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Ruffian: Burning from the Start
 
 
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Ruffian: Burning from the Start (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Buck Jones yawned and looked at his watch..." (more)
Key Phrases: Foolish Pleasure, New York, Frank Whiteley (more...)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
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Ruffian: Burning from the Start + Secretariat: The Making of a Champion + The Horse God Built: The Untold Story of Secretariat, the World's Greatest Racehorse
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  • This item: Ruffian: Burning from the Start by Jane Schwartz

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ruffian was arguably the best thoroughbred filly that ever raced: the horse won all five of the events it entered as a two-year-old in 1973, frequently setting or tying track records, and duplicated that string of successes the following year, taking the filly triple crown. On July 6, 1975, Ruffian was entered in a match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure; partway through the race Ruffian broke a front leg and, despite an operation, had to be destroyed. Schwartz ( Caught ) on occasion annoyingly anthropomorphizes the horse, as when she describes Ruffian as "self-possessed, self-assured" and, on the day of the fatal race, "aware that something big was coming up." Despite this tendency, however, the book is a moving tribute to a great horse, and will leave a lump in the throat of devotees of the sport of kings. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


From Library Journal

Ruffian: the name stands out among a handful of great racehorses. Ruffian: the name conjures memories of a tough competitor, a tomboy. Ruffian: the name synonymous with the pinnacle of glory and the nadir of tragedy. Schwartz ( Caught , Ballantine, 1987) eloquently captures the spirit and style of this undefeated filly who beat all comers save death. In the 1975 match race against the colt Foolish Pleasure, viewed by a televised audience of 18 million, Ruffian broke down while leading and later had to be destroyed. Schwartz tells Ruffian's story from her birth, breaking, training, and racing, to the day of the ill-fated "battle of the sexes" through the eyes of her handlers, grooms, jockeys, and trainer. This is an exhilarating yet sad tale of the thrills and fears of horseracing. Highly recommended for most public libraries.
- Susan Hamburger, Virginia State Lib. & Archives, Richmond
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books (April 30, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345450000
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345450005
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #418,494 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

Jane Schwartz
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Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!
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Buck Jones yawned and looked at his watch. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Foolish Pleasure, New York, Frank Whiteley, Sled Dog, Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, Bold Ruler, Braulio Baeza, Honorable Miss, Stuart Janney, Mike Bell, Belmont Park, Laughing Bridge, Por-ta Rican, Racing Form, Chris Evert, Jack O'Hara, Racing Secretary, Barbara Janney, Chic Anderson, Clerk of Scales, Dan Williams, Great Match Race, Horse of the Year, Jim Prendergast
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Ruffian: Burning from the Start
81% buy the item featured on this page:
Ruffian: Burning from the Start 4.9 out of 5 stars (67)
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67 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (67 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An intimate story of one of racing's dark stars, March 1, 2005
"The filly with the perfect record; the coal-black daughter of Reviewer and Shenanigans; the speedball, the beauty, the female, the freak."

An excellent epitaph for one of the 20th Century's greatest horses.

"Ruffian: Burning From The Start," by Jane Schwartz, is the sort of book that cries out to be made into a movie, for it is written so clearly, so cleanly, and with such genuine emotion, that it is impossible not to visualize each scene as you read. Nor is it a book that goes for cheap sentiment. Ruffian's story contains all it needs of triumph, joy, and heartbreak.

Ruffian came out of a stellar bloodline, with Native Dancer and Bold Ruler for grandsires; her sire Reviewer was considered Bold Ruler's second-fastest son, right behind Secretariat. Ruffian herself was extraordinary, a freakishly large, near-black filly with an unearthly stride and speed and the drive to run. Trained by Frank Whiteley, Ruffian was named Filly of the Year in 1974 and swept the Filly Triple Crown in 1975, becoming only the fourth filly in history to do so. She was a legend in her own time, a horse who met or broke speed records, broke the hearts of competitors, and won the hearts of all who saw her through her beauty, her amazing swiftness, her competitor's spirit, and her composure.

And then in 1975, in a match race with Kentucky Derby champion Foolish Pleasure, Ruffian broke the hearts of many when she broke her leg and had to be destroyed.

Schwartz blends the details of the match race with the events in Ruffian's life--her startling debut, her uncanny speed at the track, and her rise to becoming the consummate racehorse. She portrays the devotion both Whiteley and Jacinto Vasquez, Ruffian's regular jockey, felt for her, the prideful affection that stablehands like "Squeaky" Truesdale and Dan Williams felt for her. And she foreshadows the outcome of the match race with details, such as Ruffian's tiny feet and delicate bones, that send chills up the reader's spine.

The description of Ruffian's breakdown is emotionally harrowing, and the chapter remains taut to the moment when Ruffian is mercifully put down. While Schwartz does resort to a device to depict Ruffian's end, it works because it depicts her death as the humane act that it was.

If Hollywood could option the excellent "Seabiscuit" for a movie, it could certainly do the same for "Ruffian." Her story was tragic, but her life was a blazing round of glory, and it deserves to be told once more.
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Reality for Racehorses, May 18, 2004
By V. Marshall (North Fork, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
As a Thoroughbred owner I have been facinated by the racing world and all of its stars from Man O' War to our newest star Smarty Jones. But I have to say Ruffian is my all time sentimental favorite.

I can remember watching the match race between Ruffian and the colt Foolish Pleasure. It was a time for women's lib and Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs. I always wanted the girls to win!! But tragically Ruffian paid the price in front of our own eyes. I can remember crying for weeks after watching her beautiful black body fall. My heart was broken for years!

This book is truly a magnificent tribute to one of racing's greatest heros, a big black filly named Ruffian. It reads much more emotionally than other tribute books currently on the market and will stay with you for years. Reading about Ruffian's will to keep running even with two broken legs will rip your heart out! Make sure you buy some stock in Kleenex before you begin this emotional memoir.

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best ever?, October 27, 1997
This review is from: Ruffian (Mass Market Paperback)
This is the story of the star-crossed filly Ruffian, whose death is the equine equivalent of Princess Diana's tragic accident, except for one difference: Diana was a princess; Ruffian was a queen.

Ruffian died before a nationwide television audience in a match race with Kentucky Debry winner, Foolish Pleasure. It was only her eleventh race. Only eleven races, yet in that brief span, she has been hailed as the greatest filly of all time. But after reading Ms. Schwartz's book, I think the case can be made that she was the greatest thoroughbred of all time, and that includes the wondrous Man o' War.

Consider these facts. Ruffian was bigger than most colts; was never behind in any race, except for the first couple of jumps out of the starting gate (when she broke her leg in the match race, she was a length ahead of Foolish Pleasure and widening); and was always slowing down well before the finish line, having destroyed her competition while cruising the backstretch. Yet, despite ten easy romps, Ruffian set speed records that are hard to believe.

For example, her first race took place at Belmont Park. She ran the 5 and 1/2 furlongs under heavy restraint in 1:03 flat. This tied the track record! In the Spinaway at Saratoga, she ran six fulongs in 1:08 and 3/5. This was the fastest six fulrongs ever run by any two-year-old in the history of Saratoga, including Colin, Man o'War, Native Dancer, Nashua, and Secretariat! And in the Comely, Ruffian not only set a stakes record, she also created a minus pool across the board, both on-track and OTB.

The match race is told in all of its horror, but the last few pages are so lovingly and poetically written, I stopped crying, and was just so glad Ms. Schwartz wrote this book, and allowed me to learn about the great Ruffian.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excited Happy Sad
This is a great story about a great filly. It is written well and had my interest all the way. As the title says, it makes you happy and excited, then so sad. Read more
Published 1 month ago by mariehr64

3.0 out of 5 stars Unobjective and Shallow
This book could have been a well researched inquiry into the death of an outstanding equine athlete. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Caroline K. Moore

5.0 out of 5 stars Queen of the Fillies
July 6, 1975 I was 21 and at Belmont Park to see my first horse race. We were there to see Ruffian the Queen of the Fillies race against the beautiful Stallion Foolish Pleasure... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Pavlik

5.0 out of 5 stars she burned brightly and left us far too soon
Ruffian was perhaps the greatest filly that ever raced. Her unbeaten record and record-setting speed earned her a place alongside the finest of her sport. Read more
Published 13 months ago by R. Ramon

5.0 out of 5 stars A horse to love forever
read this book and couldn't put it down-Ruffian was born to run and unfortunately she died doin' the only thing she did best-I will always have a place in my heart for this great... Read more
Published 13 months ago by M. L. Thornton

5.0 out of 5 stars There are no words.......
Simply put, this is one of the finest books about horse racing and especially the gigantic black filly who broke the heart of a nation. Read more
Published 19 months ago by William G. Straub

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming and Heartwrenching- well worth the read
This is an amazing book! I loved every second of it from start to finish... I wish there were more to follow. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Connie B. Mercier

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Ruffian, Go!
A beautifully told story of a true champion whose heart and will remained strong even when her body failed her. Read more
Published on November 13, 2007 by A. Barauskas

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book about Ruffian Hands Down
This book will make you cry, laugh, sigh and then start all over again. It has the imagery in it to put you right there with the people who loved Ruffian. Read more
Published on November 11, 2007 by Dora J. Crow

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing about one of the great race horses ever!
Anyone who ever watched this filly race knew what a special sight it was, to see her pulling away from the others, compelled to race. Read more
Published on June 10, 2007 by K. Corn

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