Ruffian - 1975 Mother Goose Stakes

Ruffian coasts to victory by 13 lengths, setting yet another stakes record.
Frank Y. Whiteley trained champions such as Tom Rolfe, Damacus, and Forego, but he is best remembered as the trainer of Ruffian. Two days after her death he glanced at her old stall at Belmont and said, "That stall will never be occupied as long as I have this barn. There'll never be another horse worthy of entering it."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Thoroughbred
• Horse
• Racing
• Ruffian
• 1975
• Mother
• Goose
• Stakes
• Dave
• Johnson
• Harvey
• Pack
• Aqueduct
• Racetrack
• New
• York

[jess4metoo]

So it's it called Filly Triple Crown or Triple Tiara?

[cf1970]

Officially, it's called the Triple Tiara, but has often been called the Filly Triple Crown because its similarity to the Triple Crown for colts.

[superemperador1]

I thought the Triple Tiara was the turf Triple Crown for 3 year olds on the grass ...wich was won by such horses as "Honor Glide" back in 1997. It includes the Secretariat Stakes G1.

[cf1970]

For more information on the the Triple Tiara series, or Filly Triple Crown as it was formerly called, go the Wikipedia website and type in "American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing." It's been around for many years, with the name itself having been changed in 1989, as written in a New York Times article by Steven Christ.

Take care.

[BE109]

What you just saw is what is called a alpha mare. I've seen this first hand raising horses. When you get one,no matter what you ask them to do they will dominate any and all competition with complete authority. She could have defeated anybody anywhere,anytime.

[CraftyTequila]

Ruffian had the midas touch...she was Lady Luck.

[italianbro1234]

amazing filly, very sad what happened... she never was able to race as a 4 year old she may have been even better or maybe not like Rachel Alexandra. both are very very similar.

[2taggs2]

Damn. She was DOMINATING! wire-to-wire - very impressive. I wish she raced in the Kentucky Derby... I know the trainer wanted to do what was best for her - but there will always be a "what if" ...

[hollieandizzy]

r.i.p ruffian you were amazing died in 1975 at the age of just 3. broken leg racing foolish pleasure. she is amazing right up next to secretariat. secretariats trainer even said, "my god she might even be better than scretariat" she only ever lost 1 race.... that was her last one :'( R.I.P BABY GIRL YOU WERE THE QUEEN OF ALL FILLYS

[SuperCharlieKitty]

You could tell she was a champion. Just look at that stride...

[GBeret83]

Ruffian may have very well have had as much natural front end speed as any horse, male or female, that I ever I saw on the racetrack. This filly was really quite something, to say the least. Such a shame that she broke down in the match race with Foolish Pleasure at Belmont. Her trainer, Frank Whiteley, never wanted Ruffian to participate in that race. But Ruffian's owners, and some other influential's in the business bullied Whiteley into the race.

[bri6760]

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...

[vegasguy07]

the 70"s will never happen again,,,,,,,,,,secretariat, seattle slew, affirmed, spectacular bid,and yes ruffian!

[BigLicker76]

@Pupdog911 you should have phrased that differently... you could have said Eight Bells reminds me of Ruffian... but not the other way around... Ruffian is the standard for which all fillies are measured. 

[FoXXXyLady429]

what a monster. when she was about 5 lengths out you can just see her hit a whole nother gear. she was such a great horse with so much heart. its so sad she was taken so young and so tragically.

[hexiconned]

I still get emotional to hear "Ruffian, in front." What a magical, fragile thing she was. In a class all her own.