Ruffian: A Racetrack Romance

by William Nack

Documents the rise and tragic end of the career of 1970s filly racer Ruffian, whose televised match against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure resulted in a life-ending foreleg break, in an account that also traces the author's love for the sport. TV tie-in.

Genres: Horses, Horse Racing, Nonfiction, Sports, History, Animals

112 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2007

About the author

William Nack is an American journalist and author. He wrote about sports, politics and the environment at Newsday for 11 years before joining the staff of Sports Illustrated in 1978 as an investigative reporter and general feature writer.

Since leaving S.I. in 2001, Nack has freelanced for numerous publications, including GQ and ESPN.com. He also served as an adviser on the made-for-TV-movie Ruffian (2007) and the Disney feature Secretariat (2010).

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure how he managed to conceal it in his book on Secretariat, but William Nack is a pompous ass. Seriously. He thinks he knows everything just because he's been around a while. Sorry, but other people have been around horses, too, and most of them don't act like that makes them smarter than everyone else. Also, he places himself in situations where cameras say he was not, like running across a racetrack during a race...who would do that? And why can't I spot him on the footage? It could just be that I can't find him because I've always been terrible at 'Where's Waldo?', but I seriously don't see him running across the track and almost getting run over by Foolish Pleasure.

Also, his account of Barbaro is considerably different from the people who actually knew the horse and were standing right there with him after he broke down. He is clearly condescending about Barbaro, and characterizes him as being so scared he almost hurt himself further. Other people have said he was relatively calm and seemed to know he should try not to move, and other than repeatedly flexing the injured leg in what seems to be an uncontrollable pain reflex, he stood fairly calmly in the footage, considering the level of pain he had to be in and how much adrenaline was probably pumping through him. I was watching live on television at home, and I didn't see him plunging or trying to rear or do anything else to almost hurt himself.

Basically, the whole tone of the book is off-putting, and I did not enjoy Nack preaching to us as though 'only he really knew the horse'! I enjoyed his Secretariat book, but I hated this one and will not be reading anything else he writes.

Instead of this one, read Ruffian: Burning from the Start. It's about a million times better.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel emotions, twice. First at the very beginning when the author tells what happened to the poor filly Ruffian. The burial scene in the center of the track caught me off guard and my eyes got all wet and my nose was running. I never heard of Ruffian before but that didn't matter. I know horses. And the week before Easter two of the mares I knew had been put down and had been buried on the ranch, in the pasture. But they had lived full lives. They were old. Ruffian was so young. Still only a filly. And she gave it her all...

The second time was at the end of the book. When the author once again describes that scene. But now there's more details. He also tells what had happened to her. And he has been there that day. He had been alongside her when she was injured.

If you are the kind of person who cries at these sad animal stories than this book will probably get you too. But I know not everyone is affected that way. The overall affect of the book was this gloomy sad feeling.

I am not actually a horse race fan. But I like to learn more about horses. And while sad this book has definitely taught me a few new things. Which is why I read them. Besides I want to learn about these champion horses.

One thing I never fully understood was why so many race horses break their legs. I had heard various things in the past about this, like they are too young. That the leg bones are not fully formed yet, etc. But in here the author offers a new idea about this. And I found it very interesting. And I have to admit it makes sense to me. It would be very ironic if it were true: the same thing that gives them great speed also gives them "soft bones" (fragile bones).

This book also introduced me to the sesamoid bones. I never heard of them before. Or the ligaments they are attached to. But I looked it up on Google and now I know where they are located. So next time I go out to the ranch I can point out their location to the people I see there. Reading books about race horses can be educational about their body structure, especially the legs.

But I loved the writing style in here. It's basically a first person account because the author was there. He tells it from his own viewpoint and experience. He saw Ruffian rise up in her career all the way to her end. He even points out he had this foreboding before that race too...

Oddly enough there is only one photo in here of Ruffian herself. There are six black and white photos altogether, including one of Foolish Pleasure. And the famous Secretariat.

This book is the author's love affair with horses. Even when he was serving overseas he was listening to the horse races on tapes that were sent to him.

I enjoyed reading this even though it was sad. Added it to my favorites list.

[Carin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The definitive book on Ruffian has already been written and this one is not it (read Burning From The Start by Jane Schwartz.) Still it is interesting to hear Nack's perspective on the triumph and trajedy surrounding the greatest filly that ever lived.

[Richard Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and more about William Nack's memories of becoming and being a turf writer than about Ruffian. Still, it's a good, brief read if you want to learn something about the horse racing game from an insider.

[Dennis McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know nothing about thoroughbred racing. Like a lot of you I've loved reading about certain horses. Nick's book on Secretariat is at the top of that list.

So I saw this tiny book by Nack. And I bought it. What a pleasure! This book is a heartfelt memory by a man who knows and loves racehorses. Ruffian is not one of the greats. Maybe she could have been.

But Nack loved her. And he wrote a book from that love. Elegant, eloquent and heartfelt.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

He attributed too many human female traits and stereotypes to her and it felt weird. Also there isn't actually a difference in how fast fillies and colts can run but he for some reason thought that was a thing. I always love reading about Ruffian (even though I cry everytime) but Ruffian: Burning from the Start was much better.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, a little heavy on time splits and bloodlines but interesting race details and behind the scenes stories

[Darla]

🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though you know how it ends doesn't make it any less heart breaking.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is as much about, or even more, Nack's love of horses and horse racing and the events of the 70's and beyond which brought a dose of reality to that love. Ruffian's breakdown during the match race with Foolish Pleasure was the pivot. She was bred for speed, with a pedigree weighted with forebears who were fast, but prone to break down. She was raced carefully, and removed from racing for a long rest after suffering a hairline fracture in one leg. At the same time, Nack notes that the growing prevalence of other trainers and owners to use steroids to mask pain and keep horses racing. It was a match race that didn't need to be run, but trainer Frank Whiteley and owners Stuart and Barbara Janney were sucked up into a carnival atmosphere that presented a Ruffian-Foolish Pleasure match race as the horse race battle of the sexes, in the same vein as the Billy Jean King-Bobby Riggs tennis match.

Nack was at Belmont when the race was run and witnessed the efforts of a team of vets and her trainer to save Ruffian. The last few pages are very difficult to read. Throughout runs his thoughts that the race wasn't necessary, no chance that Ruffian might have beaten Foolish Pleasure was worth the risk of running her.

I would gladly give the book that one extra star, except it occasionally feels choppy. I believe Nack put it together from articles he wrote at the time and perhaps a diary and that shows in a slight disjointedness.

It's a small book, 5 1/4 x 7 l/2, 103 pages, hardback. It's a simple elegance in its format and adds to the feel of holding and reading a personal memoir.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why I picked this up, but in the end, it was a well-put together and interesting read. It really is a love story. Nack loves his horses and Ruffian was a filly unlike any other. Tragic as well. Ruffian was the Barbaro of her generation.

[Tom Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the greatest fillies in racing history was undefeated before the race hailed as 'The battle of the sexes' in a match race that pitted Ruffian against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure."

[kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after watching the HBO Movie, Ruffian, so most of it was a repeat and therefore disappointing. Also, it was severely lacking in photos of Ruffian.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes 2 seconds to read. Sweet and succinct!

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on page 15 and I'm already holding back the tears. So sad. This is an insider view from a man who was there and knows so much about horseracing. An amazing story.

[Del · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly, "A Racetrack Romance" for the author. I loved his writing; that he didn't dumb down the language and his dry, fast (pun intended) style. Short but memorable.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast read and love song for racing and for the horse who embodied the best and worst of of it.

[Miranda Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The words move across the page in a lyrical way that evokes strong emotion, just like Ruffian herself.

[Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a dated book unless you like horse racing, It all took place in the early 70's so I remember the horses and some of the events.

[RRex · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on a great horse that many consider to be the female Secretariat.

Nack's SECRETARIAT: THE MAKING OF A CHAMPION is also highly recommended.

[Gina Tavish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've already read a story about Ruffian. Burning from the start and fell in love with her and then recently watched the Ruffian movie which was well done, I decided to read this book and was not as impressed as with the other book I had read.