Ruffian (Thoroughbred Legends #13)

By: Milton C. Toby

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Synopsis: Even against the backdrop of the seventies, a decade of equine superstars and Triple Crown winners, Ruffian's story stands out as one of the most poignant of her time. This great black filly, often mistaken for a colt because of her impressive size, soared to record-breaking heights. Along the way she garnered a following of both hardened bettors and casual fans. Anyone who ever watched her could not forget her. She was always in front, always dominating the fillies that challenged her. In her short career of eleven races, she was brilliant enough to be compared to Secretariat. Her tragic ending in a match race with Foolish Pleasure that pitted the genders against one another delivered horse racing a tough blow. Not only had a fateful misstep erased a star from the sky, but thousands had witnessed Ruffian's demise from the grandstand or on national television. They left the race with a piece of their hearts missing. Ruffian recounts the amazing career of this charismatic racehorse who set the standard by which all fillies and mares are measured. It also delves into the significant roles played by her trainer, Frank Whiteley; her jockey Jacinto Vasquez; and Stuart and Barbara Janney, her owners and her breeders. Ruffian was ranked No. 35 in The Blood-Horse magazine's list of the Top 100 Racehorses of 20th Century.