Long before she was to fall madly, hopelessly in love with Zenyatta, there was another filly who captured Kari Bussell’s heart. Of course, the then 10 year-old Kari was not alone in her love of Ruffian — the big, beautiful filly was loved by thousands, from the very young to the most seasoned of horsemen. But Kari nurtured that love, as only she could, through adolescence, marriage, motherhood and granny-hood. In a very real sense, it was the magnificent Ruffian that set the stage for Zenyatta to come, dancing, into Kari’s life bringing her a joy she had never known before.
This one is for you, sweet Kari. You burn as brightly in my heart today as Ruffian shines in the hearts of those who protect her immortality from the winds of time. Ruffian and Kari taught me that some beings are so filled with promise, hope, courage and love that they can never be forgotten.
ME
“As God is my judge, she might be better than Secretariat…” (Lucien Laurin, quoted in the Blood Horse’s Thoroughbred Legends: Ruffian)
On April 17, 1972, shortly before 10 p.m., a grey daughter of Native Dancer gave birth to a dark-hued filly. Neither the mare, Shenanigans, nor the filly’s sire, Reviewer, could have known that the birth of this foal would secure them a permanent place in thoroughbred history and legend.
The filly carried royal blood in her veins and as she struggled to stand on her willowy legs for the very first time, the breath of promise kissed her tiny hooves. Since Shenanigans’ daughter carried the bloodlines of Bold Ruler, Nasrullah, Challenger II, Fighting Fox, Sir Gallahad, Marguerite and the Grey Ghost himself, she had everything she needed, right from the start, to be a genuine firecracker of a race horse. Further, the newborn’s 5 – generation pedigree featured inbreeding to Discovery (4X5X4), the “Iron Horse” and broodmare sire of Native Dancer, Bold Ruler and Bed O’ Roses. Sir Gallahad III, the sire of Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox, also appeared in her fourth and fifth generations.
Ruffian was big for a filly and by the time she was a yearling, she was the tallest of all the yearlings at Claiborne Farm that year. The youngster — so dark brown that she looked black — was elegant, if a little chubby, and seemed intelligent. The Reviewer filly was a homebred: the Janneys owned Shenanigans and had a share in her sire, who was thought to be Bold Ruler’s second-best son the year Ruffian was born, his best being the newly-retired Secretariat.
By the time she arrived at Frank Whiteley’s stable, Ruffian had been broken to bit and saddle. The seasoned trainer noticed her right away. She was beautiful, strong and looked to have promise, but Whiteley had been in the game long enough to know that what looked like a duck could end up being a donkey. Of course, that didn’t dissuade his interest or commitment. It just made him cautious.
Later, Whiteley and the others would remark on some of the traits that made Ruffian “special” right from the start. Her stature — she was an outstanding-looking individual and bigger than many colts. Her aloofness — the dark daughter of Shenanigans behaved like a supreme being, aloof from the world of horses and men despite a sweet temperament. Her will to win — her regular jockeys, Jacinto Vasquez and Vince Bracciale, Jr., noted how a change came over Ruffian when she knew she was racing. You could still do anything with her, even though she always wanted to lead, but her desire to win was almost visceral. Her way of going — both her exercise riders and jockeys were impressed by the way Ruffian seemed to float and fly over the track. None of them could follow Frank Whiteley’s instructions to the letter because it was impossible to feel how fast she was actually moving.
But, really, words seemed a poor medium in which to paint a portrait because, like all great horses, Ruffian was just too large to contain in language.
And here is where her legend begins:
Those who were there for her maiden race would never forget how the filly loped away from the field, just as though the other horses were stuck in molasses. It was a performance as scintillating as Secretariat’s Belmont or Rachel Alexandra’s Kentucky Oaks and the time still stands to this day as the fastest over the distance. Yet, according to the young Jacinto Vasquez, Ruffian had run easy and she strolled into the winner’s circle without even a trace of sweat on her glossy coat.
Frank Whitely had to have been pleased too, but being a veteran of the old school, he didn’t say. Frank’s horses came first and he took them along as far as they would — or could — go, one day at a time. Whiteley was one of the greats and he’d gotten there by working tirelessly and through astute observation. He knew that one short, maiden race doesn’t make a 2 year-old into a champion. But he also knew what he’d seen Ruffian execute that day. Listening to her enraptured young jockey, who was so taken with her that he declared his desire to ride her in each and every subsequent race, it seemed like she was going to be a serious race horse. But the trainer — whose career boasted the champions Tom Rolfe and Damascus — also knew that to develop and channel all that raw power, Ruffian would need to move up into stakes company.
In the Fashion Stakes, Ruffian’s second start, she met up with another filly who had generated a lot of talk that year, Copernica. A daughter of the incomparable Nijinsky II, Copernica had been born blind in her left eye. But given her lineage, it was decided to start her under trainer Mack Miller as a 2 year-old despite the handicap. Copernica did not disappoint: she won her maiden by 14 lengths and then took a subsequent race by 5 . She was clearly a very promising filly and would provide tougher competition for Ruffian:
Both Jane Schwartz, author of the compelling “Ruffian: Burning From The Start,” and former sports commentator, Charlsie Cantey, attest to the fact that her Fashion Stakes win also earned Ruffian the title of “heartbreaker.” This term is used by horse people to connote a thoroughbred so overpowering that they can break the heart of even a great horse — and Copernica was never the same after her loss to Ruffian. Although she continued to race for Mack Miller with good results, the bay Nijinsky filly who was so game despite her blindness lost her sparkle. ( In retirement, Copernica had success with her son, Crusader Sword, who now lives in retirement at the Frankel division of Old Friends after an excellent stud career in Florida.)
As for “Herself,” the filly who was known around the barn at that time as “Soul Sister” — and later, as “Sofie” — finished up her feed and then, ears pricked, spent the evening after the Fashion Stakes victory nickering to her “barn family,” all of whom were delighted with her. Next came the Astoria, Sorority and the Spinaway: Ruffian won them all with the same powerful acceleration and determination that had marked her maiden race.
This was to be her signature: the ease with which she shattered or tied track records.
Her time at Saratoga in the Spinaway was a new track record: Ruffian ran the fastest 6 furlongs that any juvenile has ever run at Saratoga. The filly’s performance was so dominant that talk began of pitting her against the best colt of her generation, Foolish Pleasure, perhaps in the upcoming Champagne. After all, even though she was still a baby, Ruffian’s girth was wider than Secretariat’s and her speed was mind-boggling. However, before any of that, Frank needed to get at least one more race into her and his choice was the Frizette.
The morning of the race, the filly left food over in her tub and Minnor, her groom, summoned the trainer to take a look at her. She had a slight temperature and the decision was made to scratch her, much to the dismay of her fans, who had arrived in legions to see her win. Over the following two days, Whiteley watched Ruffian carefully, noting what appeared to be discomfort in her right hip. The vet was called and it was discovered that the champion had a hairline fracture in her right hind leg, sidelining her for the rest of the season.
A plaster cast was applied and Ruffian refused to tolerate it, jumping around in her stall with the intent of smashing it to smithereens. But there was no way that the 2 year-old could simply stand around in her stall while it healed without something to immobilize the leg. So it was decided to try a lighter, jelly cast which the filly accepted calmly. Ruffian was assigned “bed rest” for two months, which meant that she needed to stay in her stall and move around very little. As she had been up until now, with the exception of the plaster cast incident, Ruffian took the whole thing in stride and proved to be a model patient. She was very intelligent and seemed to understand that she needed to be relatively still — a tough task for any thoroughbred juvenile. By the time she was ready to be hand-walked around the shed row, her regular groom had quit. Frank Whiteley assigned Dan Williams to take over and, in an unprecedented move for the trainer, Ruffian became Dan’s only charge.
Dan Williams had rubbed many horses for Frank Whiteley and was considered one of the best in the business. A stranger looking into his face might well have thought Dan was a taciturn type. But it was really the rigours of a hard life that etched his features. Dan had lost his wife when his 4 children were young and he had had to raise his family pretty much on his own, while working long, long hours at the track. Shortly before Ruffian came into his life, one of Dan’s sons had been killed in Vietnam.
Dan was a close friend of John “Squeaky” Truesdale, one of the filly’s regular exercise riders and together, the two men nursed their “Sofie” back to health. Ruffian loved Dan. She played games with him, nipped at him when she was feeling playful and nibbled his jacket when something made her nervous. He could do anything with her and he read her like a book. Dan Williams’ connection to Ruffian was exactly what Frank Whiteley needed to know how his filly was really doing, from her mental attitude to her physical well-being. The trainer had other important members of his team who could also keep him informed, Squeaky, Mike Bell, his assistant trainer and Yates Kennedy who, with Squeaky, was Ruffian’s regular exercise rider. But it would always be Dan who knew her better than anyone.
Despite her injury, Ruffian was made 1974 Eclipse Champion 2 year-old and Frank Whiteley was sent to the ceremony to accept the award, which he did in the shortest acceptance speech ever given. Frank was a man who shunned the spotlight and he couldn’t get back to his table fast enough.
There were countless examples of brilliant juveniles that come back a year later as only a shadow of their former selves. And as Ruffian prepared for her 3 year-old campaign the question on everyone’s mind was, “Will she be as good as she was at two?”
As it turned out, Ruffian came back at 3 as an even tougher individual than she had been at 2. She had grown into that large physique and, after months of bed rest and hand walking, was a much tougher customer to handle. She was a filly who needed to run and had matured into a bloody-minded competitor who would not, under any circumstances, allow another horse ahead of her. She was stronger and Jacinto Vasquez, as well as Yates Kennedy, wrestled with her each and every time she hit the track.
It was only Squeaky who could handle her. He thought of his big, dark baby as a restless teenager and learned how to avoid confronting her. As Jane Schwartz tells us, in Ruffian: Burning From The Start, game Ruffian played with Squeaky at her works was this: she would lower her head as far as she could without eating dirt and wait for Squeaky to pick it up. If he did, she’d take off under him like a shot. If he didn’t — and she’d really test him on this — Ruffian would slowly come back to him and listen to his hands and legs.
For his part, Jacinto Vasquez was trying to teach his champ how to win without running herself into the ground. In several of her races at 3, he can be seen asking her to pace herself, wait for a challenger and then spurt a little ahead. By the time the undefeated heroine of the track entered the last leg of the Triple Crown Tiara, she had learned how to play this way with the competition. By then, the Match Race with Foolish Pleasure had been confirmed and Vasquez didn’t want to use her up in the Oaks: Ruffian would only have 2 weeks off before she was due to meet the colt. Vasquez was Foolish Pleasure’s regular jockey and, although he felt the filly was the better horse, he also knew the colt would ask everything of her.
After an allowance race and another impressive win in the Comely, the undefeated filly went on to take the 1975 Triple Crown for Fillies/ New York Triple Tiara. It was a feat only accomplished three times before her, by Dark Mirage (1968), Shuvee (1969) and Chris Evert (1974).
MY SHADOW
After she took the Triple Crown, the stage was set for a Match Race between the greatest filly and the greatest colt of the 1975 racing season.
So much has been said about the pandemonium leading up to the race and the appeal of a “Battle of the Sexes” in 1975. There were t-shirts, pins and no shortage of Match Race memorabilia; Frank Whiteley put barricades up around his barn and posted a 24-hour guard outside the filly’s stall. Truth be told, Whiteley barely slept outside the barn himself in the days leading up to the race. It was that hyped.
We know, of course, how the story ends. It was a tragedy that those who were there and those who loved her will never forget.
Today, things might have gone differently. There are baths for horses that awake from anaesthesia to prevent the damage Ruffian did to herself after the surgery.
Frank Whiteley, Dan Williams, Mike Bell, Yates Kennedy and the medical team did everything they could for her. Only there wasn’t much anyone really could do. And Ruffian, who had been an ideal patient the year before, clearly had gone into surgery so traumatized that she never really could get past it — except by running away.
It was her determination to get away that made it impossible to save her.
Ruffian was buried in the infield at Belmont close to the rail where she had broken down. It was an unprecedented move for the track, but so great was the filly’s reputation that they considered it a privilege. Under the flag that flew at half-mast in her honour, Ruffian was laid to rest. Before the grave was closed, Frank Whiteley asked Mike Bell to go down into the pit where her body lay, covered in a white sheet, to place two of Ruffian’s red blankets snuggly around her.
MY ECHO
When a life ends tragically, it is always tempting to see the ending as the heart of the story.
But anyone who knew Ruffian understands that this is not how she ought to be re-memoried.
Ruffian, aka Soul Sister, aka Sofie was one of the most gifted fillies to ever grace the sport. And today, as on the last day of her life, Ruffian exudes the magic of those great thoroughbreds who appear, every once and awhile, to remind us of what it means to draw near to a being that moves in perfect harmony with destiny. From the beginning, thoroughbreds like Ruffian distinguish themselves from their peers. Not just because they tend to be good-looking and are, without question, mighty on the track. Nor is it a matter of personality: for every one as sweet as Ruffian or Secretariat or Zenyatta or Rachel, there are an equal number who are as incorrigible as Native Dancer, Seattle Slew or Sunday Silence .
What they all seem to share in common is what we call “presence.” Their presence bespeaks something greater than their conformation, or track record or exploits. Just as we learn in school, what makes a sign different from a symbol is that the latter always refers to something greater and more complex than itself.
So it was with Ruffian. You can tell her story, event by event and incident by incident, or just look at images of her big, beautiful self. You can string all the quotable quotes together. You can watch her run. But none of this adds up to Ruffian. She evoked the human heart in so many different ways and, perhaps, conjured a time long, long ago when horses were sacred, mysterious beings — who, like Ruffian, derived from a world of immortals and returned to them when her legend was woven.
In her video to Ruffian, below, Kari Bussell said: “Ruffian was my first love. I was 10 when I watched her break down in horror. I promised I would never forget her. In essence this video is my way of keeping my promise. I will love her for eternity. RIP- Ruffian.”
Nor will we ever forget you, Kari. Your presence in our lives is one of beauty, generosity and the embodiment of love. And that is eternal, without end.
Abigail! How thoughtful of you to remember Kari! It is a beautifully written article – and so moving was your dedication to Kari. The tears, breaks my heart once again with her joyful memory! Thank you!
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Karen: How lovely to read your comment, my friend. And thank you so much for the encouraging comments. It’s so worth the struggle (and this one was a struggle, believe me) when I imagine that I’m writing for readers like you. Glad, too, to give rise to joyful memories…..Hugs, Abigail
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You have done it again….great article …funny thing …while you were posting about this on Z’s site…I was posting that the readers there needed to check out your photo of Nashua here….its about the “ears”…
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Carol: Hi there! I saw that Nashua posting, actually. Too funny! Thanks so much for the lovely comment. I really appreciate it, my fellow Dumpling, Abigail
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Beautiful Abigail! Did you ever see the interview with Charlsey Cantey on HRTV? I think it was on Across the Board, she also had a moving Ruffian story. Thank you for including Kari.
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Eveline: Sweet friend, I did see the interview and found it fascinating, but I decided to rule out anything that looked at the tragedy of that day and the interview I saw with her was in that context. Hence, not included. But I just adored Charlsey when she did the Breeders’ Cup coverage. She — as well as the horses, of course! — really made that coverage special! Thanks so much for leaving this terrific comment! Abigail
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Dear Abigail:
Absolutely beautiful piece. There are some facts you have included about Ruffian that I never knew. Thank you. Hugs, JB
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Judy: WOW! I am just so overjoyed to read your comment, my special Zenster. I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Hugs, Abigail
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Abigail–Thank you SO much. Well done from start to finish.
I never did see that video of Kari’s. It just dawned on me that our grandhorse has those same bloodlines, so he is “related” to Ruffian too. I never thought of that! Every time I touch him, I think of all thoses “greats”.
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Barbara: How terrific to hear from you, fellow Zenster. And many thanks for your delightful comment. Yes, do let the spirits flow from your grandhorse to you. It’s like OUR JOHN said in an interview before the BC 2010: “…it takes 300 years for (an individual like Zenyatta) to come down to us…” You could tell how awed he was by this and he awed me, too. Right then & there, I decided I would start what became THE VAULT!
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Abigail- that was riveting! So beautiful, both in regard to Ruffian and our Kari. I remember when Kari posted about Ruffian. This is quite a tribute to both special girls. As always, I love learning about and seeing photos of Thoroughbreds from years past. I’ve known a lot of these names but didn’t know much about them. Thank you so much!
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Susan: Thank you my good friend. I smiled the minute I saw your name & I’m just thrilled that you liked the article THIS much! It was a toughee to write, both because Ruffian has been so well documented (although photos of her remain scarce) and I wanted to find a space to say something a little different about her life. I know why Kari loved her as she did — through the tragedy, she saw her courage so clearly. As others have intimated, now Kari and her beloved filly can delight in one another forever.
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Just wonderful, Abigal. So many things I didn’t know about Ruffian . I, like so many others, I’m sure, can remember like it was yesterday that horrible day she ran her heart out. I swore I’d never watch another race and then along came Zenyatta. What more can you say?? Thanks for putting all this together and honoring Kari the way you did. Great site!!
Carole, LA Dumpling
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Carole: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful response! It means a lot to hear from VAULT readers and, since Ruffian is an icon, I must admit that it was a tough article to envision. So glad that you found it rewarding to read. I do know how many of us turned away from the sport after Ruffian, Eight Belles & Barbaro. But I didn’t want this great filly to be the victim of this kind of “shadow” — hence the title. Her life deserves to be celebrated. Hugs to a fellow Dumpling, Abigail
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Thank you Abigail for this beautiful tribute to Ruffian and OUR Kari….Wonderful
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Kimberly: Thank you so much for these encouraging words. I’m so glad that you liked the article and the tribute to a special lady. Love & hugs, Abigail
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Abigail, this was just beautiful. I love how you paid tribute to Kari as well as the great Ruffian. Brought tears to my eyes for both great souls.
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Deborah: Your taking the time to write this lovely comment means a great deal to me. I’m happy to know that I did some justice to a spectacular thoroughbred and OUR KARI. Thank you so very much, with hugs, Abigail
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Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Ruffian and Kari. Both had the most beautiful souls. I was pleased and honored to count Kari as a friend. We bonded through our mutual admiration for the Queen Zenyatta and found so much in common as well as Z. Kari was an inspiration to me. She showed me that no matter what goes on in your life you just get on with it and never let life get you down. Kari had so much going on in her life but always had time for others and time for a chat. My heart still grieves for her but I’m comforted by the thought that she is with her beloved Ruffian and looking down on the beautiful Zenyatta and her colt with love. You have done both these wonderful lives justice with your article. Kari would have loved reading this I know.
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Lorrie: I don’t know what to say that does any justice to your beautiful message. Kari touched my life deeply as well — an extraordinary experience for me in so many ways, considering that she & I never met in “real time.” In fact, I don’t even know what Kari looked like. But none of that matters. She wrote me the most heartfelt message when my beloved dog, Jericho, died last fall and in its sentiment, I understood that Kari & I were “old souls.” I celebrated each & every video and we exchanged some great notes . I am touched that you would take the time to write such a moving commentary. Thank you, from the depths of my heart, Abigail
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Abigail, You did a beautiful, touching tribute to Kari and Ruffian. I can’t type too well due to the tears. I thank you. God blessed you with great insight and talent, may He continue to bless you.
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Mary: Thank you for this exquisite wish. It was very moving to read and I will treasure it always. For my part, I feel most blessed to meet readers like yourself even if we meet across time & space, rather than over a cup of coffee. Fondly, Abigail
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Thank you Abigail. Your writing is superb.
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Sharon: Lovely to hear from you & many, many thanks for taking the time to send along these words of encouragement. I so appreciate it! Abigail
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Abagail;
I can barely type through my tears. I too, adored Ruffian and like Kari watched in horror that terrible day. To this day I cannot even look at a video of the race’s start without feeling sick to my heart and stomach. Kari was a special woman who had a very unique ability to make friends without seeing faces…GOD bless the Zenyatta diary for the opportunity for her to share her gift with all of us. GOD delivered Zenyatta to Kari at EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME in her life. She helped Kari and many others through
pain, suffering, loss and ultimately sheer joy. Your tribute to Kari is magnificent…I will hold both Ruffian and Kari in my heart forever!
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Mary: A very touching & heart-warming response — thank you so very, very much! So many who witnessed Ruffian’s last race will never forget it and cannot watch coverage of it. I’m one of those, so I avoided the photos and filmed footage of that day deliberately in the article. Kari’s love of Zenny, like her love of Ruffian, was uncompromising and eternal. I made the attempt to tell Ruffian’s story in a way that would do honour to Ruffian & Kari’s love for her. I’m glad you took the time to share your thoughts. These moments are so precious to me. Hugs, Abigail
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As well researched and moving story on Ruffian that could possibly be published. Kudos to The Vault. As for Kari, she embodied all that is good and I miss her terribly.
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Terry: I’m so delighted to hear from you & thank you so much for taking the time to write a message about the article and OUR KARI. I miss her terribly, too. There are no words….Abigail
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Lorrie, your comments echoed so much of how I felt about Kari that I had to double check to be sure I hadn’t written them! I can add nothing to your words except to say I was very much taken aback at how deeply Kari’s passing affected me. We knew each other only on YouTube and Facebook, and it was Kari who tapped me on the shoulder over something I had written at John Shirreffs’ YouTube channel. We were buddies from then on. Kari’s beautiful spirit shines on in her wonderful musical tributes to Zenyatta. She said several times that it was Zenyatta who kept her around much longer than the doctors had predicted. It was fitting recently that her daughter posted Kari’s last musical tribute, which Ashton herself put the final touches on. We were so blessed to have had her in our midst.
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Abigail, beautifully written….loved the info about those who cared for Ruffian. Is there a footnote you could add about Dan, what happened to him? Hugs, sweet lady.
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Thanks sweetie. As for Dan, I have no idea. Nor do I have anything in my library that might be of some help. I do know that he went on to rub Forego, when Frank W. took over as his trainer. I believe that this was after Ruffian died…..Abigail
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fantastic is the word…for all the informations…
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Mario: Thank you for taking the time to send such encouraging words! I am just delighted.
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A lovely, heart warming tribute to Ruffian and dear Kari. Victoria is a devoted fan of Ruffian and Frank Whiteley and I, as you know, always love the Claiborne connections. We have to visit that home of so many champions Abigail,
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Wonderful tribute to a great lady and a great horse! ❤
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Dunie: Welcome to THE VAULT and how special of you to take the time to leave a comment. It means the world to me to hear others’ positive feelings about “Our Kari,” as well as the article itself. They so belong together, this “licorice” filly and a woman I grew to love.
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What a marvelous well-written story about a legendary filly. I never forgot her tragic breakdown; I’m so glad you emphysized the positive in her story.
P.S. Thanks for reposting your essay on a white background; it is now completely legible.
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Very well done. I’m glad to finally see this.
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Shannon: Thanks so much for the positive response. It means a great deal to me and makes the research & writing so much more rewarding!
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Many years ago when visiting for a dinner invitation I observed the most beautiful photo plaque of Ruffian followed by a beautiful and haunting poem or tribute about Ruffian. I have searched for it ever since and have never been able to find the quote. Does anyone know what it said? I really wish I had written it down. and moreover that I had found a duplicate plaque. I was a tribute that tore at your heartstrings, but uplifted you at the same time. I’ve never forgotten Ruffian after reading that tribute.
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Raye: There is a book of poems written about Ruffian called, The Licorice Daughter. The poet is Lyn Lifshin. Google her and it takes you to her site. There are several of her poems quoted there — perhaps the tribute that you moved you was written by her? At any rate, it’s worth a look. Thanks for stopping by THE VAULT!
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I googled “Ruffian” and this link came up. My deepest condolences to Kari Bussell and her friends and family. I am a lifelong fan of Ruffian, and after reading this article I learned some things about my beloved “Sofie” that I never knew before.
Rae, I found the tribute to Ruffian from the Thoroughbred Record poster. I can’t find the link. Is this what you were looking for?
“As though our dreams had the force of reality, we conceived her and then when she appeared took her for our own. We made her on massive proportions, the body of a stud, the legs of a water spider, so that no one would mistake her for ordinary. And we made her black as the crack of doom. We made her fast, speed on speed, so fast that distance would lose all meaning and time would take on meaning anew. We endowed her with a savagery which would drive her to fight pain and would humble her foes like serfs at the feet of a queen. And then we gave her to a man above whom no other could be more trusted to minister to her greatness and to preserve the sanctity of our dream.
She gave us power because what we dreamt she performed, so we asked for more. Track records, stakes records. Why not a world record, a consummate feat which would prove us to be the supreme dreamers of all? We approved when the track was tempered like an anvil, a little help from man to fulfill her destiny.
Her speed, her unearthly physical size, our vanity and finally her own savagery destroyed her.
We live now with a busted dream, but the man in the pink shirt who made that lonesome trip to the far side of Belmont’s infield a Sunday ago lives with a real loss. We will dream again, but Frank Whiteley will never have another Ruffian.”
Thank you for posting this tribute.
Laverne
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Laverne: Thank you so much for writing and for helping Rae out on her search. I have never seen this quote before and it is exquisite and made me weep. A very poetic and powerful piece of writing and I am so moved to have it here on THE VAULT. I’m very late responding to readers because I got immersed in research for the current piece on Saratoga. I feel as though I could have spent the year just reading stories of the horses, the town and the events that shaped it. But I do want you to know that I will treasure this comment and the Ruffian text forever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Abigail
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Thank you for putting this wonderful piece on about the horse that really caught my heart, the Greatest Filly of All Time, The Great Ruffian. She was big, fast, won all the races she was able to finish, and to this day the most beautiful mare/filly I have ever put my eyes on. The worst tragedy in horse racing. I feel she was raced way too much as a 2 year old. Go back and look at that win photo that is shown in the piece, Ruffian was ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, yet she had the build of a stallion! I have no doubt she would have ran Foolish Pleasure into the ground that day, she was already starting to when the tragedy happened. It’s such a shame she is gone. I think thats why I feel so bad that Zenyatta is taken away from us as far as the track goes.
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Teresa: Yes, the loss of Ruffian was a tragedy that none of us ever really got over. No question. She was a great, great thoroughbred and, like you, I also think that she was on her way to defeating Foolish Pleasure. At least, that is how I will always remember her. I also felt the loss of Zenyatta & Rachel Alexandra very keenly — and still do. However, I also remember losing Secretariat to retirement and you know, in the days when there was no technology like today, losing him was really a TOTAL LOSS. One got the occasional news bulletin about him and then, in what seemed no time at all, he was gone. At least we can get regular Zenny & Rachel news today and hang on to that passion!
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This was so beautiful and engrossing that I found myself hoping for a different ending. It felt llike a beautiful story that surely would end happily. Ruffian’s tragic death did take away the joy that I had felt in racing until the year I discovered Zenyatta and I have to admit that I cringed every time she raced! Thank you for reminding everyone how much of a star Ruffian was. I sure do hope you write a book someday, if you haven’t. Your writing really draws you into the story. Thanks again!
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Louise: Thank you SO MUCH for this terrific response. Like so many who have written in response to the Ruffian article, I share the experience of distancing myself from horse racing a little after her tragic demise. I was on a “comeback” when Barbaro got injured….and then, there was Eight Belles. But when you’ve got sound, solid horses like a Zenyatta, or a Rachel or a Secretariat, it’s just a blissful experience! HUGS, Abigail
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as always, Abigail, your writing brings a smile through the tears. Thank you for this moving tribute to a great filly and a great lady. I’ve read your blog before, but never posted here. Thank you for teaching me
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Casey: It’s unbelievably rewarding to connect with readers like yourself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your beautiful comment. Abigail
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john squeaky truesdale was my father
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Christopher: WOW! I’m just THRILLED to meet you! I have so many questions related to Ruffian and those, like your Dad, who were closest to her. Chief among them is that I wonder if they ever really recovered from losing her and, if so, was it another thoroughbred who helped them to heal? The industry is such that we learn very little about the key people in the lives of these great, great horses…..my Man O’ War article, for example, took about 5 years to research because, other than Will’s famous comment that is quoted everywhere (and that he found embarrassing to read during his lifetime, because he thought that it made him sound ill-educated) there is almost nothing written about the 2 of them. And, yet, it was Will and a groom that Big Red had before Will, that were the two people closest to him. Thank you so much for taking the time to write, Christopher!
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I will never forget that day and I thought even then that there should never be match races. but as soon as the Battle of the Sexes came up on the screen, I got a chill, a premonition which I have had many times in my life,
I actually saw Ruffian fall and wondered why the announcer said nothing.
and then, it all happened all over again, it scared me to pieces, I have had
that feeling again, in fact during the break down of Go For Wand. But these
races proof nothing. I have never seen a still photo of Ruffian in the lead,
thank you so much. She is always on my mind, I thought if only Secretariat
and Forego were there, not a stupid match race. I have many photos of
the Thoroughbreds I have met on the farms, I met her Sire Reviewer.
I have a piece of Secretariat’s mane, but Ruffian never lost a race, I hate it
that they say she lost a race, t hat’s not true, how can you count being in the race when she is not able to finish. It is so sad even today.
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In responding to your request for me to contact you, I had the additional pleasure of re-reading this article on Ruffian. Abigail, I will say this. You are one of, if not THE, top writers of equine matters. Your talent is truly awesome, in the true meaning of that word. The Vault should be required reading for all who love horses. If you would like me to provide you with my email address it would be my pleasure. I will return and you can let me know what you want me to do.
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Hi Terry: Do pardon the delay in responding but I have been under the weather with a nasty sinus infection and have only “climbed into the saddle” this week. Thanks so much for writing. I wanted your email so that we don’t ever lose touch. I’m not all that interested in forums, although I do post there when THE VAULT publishes and occasionally under other topics. Also, Ann Maree started a Facebook page where many of the Zenyatta Diary people have shown up, though not everyone. If you’re interested, it’s under the name Zenny’s Tribe. But whether you are or aren’t, my personal email is abigail.anderson1849@gmail.com
I didn’t want to publish it on Zenny’s site because I worry about hackers & jerks!
Hope to hear from you & please send along your own email.
Many hugs,
your friend Abigail
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Ruffian was undoubtably the best there was; with all the inbreeding we have in today’s horses, you will get an occasional one like Zenyatta, but even she, as much as I love Z, would not/could not have held a candle to The Great Ruffian. I have TB’s in training, and several times I stop and think if its all worth it? What if something happens to any one of mine? Granted, they are no Ruffian, there will NEVER be another Ruffian, but every horse is a living creature and I don’t know if I could deal with that.
On the other topics, I wish we could get the living Mr. Janney to do an interview and let us all know what happened to everyone involved with the Queen Ruffian?
Thank you
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Hi Teresa: Do pardon the delay in responding but I have been under the weather with a nasty sinus infection for the last 2 weeks. I agree with your observations and yes, it would be great to hear from the Janneys! Many thanks for taking the time to write. I really appreciate it. Abigail
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Hi Abigail~I found your wonderful blog through a personal tragedy of my own that has prevented me from riding my own horse for the last year and a half. While she will always be my girl and I still spend a lot of time with her, I miss riding terribly and to fill that hole in my soul, I have turned to searching the Internet for just about anything I can find that’s horse related. As a horseless child, I read all books & magazines I could find pertaining to horses. I watched all the movies & TV shows that had horses in them & I fell in love with the races. Secretariat & so many others absolutely stole my heart, but Ruffian is that one that broke it. I was watching that day with great anticipation. I knew “Sophie” could do it. She was the one that would show the world that females are NOT inferior, but we all know what happened that day & those of us that fell in love with Ruffian would never be the same. We cried for her & we prayed for her, but saving her life was not to be. In the greater scheme of things, she moved us all forward with her death. New avenues were pursued for saving other horses from meeting Ruffian’s fate, but still far too many are lost to us. This is the tragedy of racing all too often & with Barbaro, the torch has been passed, once again bringing our attention to how much these amazing animals mean to us & how much they give of themselves expecting nothing in return but food & water & a kind pat now and then. With any luck at all, perhaps they will be loved. Ruffian was one of the lucky ones, for she was & still is, truly loved by so many. Each time I see her or hear of her, the scab is ripped off & the wound is opened once again. The tears flow freely for our beautiful girl; the horse that never gave up, never stopped running, not even to save her own life. I have skipped the horses races for the last 38 years, instead, waiting to learn whether all made it through with no deaths & no broken legs. Only then will I watch on Youtube. Our beloved Zenyatta & Rachel Alexandra made it through unscathed & I enjoy watching their races over & over. While I miss the thrill & excitement of seeing them race anymore, I am so thankful they have retired to loving homes & I hope Rachel’s owners will consider her welfare before ever breeding her again. Those of us that so love these beautiful creatures must do all we can to make sure that ALL horses are given a second chance whenever possible; that no horse, Thoroughbred or otherwise is left forsaken & forlorn in the killpens that have claimed hundreds of thousands of off-track Thoroughbreds alone. Factoring in ALL horses, the numbers would be astronomical & all are unacceptable. These animals, these gifts from GOD have been our companions, our transportation. They have carried us into battle, they carried our mail, they pulled our plows, they carry our policemen, they pulled our fire wagons. They brought us across the world & back. They are therapy animals; they are service animals.They entertain us.They love us. Let’s hope that someday we will be worthy of it.
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CHER: I am so moved by your observations and stories of the horses you love/-ed that it took me awhile to respond. My grandfather was a “horse nut” and I seem to have inherited this passion from him since, like you, I have been besotted with horses since I was very young. I, too, was (and am) horseless as I really couldn’t afford upkeep on my own as an adult and, once my grandfather died and his horses were gone, neither could my parents. Today I vent my passion by collecting original press photos and ordinary photos of thoroughbreds, standard breds and other breeds. Truthfully, I just adore photography and the older photos (from the 1940’s and earlier) are just so charming, plus they depict an entire world of horses & people that is now long-gone. As a Canadian, my first HUGE love was our little Northern Dancer, followed by Secretariat & his daughter, Terlingua (dam of Storm Cat), Man O’ War, Count Fleet, Ruffian, Barbaro, Alydar, Genuine Risk and the Queen of Canadian racing, Dance Smartly. But, like you, I found the premature deaths of Ruffian, Barbaro and Landaluce very tragic and I turned away from all-things-thoroughbred for years after Ruffian. But it’s the hope that they inspire and their beauty that always brings me back. I certainly agree with your feelings about Zenyatta and Rachel — and, in the latter case, would want no further risks taken with Rachel. Barbara Banke loves her and I tend to think she’ll not want to do anything that puts Rachel at-risk. If only ALL thoroughbreds had owners like this — nay, ALL ANIMALS deserve owners like this. I’m so pleased to meet you, Cher, and hope that you continue to enjoy THE VAULT. You might want to read my story “Following Terlingua” and another, called “Horses Are Possibilities” as they are more personal and reflect some of your experiences. Take care & hope to chat once again. And thank you so much for sharing, Abigail
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According to Bill Nack in his book “Ruffian a Racetrack Romance” Lucian Lauren actually said “As God is my judge, she’s better than Secretariat was when he was a two-year old.” Once this got out to the public, Lucian was chastised by Secretariats owners and PR group to retract that statement.I can only comment by what I read and what was told to me…none of which I personally heard.
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Maryann: And I believe that Lucien said it too, because he was first & foremost a horseman.
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Maryann, I believe Lucien Lauren made that statement too. He had absolutely nothing to gain by saying that. Years later I saw some stupid, terrible rumors posted online that Frank Whiteley kept Ruffian doped up, that was how she was able to run so fast. Of course, these so-called ‘witnesses’ came forward after Mr.Whiteley died. I guess it’s inconceivable that a filly could be better than Secretariat. No matter what lies are told in an attempt to tarnish her legend, the fact remains that dear Sophie has been gone for over 40 years and people are still honoring her memory.
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There is NO DOUBT; Ruffian would have beaten ANY of the ‘super’ fillies/mares that have come along since her time. There just was not another like her; how many times do you see a sprinter and a distance filly with the looks of a show horse? You DON”T Rachel was good, Zenyatta was good, but they got beat. Or ran the same races over and over. Ruffian was not afraid to do anything asked of her. I think it is quite easy to say that racing is not anything like it was when we had these champions of the seventies. The greatest being Ruffian. Have any of you ever heard of another horse, much less a FILLY, being said to be better than Secretariat? That is incredible. Will we remember a horse like we do her this many years later? NO I should say filly, but she would have put that colt down that day had that leg not given out on her. I miss her dreadfully and cannot believe she has been gone so very long. It’s as if she was just too good for any track. Then again, would we want to have seen her retired and pregnant year after year like dear Zenny is? NO. That family of the TRUE Queen’s, Ruffian, has the similar rear end, and it has kept on going through the years. I want her back. I can’t imagine having such tragedy like this happening now. Love you Ruffian.
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Thanks for taking the time to write your passion for Ruffian, Teresa. I loved her too and, like you, will NEVER forget her.
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As much as I loved Zenyatta (the way she would strut to the starting gate was amazing!!) Zenyatta never faced a speed freak like Ruffian. Ruffian was even more dangerous to because she learned how to relax on the lead during her three year old campaign.The plan was that when she faced older males in the fall, after the match race, when a strong closer like Forego challeneged her in the stretch she would have enough strength and speed to pull away and leave them in the dust. Zen, as much as I love ya, honey, Ruffian would have smoked you. She would have heard you coming, told Jacinto “Okay, buddy, you better hang on, ’cause it’s time for me to fly” and that would have been the end of that. The same goes for three year old Rachel Alexandra. I love them both, but Ruffian is the Queen.
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Forever and ever, Amen
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Amen is right, Mary. She’s unforgettable and incomparable. Abigail
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It’s just fabulous to hear how much you loved this Queen of Racing. It’s people like yourself that will keep her alive. So important in a world of fleeting images and news stories! Thank you for leaving a comment. Abigail
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Abigail, thank you for providing this site and posting these articles. I was there at Belmont Park that afternoon. We didn’t think there was anything wrong, not even when Ruffian broke poorly. She did that sometimes. And at one point from the stands it looked like she was the only horse flying down the track. We couldn’t even see Foolish Pleasure. Then little by little Ruffian started pulling ahead, and people started cheering, and we all know what happened next.
You could have heard a pin drop in that place. And when the colt entered the winners’ circle a lot of people booed him. And I admit, if I’d heard what Leroy Jolley’s dad said, smiling (“You throw a little speed at the bitch and she comes unbuckled”) I would killed him right on the spot. I wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Later that same month the colt’s owner received so many death threats he had to change his unlisted number.
The next morning it was like someone human had died. Everyone thought the doctors could save her, and then the stupid talk began: The colt was too much for her, he ran her into the ground. I still see posts like that on forums. They don’t know what they’re talking about. When I saw the head-on tapes of the start and saw how Ruffian slammed into the starting gate I was physically ill. That was when I realized that Foolish Pleasure got lucky. I was a young kid then, and this taught me that life isn’t always fair. Ruffian also taught me that there’s brightness and beauty in the world. Every time I watched her race I was filled with wonder and downright awe. She was from another world.
Okay, I didn’t mean to make this post as long as War and Peace.
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Very sweet about “War And Peace!” I understand. I still can’t read or look at photos from that day. Didn’t know that Jolley’s dad said that — just awful. As for the favouring of Foolish Pleasure, I’m with you. He wasn’t her equal, anymore than Upset was Man O’ War’s. But people say such idiotic things on forums. I’ve stopped reading them. It all seems about “ego boosting” to me. But I’m glad you have a place to express your love for Ruffian. And I’m more than happy to hear it. We must keep our love for her and memory of her alive. There are too many who are forgotten as time goes on. HUGS, Abigail
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I make you all this solemn promise: “Ruffian will be rembered and celebrated in my heart and memory every day until the very day I die. She is my proof that GOD exists.
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Thanks, Abigail. I really enjoy the fact that you give the female racers equal weight. You don’t put the colts and stallions up on a pedestal just because they’re male.
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I do not write well so I wkll simpinly tbrow out a few facts to consider regarding Ruffian and the disgustingly evil remark made by Leroy Jolleys rear end wipe of a man father.”The first time you throw a little speed at the bitch she comes unbuckled” A horse is not completely through growing until they are at least 5 years old. As a 2 year old baby, Ruffian ran consistently at speeds rarely attained by most 3 year olds & above at any time.Frank Whitely knew horses better than anyone and stated from her first race that Ruffians great speed “scared the hell out of him” The horses that break down are almost always the fast horses.They exert such tremendous torque on their legs at speeds their growing physiques cannot yet sustain.Zenyatta did not start racing until almost 4 YEARS of age! Ruffian was born late April 17th.1972. All thoroughbreds are considered 2 years old on Jan the 2nd year of their life.Ruffian was at that time really only a little over 1 1/2 years old het she ran on her baby legs at unearthly speeds.Keep in mind that though she broke or equaled track or Stakes records in every race but one , she was kept underwraps, (restrained) until the final quarter.Her jockeys claimed their arms and shoulders ached after each race as she fought them to run at every step.Imagine what world records she could have broke if allowed to run with abandon? Whitely cared nothing about record runs, he cared and loved Ruffian and gave her jockeys the warning not to hit her.His instructions was simply rate her and let her go just enough to win.He also did not want to demoralize her competitors needlessly.This spoke to me anyway of his love and consideration for all horses. Ruffian was called a heartbreaker by Charlsey Cantey (sp) and the author Shwartz “Ruffian , burning from the Start” It appeared to me that although Foolish Pleasures people were in denial, that little horse took the measure of Ruffian during that brief run.Although Ruffian had a start gate accident, knocking herself to a 45º angle momentarily by hitting her shoulder then throwing all her weight on her right leg to tear after him, she easily made up his 3-4 length lead in a couple tremendous bounds, then passed him by 3/4th a length before her already compromised leg compound fractured just as she was accelerating.and began to dust him. Foolish Pleasure was never the same after that race.He lost the following four or five races that year! In a total of 10 races after the matchrace he onlywon three and was soon retired.Seems to me Foolish Pleasure was her last victim.Also , Ruffian ran faster fractions that the matchrace.Her breakdown was F.P’s. and Secretariats as well as all other horses good luck.Had she survived I believe she would have taken horse racing to heights the world has never seen!
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ICCLearly: Please pardon the long lapse between your interesting commentary & my response. My mother died recently and I’ve been at wits end clearing out her home and doing all these other sad things we must do when loved ones die. I certainly agree with you about Ruffian: she was the greatest of America’s fillies. Anyone who ever saw her race never got over it — I mean, just how spectacular she really was. Such a terrible, terrible loss to all of us who loved her. Abigail
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I re-read the post I wrote two years ago. It is still true. I think of Ruffian every single day. She brings me a painful joy that I cherish. Yes, pain, for her needless early death but utter joy because I saw her run (only on TV) and I got to witness perfection. There are no words to describe her unearthly speed and incomparable beauty. Just these: I thank GOD for Ruffian.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at such a sad time in life.
Mary
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Abigail, my condolences to you for the loss of your mother.
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Thank you, Laverne. It’s been a hard, long year as I come to terms with losing my last parent. Abigail
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I read your piece on Man O’ War and his dear friend Will, and came across this wonderful post on the great Ruffian. I have remembered the horror of the telecast of that horrible day for 40 plus years, and was barely able to watch racing for most of that time. It was such an awful event, but there was a positive aftermath in how the tragedy helped advance the cause of science in the years since. and it certainly and thankfully was the last match race ever. The grief of her passing has been with me ever since.
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Noel: Yes, the grief over losing Ruffian will stay with me forever too. I agree with the points you made here and want to thank you so much for taking the time to leave a response. Hearing from VAULT readers is just so important to me, because I do this for you. Abigail
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Ruffian was just one of a kind… however, I for some reason just recently came across info on another filly/mare in the 1800’s, when horses ran big races sometimes day after day. Look up Imp. She looks like the beginning of Ruffian. Look how tough those horses were back then, how many races they ran. And, so close apart. Ruffian will always be #1, the youngsters (I was ten years old when she died as well) only know zenyatta and rachel alexandra. They are good but RA could not have stayed with her, and Zenyatta would never have caught Ruffian.. never. Nice to see Songbird and Beholder, Songbird will keep running and I think the older a horse gets, the better they get, so get ready for a lot of wins from her 🙂 Love this page 🙂
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Terri, I thought the same thing about Imp when I read online articles about her. She reminded me so much of Ruffian it was eerie. You’re absolutely right: Zenyatta could never catch Ruffian. Ruffian would have heard her coming and taken off. I think three year old Rachel might have been able to stay with her for a while, but not for long. We never saw that filly’s bottom. She was from another world.
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exactly!! Look up the photos of IMP, there is one particular one that looks just like Ruffian. For all those that say Zenny and RA are/were as good as our black beauty (Imp was a true black, Ruffian was almost all black except for that nose!) it makes me laugh. What really blew my mind is looking and reading about how much Imp ran..and stayed sound. Amazing. I think that the two of them are so close, but never again. The inbreedng, the way they treat 2 year old horses, making them go faster under constant whip when their bones are not done growing makes me sick. Sure, some are fast “growers” but look how much better a 4 to 6 year old is. Our black filly, and she is gorgeous from the Fu Peg, we did not start until 4, and I was so far able to get a couple of videos of her wiring races. I’d like to go to Shanghai Bobby if I had the money.. LOL
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also, can you imagine had she lived and been a broodmare? I would love to have seen her with Swale (had he lived too) The TB’s back in those days had that dished face, “chiseled” they call it. Look what Laughter, her half sis did, imagine what Ruf would have done. And again, I always said: a sprinter and a distance horse all wrapped up into a show horse. Imagine how gorgeous a Ruffian/Swale foal would be. Not to mention the pedigree….
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Thank you very much for keeping Ruffian’s legacy alive. I remember watching her as a young teenager. The day of the match race, I watched it with my great grandmother and when she broke down and had to be put down, I lost my passion for horse racing. I have no doubt in my mind she would have won. Not because I am a female, because of who she was. My office at work is full of pictures of the two horses that had an impact on my life Secretariat and Ruffian. I am hoping someday to go to their graves and pay my respects. Thank you again for this wonderful tribute to her.
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Aug. 31 Dear Kathryn: Thank you for sending this beautiful comment. I think you belong to a huge community that will love & honour Ruffian forever. Like you, I am also a HUGE SEcretariat fan, so it’s easy to imagine your office! Abigail
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Ruffian is never forgotten; I think of her daily yet. I have been able to obtain some very special items that were hers.. and get to know the nice gentleman who was with her in her last minutes. It’s the fall of 2018, and there still are NO fillies/mares/horses that can equal Ruffian. The Justify experiment is a joke. The “good” fillies and mares are getting hurt and turned into broodmares. The best horse living now is a mare: Winx. I also doubt zen or RA could catch her either. Another great filly, but she stayed in Ohio, who is interesting to read about is Glacial Princess. She ran so many races, beat males regularly, and I call her the Ruffian of Ohio. As of the moment there still is a question if her remains have been recovered since the track she was interred at has been torn down. If they keep tearing down tracks, and breeding more horses, where will they all go?
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Reblogged this on Auntysocial.
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Sept 2, 2019 Please note that all articles appearing on THE VAULT are protected by copyright. Permission to copy them, in whole or in part, must be obtained in writing from the author, Abigail Anderson.
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Sorry to say I had never heard of Ruffian or other fantastic US racehorses I’m now reading up and educating myself on although sadly it was the result of links and posts shared regarding fatalities to racing here in the last week or so.
Even still I’m here now but really curious to know a few ins and outs about US racing more the terminology, general info about the courses and difference in races etc.
If anyone wouldn’t mind me firing off what I’m sure must sound like the dumbest questions ever, please nudge me so I can make my little journey of self-education easier and work things out a lot quicker!!
What an absolutely amazing horse though I’m glad I found this and got to read this brilliant post even if I am several years late 😀
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Auntysocial: Thank you so very much! There is lots here to discover and I hope you enjoy the adventure, Abigail
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