On July 6th 1975 at a few minutes to 6 pm two horses went to the post at Belmont Park in New York. They were in a very special race. It was the meeting of the Champion 2 yr old filly of 1974 and the Champion 2 yr old colt of 1974. Both had gone through their 2 yr old seasons undefeated. As a three year old the colt had lost a few races but was still a wonderful race horse, winning the 1975 Kentucky Derby. The filly had remained undefeated, she had now won 10 races, always in the lead, always perfect. She had even won the New York Filly Triple Crown. She would have probably raced against colts in the Derby, but a hairline fracture in one of her hind leg ended her 2 year old season and so she wasn't ready for the mile and a quarter distance in early May. They were in the Great Match Race, colt versus filly, boy versus girl, it was the battle of the sexes. As they paraded in front of the grandstand filled with cheering fans the filly was the favorite. This battle that the 2 were about to start would never prove anything about who was the better horse though. Ruffian (the filly) after starting slowly at the gate was quicky with Foolish Pleasure (the colt). After the first quarter Ruffian put her nose in front. Foolish Pleasure had glued himself to her though, but the glue was starting to come undone. Ruffian was beginning to draw away. First her head was in front, then her neck, she was beginning to roll. She changed leads and she was ½ a length in front of the colt. The crowd was on their feet screaming and cheering. Then the 2 riders heard something, like the snapping of a twig. Suddenly Foolish Pleasure was a length in front, then 2, then 3 then 4. Dave Johnson calling the race at Belmont and Chic Anderson calling the race on TV both cried the same words in disbelief, "Ruffian has broken down! Ruffian has broken down!" Ruffian wouldn't stop though. Jacinito Vasquez, her jockey, knew what had happened and tried to pull her up. Ruffian wouldn't have it though. She didn't understand the pain, all she wanted was to run, to beat the colt. She shattered her sesamoids, torn up her ligaments, ripped the skin off her fetlocks. When her hoof dangled uselessly from her leg she ran on the exposed bones. It took Jacinito 30 strides to stop her. They loaded her onto the ambulance and took her to a near by equine hospital. They tried to operate, and though the operation was successful, Ruffian thrashed around so much while waking up from the anesthesia that she undid all the good that the operation had done, ripping off her cast. On July 7th at about 20 minutes past 2 am Ruffian was put to sleep, her owners didn't want her to suffer anymore. The only thing that was proved, was only death could beat her.