I am sure I am not the only one who thought of Ruffian and Go for Wand (and many others) while watching the Preakness drama. I was in front of a television at a country inn in New Hampshire with farrier instructor Mitch Taylor, SNEFA president Sean McClure, Mitch's lobsterman cousin, and a vet student from St George University in Granada. We had just finished an anatomy lab at the Myrhe Equine Clinic in Rochester, NH. Oh, and the bartender, who was a dressage rider.
Just think, you only have to wait one year and ten days to re-live the horror of a horse breaking down.ESPN's made-for-tv film "RUFFIAN" will be based on the true story of one of the most beloved (and ill-fated) racehorses of all time. 1975 champion filly Ruffia broke down during a match race against champion colt Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park in NY. Rufffian re-broke her leg after surgery and was euthanized. Some of us have never forgotten that day. The film will be shown on ABC on June 4, 2007 and will star Sam Shepard, one of my favorite actors.
Text and photos © 2006 Hoofcare Publishing. Text and photos posted on “The HoofBlog”, a casual news source for subscribers and friends of Hoofcare & Lameness: The Journal of Equine Foot Science. Learn more (and subscribe online using our secure server) at http://www.hoofcare.com or write to Hoofcare Publishing, 19 Harbor Loop, Gloucester MA 01930 USA. Tel USA 978 281 3222; Fax 978 283 8775, or email hoofblog@hoofcare.com
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