Movie about Ruffian

[Lisann]

I think this one will be a real tear-jerker!

From thoroughbredtimes.com:

ESPN to produce Ruffian movie


ESPN announced Thursday that its next original movie will be based on the story of ill-fated champion filly Ruffian.

The movie will air on ESPN and ABC in June of 2007 and will be broadcast in conjunction with the 108th running of the Belmont Stakes (G1). Principal photography is scheduled to begin in February.

"Ruffian's story is one of the most poignant of her time," said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president of content. "This project will continue our strategy to make content available to consumers across multiple platforms and serve fans with superior original programming."

Ruffian won the first ten starts of her career and was named champion filly in 1974 and 1975. She broke down in a match race against the colt Foolish Pleasure on July 6, 1975, and later had to be euthanized.

[Einstein]

I was watching some sports program on HBO and they had Ruffian on, talked all about the battle of the sexes and why it was such a huge thing, the match race. Then they showed the race, I kept thinking, "Well they won't actually SHOW her leg almost hanging off." but I forgot, it was HBO and they showed the whole thing. I never saw it before. The filly kept trying to run, with the massive fracture, it was gut and heart wrenching, I cried and cried. I have never seen anything in person, or on TV that made me so sad and so devastated. I can't imagine watching it again.

I probably won't watch the TV show, but I heard the book about her was really good, and I'd like to read that. But I can honestly say, I could have easily gone to my grave without seeing Ruffian blow apart her leg on TV.

Anyone plan on watching the show? You'll have to let me know how it was and if it was well done. I'm sure it will be, and surely less graphic then the actual race, I just don't think I could stomach it again.

Was that race the last match race ever ran? I think it was, but I can't remember

Edited for spelling ;D

[Amy]

I read the book, even knowing the ending was going to tear me apart. Ugh. It was a great book, but have the kleenex handy! What a game mare she was.

I may or may not watch the movie...I'll have to see.

[LynnC]

Oh Michelle. I saw the same thing...and thought the same thing. It was gut and heart wrenching. I literally threw up after watching it then cried. It had to be the most horrible thing to sit and watch. I was NOT expecting that they would show it.

[HokieThea]

I read the book a couple of years ago, and I bawled at the end. I remember seeing the race when I was a kid, and was devastated then. BTW, after I read the book I sent it on a journey through the Exracers. Maybe someone still has it, and can pass it on to you.

[niaru]

I don't even want to watch that movie. I cried and cried when I read the part about that match race (they had exerpts from the book in one of the horse mags I get)...what a beautiful mare she was, too.

[Einstein]

Someone on COTH pointed out the tragic end to the passangers aboard Titanic and we all knew the bad ending that ship had, yet it was a very good movie, so maye this one will be done like Titanic. I dunno though.

Lynn, you saw that on HBO too? Man, I *really* didn't think they'd show it happening! Then I remembered it was HBO and I caught the show (Costas Now I think it was on) half way through, so maybe they did have a disclaimer, and I didn't catch it. I'm so glad I didn't see it happen as a child though! I was too young when she did it, but I couldn't handle it as an adult! Then again, I gagged at the Horse Whisperer scene with the horse and the semi. I read the book, I knew it was coming, I knew it was fiction and Hollywood, but OMG it looked so real, I felt sick!

[jenarby]

I've been waiting to hear about when this movie would come out. I'll watch it. I'm always into watching anything to do with racing of course.
My friend is a farrier in MD. Shoes at Laurel, Pimlico and Bowie. His father and grand father (and I think great grandfather) were all track farriers. His grand father was Ruffian's primary shoer. They have old pics in their house of the tow of them. One of him under her. You know they buried her near the finish line......she was awesome....

[chrisnstar]

I just don't think I could watch this...... my heart just can't take it.

chris

[LynnC]

Michelle, if there was a disclaimer I didn't see it either. I didn't expect them to show so much. I thought they would cut out the part where she just kept trying to go on. It was truly awful to watch.

This may be one of those movies where I buy it...and watch a little at a time. I definitely couldn't sit down and watch it from start to finish.

[juliab]

I won't be able to watch it. I was crying standing in Borders one day and just leafing through the book!

[ZenRider]

I don't know if I'll watch it. Though that has more to do with that I seem to miss a lot of programs.

Actually I'll never forget when Timely Writer broke down and they just kept showing it over and over and over. Him trying to run and his leg bending backwards where a leg should not bend at all. It was horrific, but we were like a deer in headlights and couldn't look away. It seemed so unreal, but it was tragically so.

Modified to add, I believe it was to be his last race before retiring to stud.

[bluebluesea]

I'll watch it. I know it will have that one horrid part in it, but she was such a beauty, such a runner. She turned out not too bad for a filly that was supposedly too fat and too slow to ever be a racehorse.

[CC]

I still remember watching the actual race in horror! And even though I know I'll be bawling, I'll probably watch the movie.

As an interesting aside, I found out that Vincent Bracciale, the jockey who rode Ruffian in some of races, bought Basil as a 2 yr. old from the Ocala sale!

[JenWolz]

I'm defintely going to watch it! I love learning about horses with so much heart and love for what they do. While it would be horrible to see the event itself, to know that she kept trying to go on is an amazing indication of what an incredible horse she was.