Was Ruffian put down on the track?

Question

Was ruffian really put down after surgery? I hear a lot of controversy about this subject, but I have heard a lot of people that SAW the race (on t.v. and with their own two eyes at the track), including me, say that she was put down on the track, no surgery.They put a curtain around her and pput her down. BUT, I can't find a video or anything, and there are ''pictures'' of her at the place she was put down, apparently at the vets.

I know I have already posted this question, but it will not let me extend it and I would like it to. Please don't call anyone a liar about how their answers, I am simply curious. Thanks.

Link to the other question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylc=X3oDMTE1aThkdWZ2BF9TAzIxMTU1MDAxMTgEc2VjA2Fuc19ub3QEc2xrA2Fuc21vcmU-;_ylv=3?qid=20080529191738AAwtkys

Please take time to read Answer 11 also...

My memory is almost the same as that persons

Answer 1

no.

Answer 2

I watched the race on TV and my memory was that she was put down on the track, but now you've got me wondering...

I went to Wikipedia.com and they give a very detailed account of her injury at the race, what they did to try to repair it and why she was eventually euthanized when she came out of the anesthesia after surgery.  it was horrible.

Answer 3

I watched in horror, and believe they vanned her off ,then put her down later..

here,s some video: just click below:

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Answer 4

Good force is right. I was 11 years old on that terrible afternoon in July of 1975, when I watched that filly break down on national TV. It was one of the most horrible things I have ever witnessed- and NO, they did NOT euthanize her on the track- though I have long held the belief that this is what they should have done. Ruffian was euthanized in the early morning hours of July 7, 1975, after having a violent reaction as she woke up following surgery. She kicked and thrashed and the special cast which had been put on her right front leg was not designed to take that kind of abuse. She'd had 5 plus hours of surgery- but she destroyed the cast in less than 10 minutes !!

I have a book which is a biography of Ruffian's life and career, from her conception clear through to her funeral. One of the things the author of this book does is give a minute to minute, blow by blow account of what happened on that terrible day of her last race and death. The saddest part about the story is that it was so completely preventable. The men who worked with the filly had wonderful intentions, yes, and they loved her and wanted badly to save her- but they simply had neither the know how nor the technology available to do so. Places like the famous New Bolton Hospital, where Barbaro was treated, didn't exist at that time- or if they did, they were in their infancy. Also, knowledge of how horses react to anesthetics was limited. Even the understanding of how to best treat a catastrophic injury like that one was rather limited as well back then. Put all of that together, and add in the enormous personal pressures which all of Ruffian's connections felt, and you have a recipe for a disaster. By trying to save the filly's life, the men working with her only ended up prolonging her agony. She should never have left that track alive.

As for Eight Belles, she too was a victim of many of the same forces which cost Ruffian her life. She WAS euthanized on the track- there was no possible way to save her, not with both front legs shattered beyond repair like they were. Horses have to have legs to stand on- they aren't like people, who can sometimes be confined to bed for months on end. Try to do this with a horse and the animal will just die. It's sad, but clearly, the vet at Churchill Downs did the only humane thing possible.

Enough said.

Answer 5

I answered your question the last time but I'll expand on it.  I was in junior high in 1975 when Ruffian died.  I watched the race on TV with my mom.  When Ruffian got injured, my mom was upset because they did not put her to sleep.  She thought it was cruel.  She said the only reason they didn't "put her out of her misery" was because there were so many people watching.  

When Barbaro got injured my mom was upset again because she thought they should've put him down right away.  She said they did the same thing to Ruffian and it only prolonged her suffering.  (I am not making a statement about Barbaro, I'm just repeating what my mom said.)  

Anyway, I don't think my mom and I would both have a false memory of Ruffian not being put down at the track.

Answer 6

She was NOT PUT DOWN AT THE TRACK PERIOD

Answer 7

I don't know what you want us to say.  I wasn't alive then so I didn't see the race and have no memory of actually seeing it live on tv.  However, all accounts of the accident that I have read say that she was taken to the vet across the street, thrashed coming out of the anesthetic, damaged her legs and her cast, couldn't go into further surgery because she'd already been lying down too long, and had to be euthanized.  Until your question, I never heard of any controversy.  It's possible that people's memory of the event have morphed over the years since it was over 30 years ago.  I don't mean to say that anyone is lying and I'm sure you remember it clearly.  But I don't know why all of the accounts of the race would say she went to surgery when she didn't.  And I did provide you with a picture before of her leaving the track with an air cast on her leg, alive.

And FYI, "Answer 11" changes... every time someone goes to vote on that question, the answers change the order... what was Answer 11 when you read it, will not be Answer 11 for everyone else when they click on your link and read the answers.