No, not everyone. I watched Foolish Pleasure's whole career and I was (and still am) a fan. The following year he beat my life-time favorite, the mighty Forego, in winning the 1976 Suburban Handicap. A terrific horse, and despite what some have written in these replies, it is not a foregone conclusion that Ruffian would have won this race; the split times that Foolish Pleasure put done, running all on his own, were outstanding. Mr. Leroy Jolley had him ready for this one.
Foolish Pleasure was the first love of my life and this is all anyone remembers about him is that the beautiful, graceful filly died. She is missed but so is he.
I saw that race on TV, and I also have never gotten over it. To this day, I can't talk about this horse without tears welling up. It was years before I could watch a horse race again. All these Ruffian videos bring it all back - what a waste her tragic death was. Such a beautiful horse......
She was fought with all she had....She gave all she had...and she broke down....Foolish didn't wanted her to win thought....But anyway Ruffian gave her life for that race...R.I.P Ruffian We all missed you :'(
I just saw the ending of the film about her and it brought back terrible, terrible memories. Her will to win was incredible and she insisted on proving herself every time out. I am now 69 yrs old and I have never gotten over what happened that day. I will always belive it was the birds that made her misstep. She is appropriately buried near the finish line at Belmont Park and every young person should learn about her and how she ran. She was one in a million............ Bob DeMartin
I just watched the 'Ruffian" movie. I knew what happened before I saw the movie but having a visual to go along... ugh .... this makes me physically sick thinking about what happened... Great horse with unmatched spirit.
@10493929 Even Foolish Pleasure's owner expected Ruffian to win. I watched her (albeit brief) career. She HATED being behind a horse. Once she got the lead, she stayed there. When she broke down & saw another horse in front of her, she got pissed and kept trying to run. Poor thing shattered most of both front legs and the jockey couldn't get her to stop.
711ATOM Says:
2/08/2012 6:30:48 PM
No, not everyone. I watched Foolish Pleasure's whole career and I was (and still am) a fan. The following year he beat my life-time favorite, the mighty Forego, in winning the 1976 Suburban Handicap. A terrific horse, and despite what some have written in these replies, it is not a foregone conclusion that Ruffian would have won this race; the split times that Foolish Pleasure put done, running all on his own, were outstanding. Mr. Leroy Jolley had him ready for this one.
vaderbaby Says:
15/06/2012 11:09:11 AM
Foolish Pleasure was the first love of my life and this is all anyone remembers about him is that the beautiful, graceful filly died. She is missed but so is he.
polarfalcon123 Says:
8/06/2012 10:19:30 PM
it's makes you feel sick when you see her leg go! poor girl, i have always imagened her and secretariat having a foal!
denimgirl48 Says:
4/06/2012 7:07:21 AM
I saw that race on TV, and I also have never gotten over it. To this day, I can't talk about this horse without tears welling up. It was years before I could watch a horse race again. All these Ruffian videos bring it all back - what a waste her tragic death was. Such a beautiful horse......
littledrawingfan Says:
18/05/2012 1:05:00 PM
She was fought with all she had....She gave all she had...and she broke down....Foolish didn't wanted her to win thought....But anyway Ruffian gave her life for that race...R.I.P Ruffian We all missed you :'(
PaintSaddlebred Says:
11/05/2012 4:59:25 PM
She wouldn't allow him to win... she just wouldn't...:'(
just1mor Says:
10/04/2012 3:20:03 AM
Ruffian is my hero R.I.P Rest in Peace you will always be loved by many <3
ponykezproductions Says:
3/04/2012 5:32:03 AM
Pigeons get off the race track!!He said that's why in an interview(someone), "you can see on the video it was a pigeon"
juliautnitskaya Says:
16/01/2012 4:22:48 PM
I just saw the ending of the film about her and it brought back terrible, terrible memories. Her will to win was incredible and she insisted on proving herself every time out. I am now 69 yrs old and I have never gotten over what happened that day. I will always belive it was the birds that made her misstep. She is appropriately buried near the finish line at Belmont Park and every young person should learn about her and how she ran. She was one in a million............ Bob DeMartin
ruffianbreyerstar Says:
21/11/2011 3:58:14 PM
i named my dog after her so she will never be forgotton in my family
siddymotion97 Says:
1/11/2011 5:14:55 AM
wow..ruffian... after i saw this movie i cried along... R.I.P in paradise...
BrownLaura8847 Says:
11/10/2011 2:52:16 PM
I just watched the 'Ruffian" movie. I knew what happened before I saw the movie but having a visual to go along... ugh .... this makes me physically sick thinking about what happened... Great horse with unmatched spirit.
hestramona Says:
5/10/2011 1:20:50 AM
Ruffian, R.I.P.! I realy love you!! <3 my little angel!! you are in my heart! always! <3<3<3
chopard4545 Says:
11/09/2011 2:35:14 PM
I never saw this. Terrible. Makes me ill. They ran her too much till she broke down.
brigidfitch Says:
3/08/2011 4:43:46 PM
@10493929 Even Foolish Pleasure's owner expected Ruffian to win. I watched her (albeit brief) career. She HATED being behind a horse. Once she got the lead, she stayed there. When she broke down & saw another horse in front of her, she got pissed and kept trying to run. Poor thing shattered most of both front legs and the jockey couldn't get her to stop.
milagrosyadira Says:
18/07/2011 5:33:59 AM
Que animal tan hermoso. Ruffian siempre serás la mejor!!
TheExoticAnimal Says:
14/07/2011 1:20:06 PM
Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure are Actually cousin's
RayGordon4a Says:
1/07/2011 5:47:32 PM
This is why they no longer run 1 1/4 miles from the chute at Belmont.
priscs Says:
12/06/2011 10:39:52 AM
Such a sad day. She would have ran away from him. Even banging into the gate and coming out sideways she caught right up and took the lead.
gallopfullspeed Says:
28/05/2011 7:51:21 AM
i <3 ruffian she may have broken down but she won the race at heart she should ahve won i wish she was still alive