All language subtitles for Ruffian (Yves Simoneau, 2007).english

Hey, Mike, let's get
his teeth checked.

He's dropping
too much grain here.

Sure thing,
Mr. Whiteley.

Dan.

Morning, Mr. Whiteley.
Big day today.

What's today?

Yearlings coming down
from Claiborne.

Oh. Ha.
Is that today?

You got your eye
on something special?

Got my eye on you. Now quit
talking and get these horses fed.

Horse racing
is a lot of things...

a sport, a business,
a spectacle.

The track's a place
for hopeful beginning,

triumph, sometimes heartbreak,

and always at the center
of it all are the horses.

Chico, Jim, sort these
bay horses out, would you?

Sure thing,
Mr. Whiteley.

Damn, that's some big baby.

It's the Reviewer filly
out of Shenanigans.

Now, she's a queen.

Well, don't forget, Man O' War's
half-brother pulled a milk cart.

Bet she got a lot of muscle
under that baby fat.

It ain't muscle yet.

She's got some class.

You never know till they run.

Ruffian.

She was built like a watch,

a study in balance.

A big, tall,
full-bodied filly

with a neck and head
so refined,

like a drawing by da Vinci.

Five months later, Frank Whiteley
took his filly north to Belmont.

All right. Give me 3/8.
Keep her under wraps.

I want a slow 3/8, all right? All right.

Don't push her.
OK.

It was a new world
for the young horse.

New sounds, new sights,

especially that great
mile-and-a-half oval of a track.

You pinhead.

He's not gonna be happy.

Man.

How fast do you think
you were going, Jacinto?

37. 37. How about 34 and change?

You call that slow?
I told you to go slow.

There's no way. I would have felt
- 34 and change!

You better fix that clock,
'cause there's no way.

I'm gonna fix your clock!

What'd you say?
I heard that.

She's some kind of racehorse.

She ain't raced nobody yet.

Race or not, I love that horse.

You never fall in love
with one.

Gas prices may be falling as...

OK, give me a year.

Not again.

Come on, come on.
Give me the year,

and I'll give you the winner. Let's go. 1876.

1800 and 76, hmm?
Taking me back.

Let's see. Would that
be... Vagrant?

Wait. What is
this game?

No, don't
encourage him, please.

Give me the year, any year,
from the beginning of time,

and I will tell you
who won the Kentucky Derby.

1955.

That was the year my boyhood
hero Swaps won the race.

Would you mind not cluttering
my bar with your stuff?

Uh, this stuff, to which
you so delicately refer,

happens to be my book, sir,

and it is dedicated to the greatest
horse ever to set four hooves

on a racetrack -
Secretariat.

Well, I got a race to cover.

You don't seem
so excited about that.

I've seen the greatest, OK?
Wrote a book about him.

So we've heard.

What do I owe you?

Five bucks.

I don't suppose you'd accept
a book as payment?

It was the start
of another racing season,

a time of high expectations.

I would swing past
Frank Whiteley's barn

because he always had a
live wire or two in his shed.

She's doing good.

Hey, Puerto Rican.

Yes, sir?

You got your boots on tight? Yes, sir.

Hey, Squeaky. Hey. It's that famous reporter.

Oh, it must be Tuesday.

How's the old man?
Good mood or bad mood today?

Now, look, all she's gonna
want to do is flat-out run.

Mm-hmm.
So let her have the lead

and take a snug hold
on her and no stick.

Snug hold.
All right, Mr. Whiteley.

Jacinto.
�Qu� pasa?

Ha-ha. Morning, Frank.

It's "Mr. Whiteley,"

and the Puerto Rican
understands English.

Ha.

That's commendable,
seeing as how

this particular Puerto Rican hails from Panama.

Bill, I told him a million times,
but you think he believes it?

Panama's a ditch, isn't it?

What do you got
for me today, Frank?

Goose eggs.

I was over at barn 10.

Guys over there like a filly in the
third hole by the name of Suzest.

Is that right?

Well, maybe you ought
to hang around barn 10,

'cause all we've got here is a
bunch of cheap crows, right, boys?

Right.
Yes, sir.

Jacinto?

Yeah, just a bunch
of cheap crows.

Well, thanks
for all the information.

Good luck to you.

Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen,

and welcome to Belmont Park.

The track is fast.
The turf course is firm.

All right.

Weak crowd, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.

Don't fall off.

24 and change
at the quarter pole...

Mets are getting bigger crowds
for batting practice.

Well, it's hard for a real racetrack to compete

with the beauty of your
off-track betting parlor, huh?

So, who do you like?

Suzest.
She's a cinch.

Suzest, huh?
Sure about that?

Holy crap.
Who the hell is she?

That is one of Frank's
cheap crows.

Well, where's he
been hiding her?

The Old Fox of Laurel
strikes again.

That, my friend, is...

...Ruffian.

Ruffian.

Sir. Ma'am.

She doesn't seem bothered
by the crowd.

Well, so far so good.

You tell Jacinto anything?

"Don't fall off."

What do you think?

Well, I think we're about to find out
whether she's more than just a morning glory.

The horses have reached
the starting gate.

The fillies are at the post, 10
of them ready to go 51/2 furlongs

here on the main track
at Belmont Park,

all of them maidens.

None of them
have won a race so far.

Let's see who emerges
as a winner this afternoon.

They're all in line,
and the flag is up.

And they're off.

Come on, Ruffian.

On the extreme outside,
there goes Ruffian,

charging up to take command
early and quickly.

Ruffian scoots
to the inside rail,

showing some quick early speed.

Come on, Ruffian! As they
move around the far turn...

Ruffian has moved to the rail
and is in front by 8 lengths...

Did you see that?

Oh, isn't that amazing?
Ohh.

It's Ruffian,
drawing clear now by 10.

She's drawing away!

Come on!

...Suzest in second,
but not closing in.

Garden Quad races third
as they turn for home.

Uh, we have to
double-check it.

And down the stretch they come!

And it's Ruffian,
and she's all alone!

It's Ruffian in front
by 12, by 15 lengths.

She did it!

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

The winner by 15 lengths

with the time of 1:03.

Well, looks like
we might have a good one.

That equals the track record

for Belmont Park's
51/2 furlongs

by a filly or a colt!

What a performance!

First-time starter Ruffian
to the winner's circle.

Congratulations, Frank. Never even broke a sweat.

How 'bout our girl?
Oh!

Good job, Jacinto.
Thank you.

Looks like you've got yourself
a racehorse, Aunt Barbara.

Well, that's my girl.

Good work, Frank.

That's the kind of performance
that'll bring people back to the track.

Mrs. Janney, Mr. Chairman?
This way, please.

Thank you.

Hey, Puerto Rican!

I tried to hold her back. Don't lie to me.

We won by 15 lengths.
That's a track record.

I told you, no stick. I don't
care about track records.

I want the win, and I want her
sound to come back and win again.

Now, if you pull that
again on me,

I'm gonna have to find
another rider, you understand?

I hear you.
Dios m�o...

What'd you say?
A prayer!

You're gonna need it.
What do you say, Frank?

Got any other cheap crows
like that one out in the barn?

I sure hope not.

Scare the hell
out of me if I did.

I appreciate all you boys
coming out here today.

In case you're wondering,
there's two reasons

that my filly here
is called Hot N Nasty.

The first one is,
is she is hot.

She smoked the favorite in
her last race by 21/2 lengths,

and she is downright nasty.

My filly's got a perfect record
- 3 and zip.

So does Ruffian. Ruffian's a
decent horse, I'll give you that.

But, uh, Hot N Nasty come here
to win the Sorority Stakes.

Were you happy with her workout this morning?

If she was doing any better, I couldn't
stand it, and the law wouldn't allow it.

I'd have to slap my grandma.

You're pretty confident.

Hey, you bet I am.

In fact, I'll show you
how confident I am.

Hey, Roscoe and Jack,
bring that over here.

Hey, wow. All right.

I'm gonna invite
all y'all back here

after the race
for a victory toast.

I went out and bought up all
this high-dollar bubbly here

'cause I know how you
newshounds like to souse it up.

Come on back after the race.
We'll do it up right.

All right.

Down the backstretch,
it's Ruffian in front...

Come on. Do it for Daddy.
Come on.

As they move into the far turn,

it's Ruffian
on the inside by a head,

Hot N Nasty is second.

Head and head,
stride for stride!

It's a two-horse race
as the field turns for home.

Come on, hang in there!

It's Ruffian and Hot N Nasty!

They're head and head
inside the eighth pole!

Ruffian on the inside. Hot N Nasty's
on the outside and trying to get by her.

Show her what you got!

Ruffian, Hot N Nasty.

Ruffian opens up a length.

Come on!
Hang in there!

Come on, baby!
Come on!

It's Ruffian!

Hey!
Oh, man!

...record in the Sorority...

1:09 flat!

Ruffian!

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

She had a tough time out there.

Oh, give me a break, Nack.

I mean, the filly just set a new stakes record.

She almost got beat.

It was life or death
at the eighth pole.

All right, walk her to me.

Now away.

Something's wrong with her.

I'm worried because she didn't
run her race out there today.

Never switch her leads, never.

Yeah, she's popped
a little cold splint.

She'll be fine.

I'll give her some time off.

By the time she gets to Saratoga, she'll be 100%.

Mr. Whiteley?

Mr. Lasater says we're the
ones that should have this.

Well, you tell Mr. Lasater
thank you very much.

We sure appreciate it.

Aren't you gonna pop the cork?

I ain't much of a drinker.
You help yourself.

Come here.

I'm not sure I deserve it.

I had my doubts
about her mid-stretch.

Well, you're in
the opinion business, not me.

Hey.
Hey.

She was a little off today.

Heh. Is that right?

Heck of a fast time.

Ever spend any time
away from your horses?

No need to.

Good company.

Well, believe it or not,

I used to be a groom.

Is that right?

Growing up in Chicago, all the
other kids worshiped Ernie Banks.

My hero was Swaps.

Yeah, for a California horse,
he was all right.

I'll never forget the day
he lost to Nashua.

Oh. I was heartbroken.

Swaps didn't lose to Nashua,
he lost to Arcaro.

Shoemaker got outfoxed
that day.

No damn match race
ever proved a thing.

Hmm. That's what people
want to see, right?

Two horses going at it,
one on one?

The only way to win
is fly out of the gate,

flat-out sprint
for a mile and a quarter.

All speed, no pace.

How do you get a horse
happy like that?

Fuss with them,
rub on them a little.

You gonna let her fuss
with the colts?

She's a perfect 4-0.

4 races, 4 records.
I mean...

running with the fillies
doesn't seem like much

of a challenge to her anymore.

I'll tell you what.
I'll make you a little deal.

You stick to
the writing part of it,

and I'll do the horse training,
OK? Fair enough?

Fair enough. Ha-ha-ha.

Just one last thing, Frank.

Is there a horse out there
that can run with her?

As it turned out,

there was another challenger
out there,

another horse
with a perfect record.

Not a filly, a colt.

His name was Foolish Pleasure.

He looked like
an outside linebacker...

quick and athletic

with muscles in his eyebrows.

He was shaping up as the best
two-year-old colt in the country.

Besides being undefeated,

he had something else
in common with Ruffian...

he had the same jockey.

Frank felt it was too early
for Ruffian to take on the colt.

His plan was to establish her

as the best filly
in the country.

A good place to do that
was Saratoga,

a bright stage
where people came

to spot future contenders
for the Triple Crown.

Ruffian, at 4-0,

was beginning to attract her own
fans, especially among the ladies.

Hey, Puerto Rican.

You know, if you weren't such a fool,
you'd be wearing our colors today.

Yeah, but I appealed the
suspension for the rough riding...

Save your breath, Puerto Rican. Hey, come on.

Some jock boxes me in,
what am I...

I don't need your damn excuses.

This filly wants to have the same
rider on her back every time she goes.

Now, if you can't ride safe
and stay out of trouble,

you're not gonna get
on her back, you understand?

All right.

Hey, Vincente, three things...

don't get her hurt,

don't use the stick
and don't get her beat.

Yes, sir.

Huh.

Hey, amigo.

Don't you have a stall
to muck out, Baeza?

Ha-ha. You should have
put me on your filly.

I put you on Damascus six years
ago. It was the mistake of my life.

That horse was sore.
Aw, bull.

You stiffed him so your regular
mount could get Horse of the Year.

Dr. Fager was a better horse,
and you know it.

You held my horse, Baeza.
Get out of here.

You don't scare me.
Her, neither.

Today she gets beat.

Adios.

Well, nice day for a race.

Yes.

Well, they're at the gate for the
6-furlong Spinaway here at Saratoga,

a field of four.

The favorite, 1-5 Ruffian, looking
for her fifth straight victory,

and she is undefeated.

Vince Bracciale Jr.
rides this afternoon.

Second choice is Laughing
Bridge, 3-1, with Braulio Baeza.

You see?
People love her.

Yeah, OK, OK.
Let's see how she runs.

All in line,
ready for the start.

And they're off
in the Spinaway.

Good break, Vince.

And Ruffian quickly
takes command,

Scottish Melody
into the second spot,

Laughing Bridge
is now racing third.

They move to the top of the stretch...
Wait...

...and it's Ruffian now in
command by 2, by 3 lengths.

Go, girl, go!

Come on! Go, go, go!
Not yet, Vince.

They move past the half-mile
pole, heading to the far turn.

Go! Go! Whoo!

Now!

A quick burst of speed as Ruffian
draws away to lead by 8 lengths.

A magnificent performance!

Go! Yeah!

Go! Ha-ha-ha!

Look at that!

It's over!

Ruffian, under the wire
to win it

by... by 13 lengths!

The time - 1:083/5...

a new stakes record
for the Spinaway!

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Do you see that?

That's another track record.
What you got to say now, huh?

I'm speechless.

Of course you are! He didn't even step on the gas.

Nobody even knows how much
that filly can run.

Faster than any two-year-old has
ever run 6 furlongs on this track,

filly or colt,
including Secretariat.

She beat them all.

She's in a class
all by herself.

She's up there
with the great ones.

What are the odds,
Mr. Whiteley?

26,000 foals
registered every year,

and here, God sends us
this one.

Well...

even a blind hog can find an
acorn now and then, huh, Dan?

They called him
"The Fox of Laurel"...

Here, you take her.

...that for his ability
to keep one eye on his horse...

...and the other eye
on the competition.

Down the stretch they come
in the Hopeful,

and it is Foolish Pleasure
taking command!

Foolish Pleasure,
the tough undefeated colt,

had his own race -
colts only.

Thataboy.

Here's the wire.

Foolish Pleasure
wins the Hopeful

by almost 4 lengths

and remains undefeated.

I told you you should have bet.

All right!
He won, he won!

LeRoy, that's six for six.

Who's counting?

Well, how do you think that compares
against Ruffian's win yesterday?

Fellas, the only way to compare
the two is to let them run together.

Just like my daddy said,
we can only beat the horses

that are willing
to run against us.

Hey, but you ought to be
asking Frank Whiteley

when that girl of his
will be ready to go.

He don't want no part
of this colt.

Frank? Well,
so what do you think?

Well, colt can run
a little bit.

People are saying
that your filly

is the best two-year-old
in the country.

Is that what people are saying?

There's gonna be plenty
of colts

at the Champagne Stakes at
Belmont, including Foolish Pleasure.

Well, don't get all worked up.

October is still
a ways off yet.

Come on. Give me
something, will you?

Anything. An inkling. I got to
have something to write about.

And I thought you guys
made all this stuff up.

All right, look...

we'll go against fillies again
in the Frizette...

OK.
... sharpen her up.

Right.

She comes out of that OK,

maybe we'll go
in the Champagne. Maybe.

That's not much to write about.

Make it up.

Make it up.

The morning of the Frizette,

there was a hush of
anticipation along the shed row.

Could Ruffian continue her
string of record-setting runs?

Mr. Whiteley.

Never seen her leave
this much before.

Well, let's get
her temperature.

Hey, Mike? Grab a shank
and walk her out, would you?

Yes, sir.

There. You see
that funny step?

All right.
Turn her.

And stand.

Well, let's call the vet and
get a set of pictures on her.

What's the problem, Frank?

Well, sir, I don't know why
she's spiking a fever, but she is.

Frank, there are 25,000 people out
there for the Frizette Stakes today.

Yeah, well, we're gonna
have to scratch her.

Nobody knows the horse better than Frank.

If he says she's a scratch, she's out.

Then she's out of the Frizette? Yes, sir.

But she will be ready for the
Champagne Stakes October 5th?

Well, that's entirely
up to her.

No, but, Frank, the Champagne
is a rare opportunity for us

to feature Ruffian and Foolish
Pleasure in the same field.

Horse racing needs this race.

We really need to bring people
back to the tracks again.

Yes, sir. I need
to take care of my horse.

Sorry, fellas.

So, you see this cloudy area
here... and here.

It's a hairline fracture.

She's gonna need a cast.

You're doing good.
Come on.

Here we go.
A little bit more.

Just a little bit more.

Oh - Come on, now.

OK, you're all right.
Come on now.

Easy, missy. Easy.
That's right.

We're almost done here.

Shh, shh...

I don't know, Doc. She's
gonna tear that whole foot up.

You don't give up easy,
do you, girl?

OK, we'll go with the soft one.

You kick me, I'll kick back!

How is she, Doc?

She's got a hairline fracture
on her right hind leg.

When will she be able
to race again?

Mm, it'll be months.

You know what happens?

Here, you've got this half-ton animal
galloping at 36 miles an hour...

and for one split second, when you've got
that foreleg out front of all that weight,

all that force gets thrown
down into that one small hoof.

12,000 pounds of pressure
on that thin lower leg.

Keep an eye on her, Dan.

You bet.

Don't you have a home?
Season's over.

Boy, I sure was looking forward to
seeing her race against Foolish Pleasure.

I hate to disappoint you,
but she's done for the year.

Gonna take her back down to Camden,
let her grow into a three-year-old,

let her be a horse for a while.

With Ruffian now idle
on the sidelines,

the historic Champagne Stakes fell to
the swift mercy of Foolish Pleasure.

Down the stretch they come
in the Champagne Stakes.

It's Foolish Pleasure
with jockey Jacinto Vasquez,

in front by 6 lengths,

and it's Foolish Pleasure,
taking the Champagne by 6.

Gentlemen,

my colt Foolish Pleasure

is now unbeaten
in seven starts.

Now, that's at six different
racetracks, six different distances.

Now, what else
has he got to prove? Ha!

I could take it from here,
Mr. Whiteley.

No, I got it.
You go on home.

You sure?
There's no one else here.

Well, there's 26 head
of horses.

You want me to mix
the medicine for you?

No, go on.
Get out of here.

All right.

Merry Christmas,
Mr. Whiteley.

Yep.

Oh, girl, you know
I can't turn you out.

Just run yourself silly
and get hurt again.

You probably don't even know
you're hurtin', do you?

Heh.

Maybe a year or two from now...

if you make them colts
cry "Uncle."

Well...

tell you what.

One little stroll,

just 'cause it's Christmas.

Now, listen, missy,
I'm turning you loose.

You're not gonna go crazy and
make me look bad now, are you? Huh?

All right.

Quite the little lady.

Come on, let's take
a little stroll.

Here.

You're feeling good.

Come on.

There was a sense of electricity
in the air that spring morning.

She came back to Belmont
groomed and glistening

in a black fur coat,

bigger than she was
last season,

wider, taller, fuller,

looking like a princess
who had grown into a queen.

33 and 2/5.

She's flying.

Welcome back,
Mr. Whiteley.

Oh, I knew my day
was going too good.

Looks like
your filly's back, too.

Got any race picked out yet?

Couple weeks.

Nice to see you, too.

And they're off!

And Ruffian, undefeated
in five starts last year,

jumps right to the front
in her comeback,

and she is in front
by a length quickly.

Down the stretch they come,
Ruffian in front.

A sensational return
to the racing wars.

Ruffian by almost 5 lengths.

It's Ruffian, and she's back.

Mr. Whiteley, it's too early
in her comeback

for Ruffian
to run in the Derby,

but is there any chance
she'll run the Preakness? Nope.

You're from Maryland. Wouldn't it be nice
to get back to your old stomping grounds?

The Preakness has turned into a big circus.

Her dates are the Acorn, the
Mother Goose and the Oaks.

Filly Triple Crown.
That's right.

She's running strictly with the
girls. She does like boys, doesn't she?

She likes everybody
except reporters.

What are you smiling
about, Jacinto?

I get to ride the best filly
and the best colt,

and now I don't even
have to choose.

As usual, in the spring,

the pace of thoroughbred racing
began to quicken.

A month later, Foolish
Pleasure came from behind

to win the Kentucky Derby.

And down the stretch they come

in the first jewel
of the Filly Triple Crown.

The following week,

Ruffian trounced the field
of fillies in the Acorn.

Ruffian, in another
stakes record performance!

But then Foolish Pleasure
fell short at the Preakness...

while Ruffian
just kept rolling,

winning the second leg
of the Filly Triple Crown

and once again setting
a new stakes record.

Mr. Laurin, as the man
who trained Secretariat,

I wonder if you could share with
us your thoughts about Ruffian.

As God is my witness, she may
be even better than Secretariat.

A week later, Foolish Pleasure
gave it all he had,

but lost by a head
in the Belmont.

Frank Whiteley had the only undefeated
three-year-old at this point.

He planned to win the third and
final leg of the Filly Triple Crown

and then beat the heat in July.

Cassie,
I need you to proof this,

particularly this name,
that fact,

and also check on...

Oh, I gotta call you back.

What are you doing here?
This is a place of business.

You heard the rumor?
What rumor?

The race of champions.
The race of champions?

The big boys in the NYRA, they're trying
to do something to spike attendance.

Yeah, so? Three different horses each won a leg

of the Triple Crown this year, right? Yeah?

First time in five years.

They're gonna put all three
of them into one starting gate,

see which one's
the best of the bunch.

What about Ruffian?

The boys forgot to invite her
to their little stag party.

Hey, Dick, get a load of this.

"Race of champions?

That's either a bad joke
or false advertising."

Huh? Huh? "Truth is, no
three-year-old colt this year

"can call himself a champion
unless he tests himself

against the unequaled
filly Ruffian."

Need a kicker.
Give me a kicker.

Gentlemen?

Ah! Gentlemen.
Thank you.

"Gentlemen,

"you cannot steal the crown

of a champion."

"You... must...

earn it."

Very nice.

"You cannot steal
the crown of a champion.

You must earn it."

Oh, boy, that is
good writing. Heh-heh.

You got the girls
buzzing with that.

Ha-ha. Can't say I'm surprised. Frank like it?

Ha! I think you'll have
to ask him about that.

Ah. I'm sure he did.

Field of four horses -
three colts and Ruffian.

The column got it right.
Got it right?

Avatar's already on an
airplane back to California.

He's not turning back.

And there's no way in hell
LeRoy Jolley's gonna run his colt

against another stalker like
Master Derby and my speed horse.

Now you watch.

They'll find a way to get
Master Derby to drop out, too,

and then where's
your four-horse field, huh?

How many horses we got left?

Two.

Yeah. What kind
of race is that?

A match race. Boy versus girl.
Ruffian versus Foolish Pleasure.

The two best three-year-olds in
the country, a fight to the finish.

I thought
the racing association

made a commitment
to run those three colts.

Avatar dropped out.

What about the Preakness
winner - Master Derby?

The owners have been
compensated. $50,000 to withdraw.

50 grand not to race?

What sort of nonsense...

It makes perfect sense,
Aunt Barbara.

It clears the way for the race
the world wants to see.

I don't know.
Did you speak to Frank?

Ruffian belongs to you,

but she also belongs
to the public.

After all, it's the race fans that
make that $400,000 purse possible.

You can't put a price on this.

55,000 fans here at Belmont,

20 million more
watching on television.

The largest purse ever, more
people viewing than ever before.

This one event
could revive the sport.

Mr. Janney,
you're up early.

Ah, couldn't sleep.

Beautiful horse.

She's about as close to perfect as I ever seen.

You ready to win the Oaks?
You bet.

And after that...

Frank, you and I both know
that, some point,

she's gonna have to run
against the boys.

I'm thinking the Travers
up at Saratoga, mid-August.

It's a long way off.

Well, good horses
always need some time.

Frank, you asked for more time

the end of last season,
I gave it to you.

You know I trust you
with this horse.

It's just that the pressure
to have this match race

is just - it's overwhelming.

I don't see how
we can get out of it.

They've got our backs
against the wall.

The newspapers
won't let go of it.

The truth of the matter is,
the sport is hurting.

Barbara and I can do
something to help,

really help.

Right now, I-I...

I don't see how I can let a
few months stand in the way.

Mr. Janney, all I really know is horses.

I mean, I don't know about the
business end of this game, but...

I just don't think a match race

is the right thing for her.

Are you saying she'll lose?

No, but... that colt's
gonna be breathing on her

every step of the way.

They're gonna have to sprint
a solid mile and a quarter.

You know, I understand

you're under a lot
of pressure, sir, but...

I'd just prefer you didn't
pass that on to the filly.

Well, she's a great racehorse,

maybe one of the best ever.

If we don't push her, she just
might have a chance to prove it.

With all due respect, you
didn't answer my question.

Can she win this race?

Yes, sir, she sure can.

Will you train her
so she can win it?

I'm not gonna walk away
from her now, am I?

We've come too far, huh?

Thank you, Frank.

We are pleased to announce
that a match race has been set

for July 6th between Foolish Pleasure,
this year's Kentucky Derby winner,

and Stuart Janney's
fine filly Ruffian,

the best filly of this era,
possibly of all time.

CBS will broadcast the event
live from Belmont Park

for all of America to see.

The purse will be the richest

in American thoroughbred
racing history - $400,000...

with $225,000 going
to the winner.

Question.

Mr. Nack,

as our most vocal advocate
for this event,

ask away.

Question for Mr. Whiteley.

Will Jacinto Vasquez
be riding your filly

or Mr. Jolley's colt?

You're gonna have to ask him.

That's it. Bring up
the T-shirts.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have some gifts
for you to kick off this historic event.

You'll just have to decide
if you're rooting for her...

or for him.

Look at this.

He's trying to make a bra
burner out of this filly.

It sells tickets.

Sells newspapers, too.
Isn't that right, Nack?

Well... let the battle
of the sexes begin.

Hey, fellas.

You're gonna have to make up your
mind, Jacinto, one way or the other.

What do you think?

Are you telling me what to do?

It's your choice, Jacinto.

I just want you to have all the
facts before you make your decision.

Now, if you do go
with Foolish Pleasure,

of course you're not gonna be
able to ride my filly anymore.

You know that, don't you?

That's a lot of purse money
left on the table, isn't it?

Well, Mr. Jolley said I can ride
for him no matter who I choose.

Well, he's a generous man.
I'm not.

So what's it gonna be,
Puerto Rican?

Oh, man, why you got to
bust my chops all the time?

You make it so hard to like
you, I'll tell you that.

I don't want you to like me.

If you start liking me, you'd be
riding her for the wrong reasons.

The only reason
to get on her back

is 'cause you think
she's the better horse.

So what's it gonna be?

Hey, which horse you gonna
ride for the match race?

Stay away from my jockey, Nack.

It's Ruffian in front
by a length and 3/4.

Equal Change on the outside,
second by one,

and Let Me Linger is racing third
as they come to the eighth pole.

Down the stretch they come.
Ruffian...

Come on, baby! go!
Yes!

...Equal Change is second...

Come on! Go! Go!

...to the wire.

It's Ruffian!

And Ruffian sweeps
the Filly Triple Crown...

That's it!
Yeah! Yeah!

...2:27 and 4/5 seconds.

What a performance.

Did you get yours?

Heh! You got
the wrong name on that pin.

Good job.
Way to go.

Congratulations.
Way to finish.

That's great!

Well, she set a stakes record,

and Jacinto was holding her
under wraps.

What do you think of that?

She's gonna be very tough. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

You choose your jock yet?

Baeza.

Baeza?

Adding a little fuel
to the fire.

After two shots at Ruffian,

nobody wants to beat her
more than Baeza.

No one wants to beat Frank Whiteley
more than Baeza, right? Heh-heh-heh.

Well, the jock don't like him, that's for sure.

Oh, no. Heh-heh.

You... sore at Jacinto
for going with the filly?

No.

He chose Ruffian 'cause he thinks she's the best.

I think Foolish Pleasure's the best.

And that, my friend,
is what makes horse races.

Sure.

To the winner and still-undefeated
champion - Ruffian.

Well, to our network sponsors.

Ah, thank you.
Cheers.

When Billie Jean King
beat Bobby Riggs

just two summers ago,

their tennis match
drew 30,000 fans.

We're expecting 55,000
for the great match race.

But, no matter who wins
on July 6th,

we will all be winners, because
we'll have drawn millions of viewers

and millions of new fans to
the great sport of horse racing.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Janney,
you wanted to see me?

Frank, I just want you to know
that when all of this is over,

we're gonna go back
to your schedule.

Yes, sir. Appreciate that.

Dinny and the fellas from CBS
want to have a few words with you.

Last-minute details
to hash out,

cameras and whatnot, OK?

Yep.
Good.

A mile-and-a-quarter race has
its starting at this colored post,

down here on what we call
the clubhouse turn...

You can't start a match race on the turn.

Our audience
will want to see...

No. They're gonna break out of
the gate wide open, go into a turn?

We need a shot of
the start of the race.

I don't care about your
cameras. I care about my filly.

It's got to start in the chute.

You might as well start
in New Jersey.

No. If we do that, the crowd won't know
what's going on for the first quarter-mile.

Heh. Well, how 'bout
we move the crowd?

We'll get a much better shot

if we start
at the clubhouse turn.

This is a horse race.
It's not a picture show.

Is that the best we can do?

What do you think?

I've already told you
what I think, Mr. Janney.

You asked me, "Can we win this,"
and I think she can, but...

you want to start her
on the turn...

you're just gonna have to find
yourself a different trainer.

The New York Racing Association
and Belmont Park

must always place the safety
of our racehorses first.

Therefore, we've come to the
conclusion we have no choice

but to begin this great match
race running a mile and a quarter

between Ruffian and Foolish
Pleasure on our historic chute.

We've all been waiting a very
long time for this, gentlemen,

and we look forward to seeing
you there on match-race day.

All I'm asking
is one good workout, OK?

You know the horse.
You won the Derby on him.

Come on. Just, uh...
bring him up to speed.

He's not doing what
he needs to be doing, OK?

You owe me this much.

I'll think about it,
and I'll let you know.

Let me know.
Yeah. Thank you.

What's on old LeRoy's mind?

Nothing. He wanted to know if I can
work Foolish Pleasure tomorrow morning.

What?

So you can sharpen his colt
to beat my filly?

Are you kidding? I never said I would do it.

You better not. He's just messing
with your mind, Puerto Rican.

I know.

He knows he ain't got
the horse.

He knows there's no way in hell

I'd let you anywhere near Foolish
Pleasure between now and Sunday.

He's just trying to build
a fire under Baeza's ass.

It's like this race
is already being run, huh?

You're not having second thoughts, are you?

Heh.

22 and change.

So what do you think about all this
women's-lib jazz surrounding the race?

Well, at this point in era,

there's no way a filly
is gonna beat a colt.

Ruffian's going to win
because she's the better horse.

Foolish Pleasure
just because he's a male.

Ruffian because she's a female.

I say Ruffian.

I have to agree with my wife.

I like Foolish Pleasure, 'cause
I'm a male chauvinist pig.

And here comes Ruffian,
eating up the track.

The filly is only the fourth horse
to sweep the Filly Triple Crown,

and this workout today
is her last

before a showdown with Kentucky Derby
winner the colt Foolish Pleasure.

One shot.
One shot.

Mr. Whiteley, one picture of
the horse. Come on, just one.

She's Wonder Woman,
for crying out loud.

The people want to see her.

Yeah!

All right.
Maybe just one.

Hey, Mike?

Send them on down to stall 9, would
you, and let them have one shot?

Stall 9, sir?

Yeah.

You sure you want
to disturb her, boss?

I think she can handle it.
Don't you?

If you say so, yes, sir.

And just one shot, but be
careful 'cause she bites.

You got our word.
One and done.

Well, you heard
the man. Come on.

Kicks, too.

Thank you, sir.
Thank you.

Right down here?
All right.

Get a shot?

Just one, now.

OK.

OK.

Oh...

Are we ready?

Behind me is the brilliant filly Ruffian.

The hopes and dreams of
girls and women everywhere...

Idiots.

...this Sunday
as she takes on

Kentucky Derby winner
Foolish Pleasure.

Can a girl beat a boy?

Is the female of the species
better than the male?

Old Frank sure knows how to get
around the press, doesn't he?

Yeah, it's hard to believe they
can't tell that horse from this one.

I bet she'd love to be over there,
posing for all those cameras.

Ain't that the truth?

Look at her.

Not a worry in the world.

All she wants to do is run.

It's a long time to wait
for those two minutes.

You nervous?

Every time she goes,
I'm nervous as a cat.

See ya.

Behind me stands
the brilliant filly Ruffian.

The hopes and dreams
of girls and women everywhere

will be riding on her
this Sunday

as she takes on Kentucky
Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.

We were watching that.

Boy versus girl. He versus
she. Battle of the sexes.

First of all, you know what?
It's horses! Horses, not people!

And we're supposed to be
journalists. Objective journalists.

Now, come on.
Go back to work.

What's the problem?

The problem?

It's-It's the spectacle,
you know? The circus.

It's not what I wanted.
It's not what I write about.

You know why you're
a great sportswriter?

'Cause you love the game and
you're passionate about it,

more than most people.

Sometimes they move in
directions you don't want to go.

Sorry.

Good afternoon, and welcome
to the great match race.

We're here at Belmont Park for what many
have called "the battle of the sexes."

Today, a black beauty
of a filly named Ruffian,

winner of all ten
of her starts,

will take on the powerful colt
Foolish Pleasure,

winner of the Kentucky Derby.

Yes, it's a day to dance,
a day to celebrate,

for this great match race
is an historic event,

a classic sporting
confrontation,

featuring a match-up as electric as
that of any World Series, Super Bowl

or heavyweight title bout.

but there's competition
beyond the track as well...

the so-called women's libbers
versus the male chauvinists.

Male versus female. Guys,
are you gonna win today?

Yeah!
Yeah!

I don't know if you're gonna
be outdone by the ladies.

As you can see,

a whole lot more rides on
today's race than a $2 bet.

You ready?

She's ready, but if Jolley
thinks I'm taking her up there

one second before I have to,

he's got his socks on
over his boots.

Thanks.

Colt's on his way.

Well, let's go to the party.

Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen,

and welcome to Belmont Park

for the great match race.

The horses will be
on the track momentarily.

Best of luck, Stuart, Barbara.

Lee?

I'll be damned if you didn't pull
it off, Dinny. Have a good race.

Ladies and gentlemen,

here's the field
for the great match race.

Number one is
Locust Hill Farm's Ruffian,

a three-year-old daughter
of Reviewer out of Shenanigans,

trained by Frank Whiteley Jr.

and ridden by Jacinto Vasquez.

Number two is John L. Greer's
Foolish Pleasure.

Foolish Pleasure is a son of What
A Pleasure out of Fool Me Not,

and the trainer
is LeRoy Jolley...

What do you think?

I think she's gonna win.

Me too.

The distance
of the match race...

a mile and a quarter.

Good luck,
Mr. Whiteley.

The horses
for the great match race

will be at the starting gate
in eight minutes.

Would you look at this turnout?

It's great.

Oh, they're all here
for your girl.

Our girl.

Nice to see this place
so packed.

Yeah, it's amazing.

So did Whiteley say anything?
I mean, how's the horse?

Nothing left to say.

Time for them to race.

It is now post time
for the great match race.

The colt and the filly
are ready, the flag is up.

What's up?

They seem very calm.

All set for the start.

And they're off!

It's Foolish Pleasure
going to the front.

Ruffian on the inside,
up to challenge.

Come on.

Come on, baby.
Come on.

The first quarter
in 22 and 1/5 seconds.

Ruffian on the inside, now
gets to the front by a head.

Go, Ruffian!

She's beating him.

She is.

Come on! Come on!

Ha-ha-ha!
Come on, baby.

Those two stride for stride as
they race down the backstretch.

He's on the outside.
She's at the rail.

She's in front by half a length. Come on, baby.

On the outside,
Foolish Pleasure right there.

Ruffian has broken down!

Ruffian has broken down!

Jacinto Vasquez

using his shoulder to try
and support the filly.

Come on. Come on.

First time they throw some speed
at her, she comes unbuckled! Ha-ha!

Mr. Whiteley, there's still a horse running.

Please.

Easy.

Ruffian has apparently
broken her leg...

as Foolish Pleasure, the colt,
sails through the stretch.

The match race is over.

I didn't want to win like this.

Whoa, whoa.

Easy, easy.
You got her?

Keep her as still as you can.
Keep her calm.

You're all right, girl.
Keep her calm.

Keep her still as you can.

No, don't let her move. Keep
her still. Under the shoulder.

Oh... oh, this can't be
happening. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Jeff, inflatable cast.
Give it to me.

Easy! Easy!

Hold her as still as you can. Keep her steady.

Keep her steady.

Stuart, I'm so sorry.

Here, take this.
Take this.

Hey.

Here we go. Here we go.
I got you. I got you.

Come on in.

Easy.

Easy.
It's all right.

It's all right.

Come on now.
Step her up.

Easy, girl.
Whoa. Whoa.

Easy, girl.

Oh.

The sesamoids, Frank.
They shattered.

They exploded right out.

She got any chance at all?

Less than 10%.

I'll do the best I can do.

Easy, girl. Everything's
gonna be fine.

Everything's fine.

It's dropping...

Here we go.

She's dropping too far down.
Give her another dose.

Yes, sir.

Standing by.

We're gonna need more 4 by 4s.

No, no, no. It's too much. She's reacting.

We're wide open.

I don't really know.

That's an improvement.

Hundreds of fans
have gathered outside

this small equine hospital
next to Belmont Park,

waiting for news
of their beloved filly.

It is nearly six hours
since the tragic accident,

and these fans continue
to keep their vigil

on a very hot, very humid
Long Island night.

We are told the great Ruffian
has been anesthetized,

and her condition
at the moment is stable.

I'm certain that the question
on everyone's mind at this point

is "Will Ruffian survive?"

Vital side.

I held her shank,

and I talked to her

all the way over
in that ambulance.

I just talked to her and told
her everything would be all right.

Just kept on talking.

What else could I do?

Mike, pull yourself
together now.

Flush this.

There was pigeons on the track.

Made her miss a step.

No.

She clipped the gate.
That's what did it.

Maybe it was the change
in the track surface

right out of the chute.

Could have been.

There's too many
doctors in there.

They keep sticking
needles in her.

Well, she's got the best vets in the country.

It's up to them now.

It's been touch and go
for hours, you know?

Hey.

Oh, thanks.

Is it true she was never behind in a race?

No horse ever came close.

She wouldn't have
tolerated it. Heh.

A perfect 10 for 10.

11.

She was ahead
when she broke down.

Yeah, we're all set.
That's fine.

Here he is.

Hello.

Shh, shh, shh.

So the surgery was a success.

Ruffian's right foreleg has
been set in a special cast,

and she's resting comfortably.

We won't have a full prognosis until
she comes out of the anesthesia.

Until then,
we'll just have to wait.

When we know more, we'll let you know. Thank you.

All right.
Thank you, doctor.

It's all right, baby.

It's OK...

Easy.

Easy, missy, easy.

Easy.

It's OK. Easy.

Easy, girl.

Hey, Dan. Mike.

OK, baby.

Easy.

All right.
It's all right.

Easy, baby.
Come on.

She thinks she's still running.
Keep her down.

I got her.
I got you now.

Ho, girl, ho.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Keep pressure on her.
Keep her down.

You're gonna be all right.

No. Down, girl, down.
Keep her steady. Steady.

Watch that other leg. Watch the
other leg. I need more hands in here!

Don't let it hit the other leg. Watch the cast.

Hold on now. Hold on. Don't let her
- keep it down.

Keep her down.
Keep pressure on it.

Whoa, whoa.
Easy, girl.

No, no, no.
Still, still. Hold her still.

She's broken her other leg.

Whoa, girl.

Keep her still.
Keep her down, down, down.

Hello?

Yes, Frank.

She's broken her other leg.

Well, it's bad, sir.

As-As bad
as I ever seen it.

I don't want her
suffering anymore.

You go ahead.

Put her down.

Yes, sir.

Go put these on her,
would you, Mike?

Yes, sir.

Would she have beaten the colt?

We'll never know.

It was a race
to answer all questions,

and it answered none.

Well, we better be
getting along.

Frank.

I'm... really sorry.

Well, that's
horse racing, Mr. Nack.

Just horse racing.

After Ruffian,
I chose to walk away.

I could never cover the sport
fulltime again.

But Frank...

he went back to the track
the next morning.

That was Frank for you.

No one knows why the filly
broke down that afternoon.

Maybe she took a bad step.

Horses will do that sometimes.

But what she left
in her passing

was a memory far sharper,

a vision of surpassing
grace and beauty,

of a soaring poetry in motion

that was written in hoofbeats

that ring as clearly today

as they did then.