The great Ruffian, who shattered her ankle in her match race against Foolish Pleasure in 1975, was interred near the finish line at Belmont Park. Yesterday, her remains were moved to Claiborne’s Marchmont Cemetery in Paris, Kentucky, where she was foaled and raised.
“I’d like to thank NYRA for preserving and protecting Ruffian’s gravesite at Belmont for close to 50 years,” said Stuart Janney III, son of Stuart Janney Jr., in a release. “This is a wonderful outcome that will increase the public’s ability to visit the site and pay tribute to Ruffian and her incredible legacy. Claiborne is one of the most beautiful and revered Thoroughbred farms in America and the home of some of the greatest horses in racing history, and the ideal place for Ruffian.”
Ruffian was considered to be the greatest female thoroughbred in history. She was undefeated in 10 starts, setting stakes or track records in most of them. Her stakes wins included Her stakes wins include wins in the 1975 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), 1975 Mother Goose (G1), 1975 Acorn (G1), 1975 Comely (G3), 1974 Spinaway (G1), 1974 Sorority (G1), 1974 Astoria (G3), and the 1974 Fashion Stakes (G3). She was named 2-year-old champion filly in 1974 and 3-year-old champion filly in 1975.
Wow. Oh, it was such a shame about Ruffian. The racing industry has never had a match race since that horrible day.