Ruffian

[parimutual]

I find it interesting that Pletcher will enter Rags to Riches in the Belmont the same day ABC TV airs its movie celebrating the great Ruffian. I know the filly has shown brilliance in the past and hope she continues to do so. Ruffian was in a class by herself. Saturday, Rags to Riches has a chance to be mentioned in the same sentence as Ruffian as I'm sure some of the press will do. Good luck to her and I'm sure I'll enjoy the movie.

[bigmack]

RMoss article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=moss_randy&id=2892898

[GaryG]

I will watch it but it will be very difficult. What a fine filly she was.

[blind squirrel]

I will watch it but it will be very difficult. What a fine filly she was.
i read a great book about RUFFIAN,"BURNING FROM THE START"...hard
to come up with a happy ending on this legend.

[cj's dad]

i read a great book about RUFFIAN,"BURNING FROM THE START"...hard
to come up with a happy ending on this legend.

Burning From the Start is no longer in print but it can be found on the net.

Absolutely great !!:)

[parimutual]

Bigmac:

I appreciated the link to the Moss piece. I read it with great interest. Great insight on the times. I also agree with others who have read "Burning from the start" that it is a powerful story. My wife couldn't finish it.

[46zilzal]

Here PP's looked something like this

1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 brokedown

Never headed...

[bigmack]

The reviews of the film are rough:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20070606_Stan_Hochman____Someone_please_put_Ruffia n_biopic_out_of_its_misery.html

[jotb]

Hello all:

I just read the article about the lawsuit. Did anybody else read this on the home page.

Joe

[Wiley]

Joe,
I read the lawsuit article and it sounds like Nack and Disney/ESPN did not get Whitley and Vasquez's permission to use their actual images in the movie so from this, the way I gather it the producers/writers did not use their first hand accounts of the actual events, something I can see as a problem in the production thus as Mack's review link points to a less than glowing review of the movie. ESPN can/could clear this up by including a note about this image detail in the credits like in many other movies but chose not to, thus the lawsuit. My take on it.

[PaceAdvantage]

I just watched the footage of Ruffian breaking down (they showed a clip of Ruffian in the Barbaro documentary currently airing on HBO -- it's very well done by the way)....I did not realize, and don't think I remember ever reading that Ruffian also injured her left front leg as well....you can clearly see her left front looking like it has at least a very serious suspensory injury (kind of like the one suffered by Holy Bull). They even have what looks like a cast on the left front leg as they lead her onto the ambulance....but all you ever read about is the shattered right leg (obviously, the more serious injury).

I just found that interesting....

[DrugS]

Here PP's looked something like this

1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1 brokedown

Never headed...

While she may have all 1's in her form---she was in fact headed in a race.

In the Sorority Stakes her 2-year-old season---next seasons Test Stakes winner Hot And Nasty clearly put a neck in front of her between calls, and arguably had a nose on her at a pole...but Ruffian turned back her bid through the stretch.

Anyway, the "never headed" thing is techincally a myth....but what a true superstar she was.

[cj's dad]

[QUOTE=
Anyway, the "never headed" thing is techincally a myth....but what a true superstar she was.[/QUOTE]


I believe that the "never headed" was referenced in "Burning From The Start" in this manner - "Never headed at any point of call" prior of course to the breakdown !

[DrugS]

I believe that the "never headed" was referenced in "Burning From The Start" in this manner - "Never headed at any point of call" prior of course to the breakdown !

First of all, let me congratulate you on the fine achievement of siring and raising CJ.

You're correct about that...however, I don't believe it is true.

I just watched the race again, and though it didn't seem as clear-cut and obvious as it did when I first watched it years ago---you will see Hot N' Nasty head Ruffian between 0:52 to about 1:02.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k26CVuvWtTE

It may look as though they are almost stride-for-stride during that stretch, but the camera angle favors horses inside through that part of the race....just as it favors horses on the outside through deep stretch. People who watch a lot of quarter horse races are really familar with that.

Not trying to take anything away from Ruffian--she was spectacular, however, I believe she was headed in the Sorority.