 The powerful and emotional true story of Ruffian, the Queen of the Fillies, who was undefeated in 10 starts before a catastrophic injury, is brought to life in a new movie from ESPN Original Entertainment. Ruffian, starring Oscar-nominated actor Sam Shepard as trainer Frank Whiteley, will make its television debut the night of the 139th Belmont Stakes, Saturday, June 9 on ABC at 9 PM Eastern. A Ruffian DVD is also available, featuring bonus material.
The Ruffian Movie
 Canadian director Yves Simoneau helms the film. Simoneau's directing credits include the acclaimed Nuremberg , starring Alec Baldwin.
Sam Shepard, who was nominated for his portrayal as Chuck Yeagher in The Right Stuff  and has recently appeared in films like Black Hawk Down plays trainer Frank Whiteley. Whiteley is portrayed as a tough, but warm-hearted man with an uncanny ability to relate to his horses. Believing he knows what's best for Ruffian, Whitlely is relectant to run the filly against colts.
 Frank Whaley stars as legendary sports writer William Nack, author of the book Ruffian: A Race Track Romance . Writing for Sports Illustrated, Nack won seven Eclipse awards for his coverage of Thoroughbred Racing. Actor Frank Whaley has appeared in numerous films, including Pulp Fiction and Red Dragon.
Profile of Thorougbred Racehorse Ruffian
 Frank Whiteley's trainee, Ruffian, became a racing legend in the 70's, a decade of Thoroughbred superstars like Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure, and Triple Crown winners like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed.
A dark bay filly, foaled at Claiborne Farm, Ruffian was sired by the Bold Ruler stallion Reviewer, out of Native Dancer mare Shenanigans. Her owners were Stuart and Barbara Janney.
As an undefeated juvenile, Ruffian won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Two-Year-Old Filly in 1974. In her very first race she equalled a track record at Belmont Park, for 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03 flat. She immediately graduated to the 5 1/2 furlong Fashion Stakes, winning under the same record time, but only got faster thereafter. Ruffian won Aqueduct's 5 1/2 furlong Astoria Stakes in 1:02 4/5, the 6-furlong Sorority Stakes at Monmouth in 1:09, and then the 6-furlong Spinaway Stakes in Saratoga in 1:08 3/5.
At three-years-old Ruffian conquered longer distances, winning by greater margins, and ultimately took on the Triple Tiara, or Filly Triple Crown, consisting of the Acorn, Mother Goose, and American Oaks. Ruffian won the 1-mile Acorn by 8 1/4 lengths, and the 9-furlong Mother Goose by 14 lengths. Finally she won the 1 1/2 mile American Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths. Ruffian was undefeated in her first ten starts, with an average winning margin of 8 1/3 lengths.
A sporting Belmont Park match race between 1975's winning colts of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes was created. Foolish Pleasure and Master Derby were set, but Avatar had already returned to California for the Swaps Stakes. Ruffian was considered a worthy entry to challenge the colts, but Foolish Pleasure's trainer thought she would help set the race up for Master Derby. Master Derby was paid $50,000 to withdraw, and a much anticipated match-race and battle of the sexes was born. Ruffian vs. Foolish Pleasure.
Jockey Jacinto Vasquez was the regular rider for both horses, and chose Ruffian as the best mount. On July 6th, a crowd of 50,000 attended Belmont Park for the great match race.
It was a gripping battle with Foolish Pleasure bounding from the gate to get a head in front, only to have Ruffian counter him from the inside. Ruffian increased her lead from a nose to half a length as they approached the turn, when suddenly the sesamoid bones in her right foreleg broke.
Vasquez tried to pull her up, but Ruffian wouldn't give up the race, she ran on another 50 yards. Foolish Pleasure was eased only after crossing the finish line, and his jockey realized Ruffian was injured as veterinarians immediately attended to the filly.
Ruffian underwent 12 hours of surgery, having to be revived twice after her breathing stopped. When her anaesthesia wore off after surgery, Ruffian woke up confused and thrashed wildly, fracturing her cast and further injuring her fetlock. Knowing she could not survive further surgery, the veterinarians had to humanely euthanize her.
Ruffian is buried in the infield at Belmont Park, with her nose pointed towards the finish line. Her final season in 1975, earned her the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Filly.
Ruffian was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1976, and made Sports Illustrated's list of 100 Female Athletes of the Century.
Ruffian on DVD
Loaded with bonus features, the DVD gives viewers an in-depth look at the filly’s incredible but tragically short career. Ruffian was unbeaten through her first 10 starts before suffering a fatal breakdown during the last match race in professional horse racing; a head-to-head contest against colt Foolish Pleasure at Belmont.
Synopsis:
Academy Award® nominee Sam Shepard stars in the extraordinary true story of the greatest filly racehorse of all time, RUFFIAN. Undefeated in her first ten races, Ruffian is fast on her way to becoming one of the most successful thoroughbreds in horseracing history. Yet as the two-year-old’s reputation continues to grow, so does the pressure to enter her in a one-on-one match race against the 1975 Kentucky Derby-winning colt, Foolish Pleasure. Despite the growing concerns of her trainer, Frank Whiteley (Shepard), Ruffian takes off on what will be the most momentous race of her life, a neck-and-neck “battle of the sexes,” that only the best horse can win.
Special features include:
- Ruffian’s Race History (9 Races)
- SportsCentury Interview with Bill Nack
- On-the-Set Documentary
- SportsCentury Flashback-Ruffian
- Commentary by Director Yves Simoneau and Editor Michael Ornstein
- Tribute to Ruffian and Barbaro
Order Ruffian on DVD
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