for 12 years and never heard anyone say Ruffian was the best horse ever.

[texas4life45]

I think I read in the book titled Burning from the Start that Ruffian was in total control running in this race.She just played with the other horses and probably could had gone around twice.

[AtpStoney]

Ruffian was never "headed" in any of her races. The only time a horse got ahead of her was when she broke down. She would rather kill herself than lose. Not many can say that, can they?

[xobabyboo96]

I've been around race tracks all my life, I even saw barbaro break down at the Preakness.  For anyone to try and compare Landaluce with Ruffian is crazy. They don't even belong in the same category. Ruffian was one in a million, and she will always be.

[kylandra8]

Learn to read! I said Landaluce was undefeated, she ran 5 races but won all 5 of them. Ruffian didn't set or equal a track record everytime out so get your facts straight. The Sorority Ruffian didn't set a track record. And BTW a track record and a stakes record are two different things.

[somedayx]

The reason why Ruffian didn't set or equal track records every time she ran she ran was because she was under restraints. There's a difference between being urged to win and being held back and winning.

[monte2115]

Its a shame in two ways we losta great one too early, and the idiot breeders that bred an unsound line with an unsound line...she was a ticking time bomb

[Ruffian4Ever]

I agree, but they only knew about Reviewer having weak bones. Shenanigans didnt break her leg until she was coming out of colic surgery in 1977. But I agree-very weak lines.

[breyerlove24]

ruffian kicked their asses :] what a great filly, its a shame of her death

[Venya9]

My personal favourite racehorse along with Man O'War. I personally think that she would've won Foolish Pleasure in the Great Match if she had the chance. What an amazing horse.

RIP

[ShadowedWolfen]

what a filly.

[maestro831]

truly the greatest race horse of all time

[shahrzad1893]

lol untill now i didnt know that there was a filly triple crown can you tell me more about it :) like was r the races

[oktahahorses]

There's a brief run down of the history of the Filly Triple Crown on Wikipedia. I'll send you the link privately

[isitingood69]

It's called the Triple Tiara now. The races were The Acorn, The Mother Goose and The Coaching Club American Oaks.All three races were at Belmont Park but now the Alabama has replaced the Acorn and it's run at Saratoga.

[phantom2921]

I meant I'm not putting Barbaro fans down Sorry!

[phantom2921]

Yes it is sad the way she died. I felt a little bit the same way about Barbaro.However Ruffian won more races than Barbaro and unfortuneately never had a chance at life after her broken leg. I think that she could show Secretarit up as well. There was no whipping in this race.(I am putting down all of you who like Barbaro, I just liked Brother Derek better)

[kmnmiamisax]

watching Ruffian's races for about the zillionth time, i noticed something... ya know how horses usually switch to their right lead at the top of the stretch for an energy burst? Watch Ruffian enter the stretch... she never switches. She's on the left lead all the way to the finish. The race is a mile and a half and she was never tired. That filly amazes me :o)

[loveofallhorses]

sugarpuppy - you disgust me. How can you say that JUST because she was a filly, she could not hold up to a stallion? She was a filly, and she was amazing. Better the Secretariat? Maybe. Maybe not, but it would NOT be because she was a filly. Stupid sexist.

[WahKeetcha0]

The moment I read about this filly I fell in love with her! Then I started to watch old videos and my loved grew. Ruffian took the boys game and turned it upside down! Ruffian is my Equine Hero.

[clarinetking123]

I bought some awesome actual footage clips at 7horsescom for those interested

[BE109]

To say people only rever Ruffian because she died is utter nonsense. I rever Secretariat and Ruffian, and I guarantee you I'd never wager on the outcome of clash between these two great ones. That is what they are and please leave it at that.

[BE109]

Time is sometimes deceiving,track conditions vary on an almost daily basis. Secretariat's Belmont was incredible,but to say one horse is better on time alone is not viable. All I can say is that Ruffian would have made things very difficult for "Big Red". Finally, I like to finish by saying that they were both real greats.

[BE109]

I disagree, Lauren was a true professional. I honestly believe he meant every word he said. Professional Horseman worship the great ones. He wasn't knocking Secretariat by any means.

[sugarpuppy137]

stretch he was going at 49 mph! Why don't you guys show a little of her records what speeds she could reach what is the farthest she could run before you tell me she is greater than Secretariat. And I believe Secretariats trainer was wrong in what he said, I think he may have been trying to start some fuss and debating on who was greater.

[sugarpuppy137]

Why are you guys fighting this? She is a filly! Most of you are onyl saying she is greater because of how she died! Its sad yes but it doesn't make her greater than every other horse in history are you actually telling me you believe that a filly could have stood up against a stallion with a 22 pound heart and with a heart score of 180 which is the biggest heart EVER recorded in history? Plus in the Kenutcky Derby he went from last to first in a matter of seconds and down the

[jennizlefoshizle]

ruffian was in the lead until she broke down. besides, it doesn't matter how big the heart is, its whats inside it...as cheesy as that sounds its true. ruffian had never lost a race, she couldn't even fathom what it was like to have another horse in front of her. every race she was in she either equaled or broke a record, and she won every one of her starts. foolish pleasure can't equal that. no horse can. even secretariat lost as well.

[isitingood69]

Sorry you're wrong Landaluce never lost a race

[Ruffian4Ever]

Landaluce only won 5 races. Ruffian won 10. Landaluce set one track record. Ruffian set or equaled 10. No comparison, sorry.

[isitingood69]

Landaluce won only 5 races? Yeah she was only 2. Ruffian won only 5 races as a 2 yr old also. I wasn't taking anything away from ruffian I was just saying that Landaluce was undefeated which she was.

[zwakr]

i see the movie

[sugarpuppy137]

Plus this race is considered the fillies Belmont right? Well the real Belmont is longer and Secretariat won his belmont 3 seconds faster than eny horse in history he won it by 31 lengths Ruffian beat fillies by only 2 lengths in her belmont type race. I think that right there establishes who is greater.

[Elisabetta611]

No, it isn't. If you want numbers, Ruffian ran 6 furlongs than any other horse before her, INCLUDING Secretariat. And she was held back that day. Her true potential never even came through or was needed against the fillies.

[sugarpuppy137]

She MIGHT have been which is a load of crap, Secretariat is was a stallion, no horse whether they are Ruffian or Man O' War could have ever matched Secretariat.

[Elisabetta611]

It was Secretariat's trainer who said so. And he SHOULD know better than you.

[refgirl63]

top ten? how about all the triple crown winners? citation, secretariat, assault, affirmed, gallant fox, sir barton, seattle slew, all the others. and then there's the fillies. ruffian is right up there with the boys.ok, that's way more than 10 but still.

[ChloeFalco]

Nice, I am not American, so I don't know what The Great Match is. What is it. It is wonderful that she kept the lead up to the end. Not many horses can do that and the drop back eventually. Reminds me of Red Rum.

[oktahahorses]

It was a highly promoted match race that ended with Ruffian breaking down on national TV.

[ChloeFalco]

Ohh, thanks.

[oktahahorses]

BTW, since you mentioned Red Rum, I have to assume you are from the UK. I just picked up Ginger McCain's book on Red Rum (shipped from the UK) just last week. Maybe I'll do something on him sometime in the future.

[ChloeFalco]

Actually I am from South Africa (I hate it here!!). I found out about Red Rum from a book I got from the library on his life story.

[oktahahorses]

Now that's interesting, but it certainly is a testament to the great ones when they are known outside of their home country's borders.

[ChloeFalco]

lol!!

[ShowJumper1334]

I loved Ruffian...I saw the movie and it just brought tears to my eyes...she will never be forgotten.

[deycallmeenice]

what would be the most widely considered top 10 horses of all time?

[FtWorthFrog]

1. Secretariat

2 thur 10 would have to consider Man o War, War Admiral, Seabiscuit, Cigar, Native Diver, Seattle Slew, Dr Fager among others.

[Elisabetta611]

In fact, Secretariat's trainer said that RUFFIAN might even have been BETTER than Secretariat!

[2taggs2]

Unreal! First time seeing this race... I can't believe she did not fade. Brilliant race-horse. Best philly ever!

[TikiTango007]

Thankyou oktahahorses for posting the Ruffian videos. I have enjoyed watching the races again very much.

What a fabulous Filly she was! She was the Queen of the race track and she knew it. It was speculated that she was homozygous for the X Factor gene and certainly ran like it. She was such a brilliant filly and lived to run. If other fillies in the field got near her she excellerated as if to say catch me if you can. She was never touched with the stick and never needed to be.

[outahand2112]

I watched Barbaro in horror.  I have never heard of Ruffian until I watched the movie and I was equally horrified that these young horses suffer these fatal injuries out our expense.

[2taggs2]

Sure, there are occasions where horrific things occur in horse racing. But just like any athlete: there are risks in most sports. What must stop ASAP is drugging these horses before races -- that just increases the risks.

[SecretSlewAffirmed]

Thanks for the video. I'm glad that ABC will be honoring this brilliant filly with a tv movie on June 9th, the day of the Belmont Stakes.

[equestrian071]

Such a beautiful horse with a huge heart. Thank you for posting this bit of wonderful history.

[Whitneylc05]

anyone know if they ever used the whip on her in any of her races? im doing a paper.

[Ruffian03]

I have all of Ruffians races on dvd, even her maiden race and I have not seen her jockey hit her once. In the interview with Jacinto Vasquez he stated he never had to use the whip on her she always gave him everything she had as a matter of fact he states he never once let her go all out, he had to hold her back.

[Whitneylc05]

thanks a bunch =) amazing isnt that.

[lovethedead]

In the book "Ruffian, burning from the start" Jacinto Vasquez says he tapped he once in her maiden win.

[horsecrazy11]

she was burried at belmont park with her nosed pointed towards the finish line.

[livestrong2007]

Great to see a horse with the ability to do whatever she wanted at whatever distance. She owned the track.

[lovethedead]

Oh my god! Thank you SO much! I have never actually seen Ruffian run. Glorious. Ruffian is my favorite horse, and I cry every time I read burning from the start. Thank you again.

[oktahahorses]

I'll see if I can get another one of her races posted during the next few days. I have copies of all ten of her races before the match, but some aren't in very good shape. I've been meaning to put the other two races from the filly triple crown up, but just haven't gotten around to them yet.

[gfn02]

What a fantastic filly. That's a mile and a half race, isn't it?

[oktahahorses]

It was when Ruffian ran it. Currently, it's only a mile and a quarter.

[bon1042]

Thank you.. I had never seen her run..

[Bassman968]

I like how the horses approached her at the far turn with a full head of steam, and after getting as close as a half length, Ruffian pulled away as though she were toying with them. And she still closed with a 24 3/5 quarter without even being whipped.

[rebecca11391]

how long is the cc american oaks?

[oktahahorses]

A mile and a half. Some fans were disappointed that she only equalled the stakes record in this race. Her trainer, Frank Whitely, made it known he did not want to push her if there was no need, and Jacinto, her jockey, understood Frank's wishes. In fact, until media and racing pressure caused him to change his mind, Frank's original plan was to give Ruffian a rest after the CCAO.

[Wando2000]

Yeah, it was 1 1/2 miles, but NOW it's only 1 1/4 miles, which pissed a lot of people off.

[rebecca11391]

makes sense...they should make it 1 1/2 miles again.

[carlykaiser]

This is amazing. I love Ruffian so much. Where'd you get this?

You know this is seriously the only video of Ruffian on the internet! (of her accualy running!) Oh, and + your other two

[oktahahorses]

I guess my first reply didn't go through. Overcast skies and 40mph wind gusts are playing havoc with my satelite signal tonight. :( Anyway, check out secondrunning.com. They have a link to someone named Steve who has lots of videos on several racing greats available. I plan on posting Ruffian's Sorority race once the wind lets up.