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Description: (Sports / Doc) Based on the story of the great filly who was undefeated until suffering a fatal breakdown in a match race against Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park in 1975 . Only lasting two short seasons on the track, Ruffian was unbeaten through her first ten starts – shattering records at nearly every race. It was the much anticipated 11th race, on July 7, 1975 in front of a packed house at Belmont and a television audience of 18 million viewers, that proved to be her last. Hailed as the battle of the sexes, Ruffian went head-to-head with Kentucky Derby winning colt Foolish Pride, in what became the last match race in professional horse racing. Just short of the one mile marker, Ruffian went down hard with a broken leg, ultimately leaving doctors with no other option than to put the horse to sleep. The next day, she was buried at Belmont and to this day remains the only horse granted that honor.
Customer Reviews:
- Worth it for the extras: I'm like many other reviewers in that I remember watching Ruffian's match race. The beauty of watching her race and the horror of watching her not only breakdown during a race but also refuse to stop racing are indescribable. Did the movie capture that emotion? No.
I found the movie to be too melodramatic and overly sentimental. As some other reviewers have no doubt mentioned, they didn't get horse racing exactly right, but I am always willing to forgive them that. What I regret is that they never seemed to manage to capture the spirit of Ruffian - her fire, her drive, her incandescence. That was the essence of Ruffian and why she was not just another fast horse but a legend, even before her death.
But if you have any fondness for horses or horse racing, you should buy this CD any way for two reasons. One, it includes a Sports Century Flashback of the match race, including interviews with Whiteley, Vasquez, Janney's son, and exercise riders who were around Ruffian. The Sports Century show hits all the notes that the movie some how misses.
Second, if the pain of losing Ruffian leaves you in tears, you can ease the pain by watching the video of her races and appreciating just how special she really was.
If you want to read more about her, I strongly recommend Schwarz's excellent book Ruffian: Burning From the Start - The Unfinished Symphony......: I was fortunate enough to watch the broadcast premiere of this film. That very same day, a Thoroughbred contemporary named Rags To Riches won The Belmont. The third and final jewel of The Triple Crown. I remember hearing of Ruffian's story when I was a child, but was never well informed of her story from its humble beginning, to its tragic ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and purchased it when was first released on DVD. It is a film that I continue to enjoy every time I watch it, and Ruffian is a horse that I grow more fondly of as a result. My grandfather loved horse racing, and if he were alive today, I am confident that he would have enjoyed the film the same way I have. Though Ruffian has long since passed, her beauty, as spoken of in the film, will never fade. She did make a lasting impression on not only the sport, but upon all of the hearts and minds of the people who love and adore these creatures just as I do. Her career was as Mr. Nack stated, "An Unfinished Symphony" I know that he spoke of "The Great Match Race" as the unfinished symphony of horse racing. However, I feel that Ruffian's breakdown and subsequent passing transcended the sport. It was the loss of one of the sports greatest thoroughbreds, and the loss of a life incomplete in its form, substance and overall composition. Hence, her life, was The Unfinished Symphony.....
- Ruffian: This movie is an excellent movie about people who love horses, the horses themselves, compassion & hope. I don't remember it being in the theatres, but I saw it on network TV & knew I had to own it. A genuine family movie. It's based on a true story. It brings to mind the heartbreaking story of Barbaro. Sam Shepard turns in an amazing performance. Four stars !!!!
- Ruffian Lives Forever!: Bought DVD as a gift for my 40 Year old daughter. We watched Ruffian and the challenge race that cost her life. In all these years since, we have remembered the grit, heart and beauty of Ruffian. Glad to see her memory is immortalized. People who rooted for her thought she would prevail much like Walter Farley's Black Stallion. But it wasn't to be.
- A Great Movie!!: I was a little hesitant to buy this movie since it was made for TV but it was GREAT!! The acting was really good and the race scenes were acurate. Having bought it for my 9 year old who is horse crazy, it was a good family movie. I don't remember any cuss words and all my kids enjoyed it.
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