Ruffian, an unforgettable mare…

In the world of horses we have talked about the brilliant horses that have had an impeccable record. In addition to winners of grand equestrian prizes, recognition and even monuments as a symbol of respect and admiration. However, little has been said about mares. So, in this special installment we will approach Ruffian, an unforgettable mare in the world of horse racing.

Ruffian’s Biography

Ruffian is considered by many to be the best mare that has ever existed in the world of Thoroughbreds.

Ruffian was born on April 17, 1972, at Claiborne Farm, the farm of Stuart and Barbara Jenney, being the granddaughter of Bold Ruler, one of the great Thoroughbred horse racing champions during the 60s.

Trained at the Marion du Pont Scott center in Camden, South Carolina, by Frank Whiteley Jr., the experienced trainer soon realized the mare’s running skills, to the point that, as he himself said, “from the fifth race I knew it was the best horse I had ever trained.”

Career of the mare Ruffian

• Ruffian made his first start at Belmont Park on May 22, 1974 with Jacinto Vasquez, and won by 15 lengths. So impressive was his debut that it would later be called “the greatest race made by a debutant horse”.
• On June 12 he played the Fashion Stakes where he beat Copernica by more than 6 lengths.
• The next race was the Astoria Stakes, at Aqueduct. On this occasion, Vince Bracciale climbed on the filly. For the first time, Ruffian was accompanied by Sled Dog to the exit, her pony, who was ridden by Jacinto Vásquez.
• On April 14 the filly reappeared with Jacinto Vásquez winning without any effort by 5 lengths. Jacinto Vasquez was a favorite with Foolish Pleasure for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
• In the Acorn Stakes, Ruffian won by a margin of 8 1/4 lengths, playing all his opponents. Ruffian was a filly who wasn’t easy to ride, and when she ran the first part of the MotherGoose Stakes in 47″3, in what was the slowest split of time of her career, Whiteley and Vasquez were happy.
• He won again at a gallop. At Coaching American Oaks, Ruffian won by 13 lengths.

The impressions that Ruffian left throughout his career

Since her debut in 1974, Ruffian won all her races with an impressive lead, which led her to be considered one of the best of her generation.

One of his greatest achievements was winning the Triple Crown for fillies in his third year of competition. In this way he demonstrated absolute dominance in each of the tests.

His jockey, Jacinto Vásquez, even commented that in some races he had to ask him to slow down to avoid injuries. This demonstrated its incredible endurance and power.

Many equestrian sports specialists speculated that Ruffian might have broken the track records of historical horses like Secretariat.

Tragic End of the Resilient Mare Ruffian

The most remembered and dramatic moment of the mare Ruffian’s career was the confrontation against Foolish Pleasure, the champion of the Kentucky Derby of 1975.

The tragedy occurred in the highly anticipated “Battle of the Sexes,” a race between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure, the winner of that year’s Kentucky Derby. This race was organized to define which of the two was the best horse of that year, a fight between a stallion and a mare.

Tragically, during the race, Ruffian suffered a serious fracture to his left front leg.

Unfortunately, in one event he continued running until he stopped from the pain, but because of continuing with the impetus to win, he tore the skin of the giblet, and the bone fell apart, becoming useless. Paramedics, veterinarians and an orthopedic surgeon operated on Ruffian for three hours.

When he awoke, he thought he was still running, and he made the galloping motion, striking his shoulder with the cast, which finally broke into pieces. He undid the operation, as his bone broke again. As the medical team found it impossible to operate on her again, and above all, she would be fine.

Despite medical efforts and emergency surgery, the mare was unable to recover and had to be euthanized. This event deeply impacted on the racing community and sparked discussions about horse safety in sport

Ruffian passed away on July 7, 1975, due to the catastrophic fracture in his right front leg during a career that will never be forgotten.

The entire nation mourned the loss of the filly, one of the biggest disasters in racing history. Ruffian was buried in Belmont Park, with her nose pointing toward the finish line in victory.

The wonderful offspring that the Ruffian mare could have had and her legacy

Ruffian, the legendary mare, was born on April 17, 1972. The public remembers Ruffian as one of the best runners in history. Her impressive undefeated streak and tragic finish made her a horse racing icon. However, due to his untimely death, Ruffian left no descendants.

Unlike other champions whose genetic line lives on through their offspring, Ruffian never had the chance to breed. His lineage, however, is still present through his ancestors. She was the granddaughter of the famous stallion Bold Ruler, who also sired Secretariat, another legendary horse. In addition, her maternal line included Native Dancer, another influential in Thoroughbred breeding

Although Ruffian had no direct descendants, his impact on equestrians is incalculable. Its tragic end led to the implementation of better medical protocols and increased awareness of racehorse safety. His legacy lives on not only in the memory of fans, but also in the improvements within the equestrian world