BIS W2 W3 G3


Ruffian was perhaps the greatest racehorse to ever set hoof on a track. Her story is amazing, tragic, and yet uplifting. Ruffian was a beast of a mare at 17 hh; she was imposing, elegant, and unstoppable. She ran wire to wire in every race she ever ran in, won an Eclipse award in 1974 and the Triple Tiara a year later.

This mare was so determined to not let another horse pass her that she won the Spinaway (and beat the standing track record; her time is still unbroken today) on a fractured leg.

In 1975, a match race between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure (the Kentucky Derby winner) was finally set. At the start, Ruffian bumped the gate ending up in second place for the first and only time. She quickly gained ground and went to the lead a head in front of Foolish Pleasure. And then she misstepped. Ruffian broke her right foreleg on a track in front of thousands of absolutely silent people.

Surgery was performed, but she broke her leg again while coming out of anesthesia and was humanely euthanized. It is because of Ruffian that post-anesthesia protocol was improved for horses. Also, in her honor, there has never been another match race held since.

Many say racing killed Ruffian; they blame the sport, the way things are done. Ruffian ran because she wanted to, because she loved it, because she was the best. She died, because she pounded the track for everything she was worth holding nothing back every time she ran. She had speed; she had endless heart; she had greatness.

"As God as my witness, she may even be better than Secretariat."
- Lucien Lauren (Secretariat's trainer)

“That stall will never be occupied as long as I have this barn. There’ll never be a horse worthy of entering it.”
- Frank Whitley (Ruffian's trainer)