User Reviews

One doesn't tend to expect much from TV movies - ESPN seems an especially unlikely source - and at least for my part, sports films also tend to have an uphill battle to earn my favor. The story of Ruffian is one of early triumph, and early death, and is as ripe for cinematic telling as those of Secretariat, or Seabiscuit (admittedly the only other race horses, or movies about racehorses, that I can name). The actual dramatization of that story, as we see it here, is decidedly low-key and plainspoken - perhaps more objective, but less easy to get meaningfully invested in from the outset. There's nothing wrong with that, just as there's nothing wrong with the somewhat stylized and hyped-up editing and scene writing that showcases the popularity of the horses, and the hullabaloo that surrounded Ruffian's match with Foolish Pleasure. Depending on one's personal preferences, however, it may skirt the edge between engaging and and overwrought.

There's no getting around the tired sexism that surrounded the showdown. Much more than that, viewers should be well aware of the horribly tragic circumstances of Ruffian's last two days - her story can't be told without it, but it's unquestionably hard to watch as the entire last 20-30 minutes concentrate on it. With that said, this film as a whole isn't perhaps the most robustly absorbing drama, and rather distinctly carries a sullen tone throughout in recognition of the ultimate outcome. Still, it's gratifyingly well made. To the same extent that the earlier length of the film doesn't make much of an impression, 'Ruffian' is the most strong where it centers the sorrow; even though we know the moment is coming, it's no less deeply affecting. An argument could be made that this production is a kind of punishing, as there's only so much story to tell and it's not a happy one, but at the same time I must commend writers Jim Burnstein and Garrett K. Schiff, and director Yves Simoneau, for making this so touching as it is.

Nothing about the performances especially stands out, but the cast do well in their parts to help remember Ruffian. It's well done from a technical standpoint, and the work put into visualizing the crucial moment on the track is visceral and excruciating. The horses used for filming were winsome creatures, and very well trained. Overall the movie is solid, save for that it feels imbalanced in the treatment given to the filly's successes versus her injury and death. That there's so little actual plot is no fault of Burnstein or Schiff, but only a grim reflection of how Ruffian's life was cut short all too soon. Viewers who are particularly sensitive to films about animals should approach with caution, while this is most recommendable for fans of horse racing. Still, though imperfect, and a tear-jerker, 'Ruffian' is suitably satisfying that it's worth checking out if you have the opportunity.

(SOME SPOILERS) Very factual account of the sensational front running filly Ruffian who blazed across the sports pages and major east coast racetracks, Aqueduct Belmont Monmoth and Saratoga, running up a string of ten victories, setting or breaking track records while doing it. Ruffian ended her racing career by meeting a tragic end at the Belmont Race Track on July 6, 1975 in her long awaited match race with the Kentucky Derby winner and last years, 1974, two-year colt champion Foolish Pleasure when she broke a bone in her right front foreleg, as the two champion horses were battling it out on the backstretch just before the half mile pole.

Starting her racing career in Belmont Park on May 22, 1974 in a 5 1/2 furlong maiden race Ruffian ,overlooked by the betters, went on to defeat a field of 2 year old fillies by an astounding 15 lengths. Running up a string of four victories Ruffian then went on to win the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga by 13 lengths at the unbelievable time of 1:08 3/5. A feat that even the great Secretariat and Man O' War, breaking 1:09 at six furlongs as a two year old, couldn't do!

It was in the fall of 1974 that the racing world began buzzing about a match race between the super filly Ruffian and champion two year old colt Foolish Pleasure with both horses undefeated in their respected, two year old Colt & Filly, divisions. This lead to Ruffian suffering a sprained ankle in her rigorous training schedule by her trainer Frank Whiteley, Sam Shepard, that sidelined her for the rest of the year. The injury caused Ruffian to miss a chance to face Foolish Pleasure at the mile two year old Champaign Stakes at Belmont Park, that Foolish Pleasure won, on October 5, 1974.

1975 started out like gang busters with trainer Frank Whiteley getting his now three year old filly Ruffian into razor sharp condition as she stormed out of the starting gate and rolled over all the competition. Winning every race that she was entered in including the filly version of the Triple Crown, The Triple Tiara, that included the one mile Acron the 1 1/8 mile Mother Goose and the grueling 1 1/2 mile Coaching Club American Oaks setting stakes records in each. This set the stage for the big showdown at the Belmont Race Track the 1 1/4 mile match race that was to take place on July 6, 1975. Tragically it was to be the last time that the great Ruffian would ever step on a race track.

Heart-wrenching movie that leaves you using up all your handkerchiefs as we see how Ruffian ran her heart out and ended up breaking down just as she was about to break away and take the lead from Foolish Pleasure in their match race. Ending up being put to sleep when she, with everything possible being done to save her life, not only re-fractured her right leg but broke her left as well as she came out of surgery and tried to stand on all fours which the poor filly, even with a brace on, couldn't do.

The tragic death of Ruffian left Newsday sports reporter Bill Nack, Frank Whaley, who covered the great filly's career races so traumatized that he just couldn't bring himself to ever watch a horse race or write about horse-racing again. Great racing action, archived film as well as reenactments, makes "Ruffian" one of the best films about horse-racing ever made. The movie brought you back to those magical days in 1974-75 when Ruffian set record after record in burning her exploits across the sports pages that ended so tragically just over a year after she made her debut on the racing scene. What other athlete, human or animal, ever accomplished so much yet ended his or her career so suddenly. It's next to impossible to find any one in sports that can even remotely compare with her!

Ruffian was buried in the park that she had some of her greatest victories as well as met her only defeat that also ended her life Belmont Park and was buried at the finish line where she was in 10 out of the 11 races that she raced ahead of any of the horses that she raced against. There's also a strange irony in not just Ruffian the great filly but "Ruffian" the movie that was broadcast on the ABC network on the evening of June 9, 2007! It's on that very day that another super filly "Rags to Riches" raced into the horse racing record books by winning the 1 and 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes becoming the first filly ever to win that race in 102 years! You can just see Ruffian having a track-side seat at the finish line, where she's been eternally entombed, smiling as "Rags to Riches" roared across the line beating the boys and doing what Ruffian set out to do, but sadly didn't, at that very same race track some 32 years ago.

P.S As for "Rags to Riches" amazing Belmont Stakes victory Ruffian in winning the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks, the very last race she was to win in her racing career, which was the exact same distance as the Belmont Stakes amazingly ran that race a full second, five lengths, faster then the Belmont Stakes winning Filly! How About That!

I saw this movie when my mom rented it from Netflix. I never actually saw Ruffian race in life (i was born in 1988) I've read all about her and saw the actual footage of the match race when i watched the document about Barbaro on abc. the film perfectly depicts her life though short. The whole battle of the sexes theme carried to the extreme was kinda stupid but i guess it was the major thing of the times with the Bobby Riggs vs. Billy Jean King showdown and all the feminist movements and all. The only other complaint that i have is that the horses chosen to play the parts were plain in comparison to the real Ruffian who was tall, very leggy, and well muscled. I got the DVD for Christmas and there's thing on the bonus features where you can watch an On the set Documentary. In it the director says that they had to experiment with some dye in order to get the horses the right color a near black. Why not just find horses who are naturally brown/black. Of course it might kinda hard considering that there has never another filly quite like her since. The other horses that played her rivals throughout her career were well selected Overall I loved this film and would recommend it to any horse/animal lovers.

Horse racing is part of my life! As a huge race fan and handicapper I was so glad that ESPN funded this movie! Ruffian was the greatest filly ever to step on to a race track, bar none! This film did portray how good she was and did tell the true story of this race horse. Thought the cast was good and I liked the fact the movie was about the horse and the horses relationship with its connections. NOT! Like Secretariat! Which was a good movie, but! Secretariat was more about Penny Chenery-Tweety then it was this generations greatest race horse (male horse that is). If you actually looked at Ruffian's past performance sheet is all 1's ! Always in the lead and never gave it up.. The only time you see a 2 the tragic match race that killed her. Ruffian did not have good family lines when it came to being perfectly sound.. her Dam (Shenanigans) had bone issues in her front two legs and unfortunately that passes down..

One thing they did not (or at least I didn't see) was a HUGE omission from the pubic as to why she broke down. If you look at the actual race footage there was a seagull on the track and as the two horses raced closer to the stupid bird the bird flew away. The footage reviled that Ruffian actually was looking at the bird as she races and had one bad step and it as over. Many Many people believe that if the at stupid bird was not there Ruffian would have won the race against Foolish Pleasure and may have had a massive career in front of her.. Will never know!

Good movie. Heartbreaking. And one of my favourite scenes was right at the end when you see Frank Whitley look at the new 2 year olds being taken out of the carts. You see that look on his face that he knew he had one in a million horse a year earlier in Ruffian and there will never be one like her again. This is very true in horse racing!! Its like winning the lottery.. One in a million chance that you get a horse that can defy belief .. Thats whats so great about the sport! 30,000 foals are born each year. 20 make it to the Kentucky Derby at 3 years old and only one out of those 30,000 will go down in history.

bsmith's comment wasn't correct, "several hundred thousand and hundreds of reporters and editors" makes NO sense lol.

This film is good and i did enjoy it but it was very sad and definitely not for the faint hearted. The bit where the filly break her foot isn't very pleasant to watch. I have only seen it once but would watch it again. I do love horse riding and I would like to be a kind jockey, so i am really into these films. I can only watch it on youtube so if anyone knows any FREE sites to watch films on please let me know. There are some good parts in this film like where they do try to save the filly instead of putting her straight to sleep.