The photo on the wall in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is small – perhaps a handbreadth – and in black and white, making it easy to overlook amidst the other artwork in the exhibit. But she is still so vivid it’s as if she’s in living color. Her stride is fully extended as if to bound off the page as she reaches for the finish line in front, always in front, ears up as if thoroughly enjoying her own power. Her jockey’s pristine silks are snapped taut in a wind of her own making. Next year marks the half-century anniversary of one of racing’s most infamous tragedies – the unbeaten filly Ruffian’s breakdown in her match race with Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. But this month marks a happier milestone, as the 50-year anniversary of Ruffian’s sensational win in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga, capping her first Eclipse Award championship campaign. View Ruffian's lifetime PPs Sports Illustrated called Ruffian’s Spinaway win, on Aug. 23, 1974, “one of those rare events that racegoers treasure forever.” The filly’s name looms large in the list of winners of the historic race, which will be renewed for the 133rd time this Saturday at Saratoga – across the street from the Hall of Fame, where a special exhibit on Ruffian, featuring artwork and artifacts, takes pride of place this summer. Ruffian, who raced as a homebred for Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Janney, was foaled at Claiborne Farm. Last year, her remains and gravesite were moved there, in anticipation of the renovations at Belmont Park. The daughter of Reviewer and Shenanigans, turned over to Frank Whiteley Jr., was a big, nearly black filly. Daily Racing Form’s Joe Hirsch described her as the most “imposing” 2-year-old filly he had ever seen. :: Gain a competitive edge at Saratoga with DRF's premier handicapping data — purchase our meet packages today and bet with confidence. Ruffian arrived at Saratoga on a winning streak that began with her smashing debut, matching a track record while winning by 15 lengths at Belmont. She proceeded to win the Grade 3 Fashion, Grade 3 Astoria, and Grade 1 Sorority, all with dominance, before arriving at Saratoga for the 83rd running of the Spinaway. The race had already been captured by future Hall of Famers Miss Woodford (1882), Maskette (1908), Top Flight (1931), Cicada (1961), Affectionately (1962), and numerous other champions. Ruffian’s main opponent for this Spinaway would be Laughing Bridge, who she had already bested in the Astoria. The latter filly emerged to win the Schuylerville and Adirondack at Saratoga, and was attempting a series sweep. “I’m a little frightened of Laughing Bridge,” Stuart Janney told Sports Illustrated. “She must have improved since Ruffian beat her nine lengths in the Astoria at Aqueduct. And she’s had not one but two winning races over this track.” With regular rider Jacinto Vasquez suspended, Vince Bracciale Jr., who had also ridden Ruffian in the Astoria, got the call again for the Spinaway, which was then contested at six furlongs. The Saratoga crowd of 18,878 was to witness a coronation. Despite Bracciale having Ruffian under a stranglehold early, the filly quickly opened a three-length lead down the backstretch as she zipped her opening quarter in 22 1/5 seconds, in an era when times were not recorded in hundredths. She ticked off the half in 44 1/5 seconds as she came to the top of the stretch widening to a seven-length lead. Laughing Bridge, who had been sitting in third, made her move coming off the far turn. Bracciale simply loosened a notch and Ruffian continued to power clear, despite Laughing Bridge coming under a ride. The final margin was 12 3/4 lengths. Ruffian’s final time was 1:08 3/5, shattering the record for the Spinaway – the race’s fastest time at Saratoga came from champion Numbered Account (1971), in 1:09 4/5, while in previous runnings on the Widener straight course at Belmont, Sopranist (1945) ran in 1:09 1/5. It also was the fastest six furlongs ever run by a 2-year-old at Saratoga. She flirted with the track record of 1:08 set in 1972 by Spanish Riddle, who carried just 111 pounds, to the 120 all the Spinaway fillies carried. Ruffian’s clocking remained the six-furlong record for the Spinaway. The race was eventually lengthened to seven furlongs, and Hot Dixie Chick (2009) holds that mark, winning in 1:22.28. The Spinaway would mark the final start of Ruffian’s 2-year-old campaign. A hairline fracture to her right hind leg ended plans to target additional Grade 1s in the Frizette and, perhaps, the Champagne against colts. Perfect in five starts, Ruffian earned her first Eclipse Award trophy when she was voted outstanding 2-year-old filly. Ruffian returned in 1975 to win her first five starts, including a sweep of New York’s triple crown for fillies of the Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks. In the much-anticipated match race, on July 6 at Belmont, she was leading Foolish Pleasure when tragedy struck. She was posthumously voted Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old filly, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976. Decades later, the Spinaway has continued to be a meaningful race. A big field of 11 for Saturday’s renewal – led by The Queens M G, who, like Laughing Bridge, attempts a sweep of the Schuylerville, Adirondack, and Spinaway – will try to add their names to a list that includes, since Ruffian, juvenile division champions Smart Angle (1979), Meadow Star 91990), Flanders (1994), Golden Attraction (1995), Countess Diana (1997), Vequist (2020), and Echo Zulu (2021), as well as a future Kentucky Oaks winner in Ashado (2003). But decades before these, the Spinaway belonged to the filly who sparked imaginations. A set of Ruffian’s racing plates sit quietly in the Hall of Fame exhibition, alongside her win photos. They’re big shoes to fill. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.