That was horrible. I saw it and don’t want to see it again. Same with Go For Wand.
I can’t even watch Seabiscuit without crying!
I have mixed feelings about this. I saw her final race as a kid and it haunted me for a long time.
I’m sure it will be sad to revisit… I loved the movies about Sea Biscuit and Phar Lap, but they took place long before my time. I remember Ruffian. I rooted for her. I cried for her.
I certainly don’t have the stomach for a movie about Ruffian knowing the horrifying end result. It’s hard enough watching old footage of her without crying. I saw the race and that was enough for me.
PennyG
I saw the actual footage not too long ago on HBO, I think it was on Costas Now and they talked about all sorts of things, then showed the race. I was floored, I kept thinking they won’t actually show her with her leg flopping around, but I forgot, it was HBO and there it was. The whole thing. I cried, I wanted to puke, she kept trying to run, kept trying to go. It was horrible to watch, that’s all I can think of to say about it. Just horrific.
Anyone remember Foolish Pleasure’s trainer, Leroy Jolley? He was a Bob Newhart look-a-like. I was a member of the small minority hoping Foolish Pleasure would win the match race. Of course, I was 12 years old at the time. 
That said, there was nothing sweet about that so-called victory. It was horrifying. The image of Ruffian’s leg, snapped in two, and still, she kept running…
I only wish, in hindsight, they’d put her down on the spot - the only sane decision - instead of putting her through the surgery/recovery when the odds were so against her.
Regarding the movie, I think Ruffian should be remembered for the one-of-a-kind racehorse she was. If you love horse-racing, you should watch the movie, or read the book, or watch the video, however upsetting. It’s the other side of Seabiscuit. No matter how disturbing her death - she was one of the Great Ones. She did what she was bred to do - run no matter what…
I have a tape of some of her races - including the last one. I watched it once and it was just about the most intensly horrible thing I’ve ever watched. You just keep wishing she’d stop - but she doesn’t. The shot of her breakdown was a head on shot and its way too graphic and painful for me to ever want to see it again. I literally felt sick afterwards.
Trust me; you don’t want to see it.
I’m with Louise and Flight Check. While I never saw footage of Ruffian’s last race (and would be unable to watch it), I am still haunted by the image of Timely Writer breaking down on live TV. 
Ruffian’s jockey was Panamanian born Jacinto Vasquez, who ironically was also Foolish Pleasure’s jockey when they won the 1975 Kentucky Derby. He also rode Genuine Risk to her 1980 Kentucky Derby victory.
Not that it is related to Ruffian at all, but its worth mentioning he was no choir boy as he was suspended for a year due to his role in fixing races: NY Times May 15, 1982.
I am glad to see that they will be doing a movie about Ruffian. She was my favorite racehorse of all time, next to Native Dancer. She was absolutely beautiful. I watched everyone one of her races. I cried for days after that fatefull race. I prayed for her to make a complete recovery, and when they finally had to put her down, it broke my heart.
I hope the movie does her justice. She had a heart of gold.
I can’t even watch Black Beauty without bawling!!
Good luck finding a fleet of Ruffian lookalikes. They’ll need at least three. Perhaps they’ll actually look like TBs.
Extras needed in Louisiana
KSLA News 12 Mar 22, 2006 “Casting Call for New Movies”
SHREVEPORT,LA
Casting Call for New Movies
Coulon Casting is placing extras for three separate movies right now.
Casting Coordinator Ryan Glorioso says the ESPN movie “Ruffian” will begin shooting, and needs a lot of extras. The movie is about a thouroughbred filly that dominated horse racing in the 1970’s, and horse racing scenes need people. It was supposed to shoot last week, but it got rained out. Glorioso says, “we had to do a lot of switching around for people we had booked already, but everything is really moving along.and tha one has a great number of extras because of huge crowd scenes at the racetrack”.
The company is also casting for another movie named “Mr. Brooks”. Those interested in extra roles can visit Coulon Casting at 5220 Hollywood Avenue in Shreveport, or go to www.couloncasting.com for more information.
What a fabulous filly she was!!! I was watching the race and like everyone else, was horrified. Thinking about her still brings tears to my eyes. Not sure if I could watch the movie.
Tough call. I cannot think of many movies about a fantastic real life TB mare such as Ruffian. It’s a way of paying tribute to her memory but at the same time it may not put Horse Racing in a good light.
I watched the race on TV live and I was horrified when she broke down. I never went to another Breakfast at Belmont with my family or to Aqueduct near my Grandmothers house or any other racetrack until I stopped at Keenland while I was attending Rolex in 2004.
To this day I still have my poster of her that was issued before her untimely passing. She is one of the reasons that own a OTTB mare today.
34 years ago
April 17, 1972 - Champion filly Ruffian was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, KY
On a related note, in addition to Emily’s news that the Ruffian crew is at Belmont Park for the filming of this Ruffian movie this week (April 19th) is this bit from the LA Times:
[Bruce] Larsen creates artificial horses for sequences in films and TV that are too dangerous for real racehorses and stuntmen, such as when a horse takes a fall while racing.
Recent assignments: the 2005 film “Dreamer” and the upcoming ESPN horse race movie “Ruffian,” for which he is creating a full-sized puppet horse he’ll operate from the inside.
“I could spend months on a horse, but I never have enough time. That is the problem with this business — time. I have had about a month to crank out these four horses [for ‘Ruffian’]. On ‘Dreamer,’ there wasn’t enough time. There, the special effects crew helped me. They helped me hold fur and pull the fur over the horse.”
I agree wholeheartedly…
I think, outside the horse world, she is sometimes forgotten, and she was truly great.
Yes, it was a horrific sight. I was 7, and I remember my rage to this day. For a long time, I hated Foolish Pleasure because I blamed him.
Adam’s sire, Buckfinder, was a half-brother to Ruffian, so I also felt a connection to her through him. I expect watching the show will be especially poignant.
IMO, ESPN has done a fabulous job in their retelling of sports stories. I believe it will be done tastefully, as so many of their other original works have been. And if it shows the whole match race…I don’t know. I’ll probably put my hands over my eyes, but I won’t say they shouldn’t show it.
I agree adamsmom that ESPN should do a very good job as they have and since this will be aired on ABC television first, following the 2007 Belmont, I doubt they’ll want any grief in turning off those fans they hope to hold following the Stakes race.
From yesterday’s Blood-Horse on-line chat - Talkin’ Horses with Bill Nack - APR 19
excerpts …
The greatest filly I ever saw was Ruffian
I am working on a movie about Ruffian, and I am considering writing a personal book/reminiscence about her that would come out around the time of the movie, in June of 2007. Actor Sam Shepard is playing trainer Frank Whaley —Sam is doing a great job slipping inside Frank’s shoes—and actor Frank Whaley has done a superb job of playing me back in the days when I was a Newsday reporter covering racing (starring Secretariat and Ruffian) in New York.
My five top moments in racing:
#2 Ruffian’s Spinaway victory
photo from the Spinaway Stakes Ruffian winning the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga racetrack. In which she ran the 6 furlongs in the time of 1:08 3/5. Laughing Bridge second, Scottish Melody third. The Tonight Show co-host Ed McMahon presents the trophy to the winning connections.
Ok well I hung out on the set a little today and watched them film 1 scene.
First big news, “Ruffian” is (wait for it) a Gelding!!! Actually and a colt. 2 horses are her, and they’re both hims! Hey its still Hollywood. The one I saw today is a Tb & Trakhener cross. Very sweet and I gave the wrangler a leg up to ride him back to the barn when they were done. So wow big claim to fame. LOL.
The scene seemed ok, but it was basic stuff. I enjoyed watching. I won’t give too much away as I wouldn’t want to upset the media that goes into luring the public into the racing world.
Sufficive to say that they filmed a scene tonight after I left, that I would have thought wouldn’t be there. Whether or not it stays in remains to be seen. But for those of you familiar with the story, you see the red cooler.
Talk to y’all soon.
~Emily
I had a hard time getting through the book. I think it was called Ruffian Burning from the start awesome book if you can handle the end. I don’t know a movie is kind of a cool way to pay tribute to such an awesome filly but showing the breakdown and what happened afterwards that could really be tough to stomach! And I don’t suppose they can tell her story without that!
I didn’t see the actual race, but I read the book Ruffian: Burning From the Start by Jane Schwartz, and just reading about her last race had me crying. I just hope the movie is centered around her amazing career and heart and not her breakdown.
