she burned brightly and left us far too soon

Ruffian was perhaps the greatest filly that ever raced. Her unbeaten record and record-setting speed earned her a place alongside the finest of her sport. But she tragically broke down in a match race that never should have taken place and had to be euthanized, leaving many fans heartbroken and disillusioned about the sport of horse racing. Who knows how many other titles she would have won and what further magnificence she would have shown had her owners and trainer not been pushed into participated in the big-money media event and allowed her to continue to develop and mature? She was a mere teenager in horse years when she was taken from us.

Schwartz's book gives some sense of closure in her detailed account of Ruffian's life and, ultimately, her death. While knowing so much more about her life deepened my understanding of and love for Ruffian and the dedication and hard work it requires to train a racehorse, it was still very painful to read the last chapters. Schwartz captured the agony and devastation so many went through as Ruffian lived out her last hours. It was like having a wound opened again.

Thankfully, there is much more to this book than the tragic ending. When you have a good supporting cast, the star shines even more brilliantly in this case. There was obviously a great deal of love, bright hope and dedication among those who cared for her and groomed her into the phenomenal racehorse she became. The interplay of her personality with that of her trainer, riders and grooms brought out more about Ruffian than most would have ever known. There was something almost human in the way she is described, and this makes her all the more endearing, and her loss more enduring.

The only thing I would have wished for would have been more detail of the match race itself. Schwartz gave a virtual play by play in her previous races, chronicling each furlong and the thoughts and perceptions of her jockeys. Perhaps the details were not available as with the other races, but I had hoped to know more of what Jacinto Vasquez's recollections of those last tragic moments before she broke down. All I know is that it remains a mystery to this day why it happened.

As a musician, I am inspired by almost anything with grace and beauty. I also own a movie made about Ruffian, with video footage of her races. Watching Ruffian open up and take flight in that amazing, effortless ground-eating stride, I hear music. Schwartz has provided the beautiful text underneath that soaring melody.

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