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1972-1975
Undefeated in 10 career starts

Ruffian was one fast filly.  Tony Triolo

Ten starts may not seem like much of a career, but Ruffian dominated her sport in a way that put the filly in a class by herself. As a two-year-old, she won each of her first five starts by an average of over seven-and-a-half lengths before her season was cut short by a hairline fracture in her right rear leg. Over the next year, she cruised to another five victories before facing her biggest challenge and, tragically, her downfall. On July 6, 1975, Ruffian was set for a match race at Belmont Park against Foolish Pleasure, a colt who had won the Kentucky Derby just two months earlier. It was supposed to be the equine battle of the sexes. But there was no Billie Jean King-like victory for Ruffian. In front of a national television audience of 18 million, she stumbled less than a half-mile into the race, shattering both sesamoid bones in her right foreleg. She continued to run on three legs, driving her injured ankle into the ground before she was pulled to a stop and, eventually, led into an ambulance and brought back to her barn. A team of doctors worked through the night, performing surgery for 3 1/2 hours. But when Ruffian came out of anesthesia, she kicked and bucked until her cast was mangled. The doctors had no choice but to euthanize the filly. Ruffian was buried in the infield at Belmont.

They said it: "I haven't been around a horse before or since with that sense of purpose. She only knew one way -- her way -- and that was her undoing. There's the old cliché, 'speed kills.' Speed killed Ruffian." -- Dr. Jim Prendergast, on Ruffian's racing style

-- Gil Lopez

Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.
 

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