Ruffian.."Champions Live Forever"

Ruffian. A movie based on the true story of a famous racehorse, who changed the world of racing by doing what she loved. She touched the hearts of everyone who ever saw her run, and those who watch her movie. She raced during the time in which the racing business was going downhill, and it was because of her that fans began to come back to the track in order to watch her powerful performances. She ran each race with such a powerful stride, pride, and put her entire heart into ever step. She was a fighter, and would never let another horse come near the lead until her last race. With each race she broke a record with such ease, it looked as if she was floating over the track. She became the greatest racehorse to ever set hoof on the track.

Her trainer, Frank Whitely, was one of the greatest trainers during this time period. He was a gentle gentleman, who usually kept to himself and around his horses. He knew his horses better than most people know their children, and gave them the best care they could receive. He didn't become a trainer for the fame or money, but because of the love for the horses. He never pushed Ruffian, and that is why he only raced her against fillies. Her last race, which was the match race, was forced upon him by the owner in order to revive interest in racing from the public. This match race, colt vs. filly, became the race of the century and started a battle against the sexes. Frank Whitely knew that this race would push her, since she would be forced to run head to head with a colt, something she had never done before. He was right.

In the beginning of the race it is thought that Ruffian may have clipped the starting gate, and this is what lead to what happened. The two horses ran, head to head, the first half of the race, putting all they had into each step. After about the half marker Ruffian started to pull away from Foolish Pleasure, first by a head, then by a neck, and finally by a furlong. It was just as she started to pull away that her front right ankle snapped completely. Even with her hook hanging on by only threads of tendons and skin, she kept trying to run, trying to gain her lead back. It took the jockey a few strides to finally get her to stop running and see the damage to her hoof. He had to have her lean on him in order to keep her standing. She was then taken to the animal hospital right off the track for emergency surgery.

Hundreds of fans and news reporters waited outside the clinic waiting for news of the beloved filly. It was an all night procedure, but it looked to be successful. As she was laying in recovery and waking up from anesthesia, she began to move her legs as if she was still running in the race. They had about twenty people trying to hold her down, but it was not enough for this powerful horse and she ended up breaking her good front leg with the cast on her broken leg. It was then that Frank Whitely called the owner and asked for permission to put her out of her misery. She was then buried in the infield at her home racetrack, Belmont Park, and is still the only horse to be buried there.

It is this ending that touches me the most, and will touch almost anyone who sees her story. It is amazing how this rare horse touched the hearts of the entire country by just doing what she loved. She was so full of heart and pride, she never gave up, and became a true role model for anyone. She proved that females can be just as good, and even better, than males, and she revived the sport of racing by doing so. She was a horse of pure heart and power, with such grace and beauty that anyone who hears her story will be amazed. She is a true champion, and the greatest racehorse to ever set foot on a racetrack.

"What she left in her passing was a memory far sharper, and a vision of surpassing grace and beauty, of a soaring poetry in motion that was written in hoof beats that ring as clearly today, as they did then." -Bill Nack, Racing Journalist