I have not watched a live race since Ruffian.
I stopped watching long before that.The modern thoroughbred is an accident waiting to happen,too much muscle and not enough bone.I stick to foundation quarterhorses and Spanish Mustangs that have a proper balance of muscle and bone strength,horses that can run flat out without hurting themselves.
Neither have I.
Broken heart that day.
The way she was built, Ruffian was an accident waiting to happen.
Barbaro, 2006 Kentucky Derby winner then shattered his leg two weeks later in the Preakness.........That was heart wrenching to watch and the last live race I ever watched.
Ruffian hit the gate throwing her weight on the right front leg. The break may have happened right there. But with adrenaline flowing and the urge to run she just kept going. Vasquez tried to pull her up when he realized what had happened but she refused to quit.