I watched the movie on tv also. It was indeed sad. I remember Ruffian -- Foolish Pleasure was the famous colt that year, having won the Ky Derby, but Ruffian was actually the only undefeated horse. She broke her leg in a match race with Foolish Pleasure. (For those of you that did not see the movie.) What a waste. It was the last match race ever to be run. Because Ruffian was a filly, she did not have that stallion attitude -- she was a great filly. This was back in the mid-70's - they have made progress in how they operate and recouperate horses now. But, yes, like you Nora, I was in tears at the end (even though I knew how it would end). I wish they wouldn't run these horses so young -- and I hope that every track in the U.S. converts to PolyTrack soon, to cut down on these injuries! Her death though did bring the treatment of racehorses to the forefront and some changes were made in the industry -- so, for that, her death did accomplish something.
By the way, Nora, I don't know if you remember this -- but Ruffian was foaled at Claiborne Farm - the farm we visited on your trip here. |