Here is the grave of the fabulous Reviewer by Bold Ruler. His final race record was 13: 9-3-1, a very strong career! He suffered three fractures in his right rear cannon bone, and came back twice to race, but was retired after the third fracture.In his first year at stud, he sired the lovely strong bold Ruffian from the 1963 filly Shenanigans by Native Dancer.
And so now here is the sad tale of this family. Ruffian was an unbeaten filly who always ran ahead of the pack. She just trounced her competition! But she died in 1975, after fracturing her leg in a match against Foolish Pleasure. She thrashed coming out of anesthesia, making her situation worse, so she was euthanized. She is buried by the infield flagpole at Belmont Park. Her mother, Shenanigans, was elected Broodmare of the Year in that very sad year.
Two years later, in 1977, Ruffian's parents passed in similar circumstances. Reviewer injured himself and broke his leg in a pasture accident and then injured himself anew when he thrashed coming out of anesthesia. Shenanigans was euthanized on May 21, 1977 after she thrashed and broke two legs as she awoke from anesthesia for abdominal surgery.
Some say that Ruffian, though speedy, fierce, brave, and determined, was built like glass and genetically coded to thrash and hurt herself. Both Bold Ruler and Reviewer had fractures while racing. But I don't see it that way. Racing is hard work and hard on all thoroughbred bodies. And thoroughbreds are bred with lion hearts, champion hearts, determined fighting hearts. They are prone to thrash when downed. They are prone to fight for their footing. I think it's just a sad story.