Ruthless (horse)
Encyclopedia
Ruthless was an American
Thoroughbred
filly
and a National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
inducted racehorse
.
by Francis Morris of New York, and was foaled on Morris' farm at Throgg's Neck, New York. Ruthless was sire
d by the imported stallion Eclipse (born 1854) and out of the imported mare
Barbarity who also produced several other award-winning daughters collectively known as the "Barbarous Battalion". The other "Battalion" members, all full sisters, were Remorseless, Relentless, Regardless, and Merciless. Barbarity was an 1854 bay mare sired by Simoon and her dam was named Dam who was sired by Buzzard, Eclipse was sired by Orlando
and out of the mare Gaze by Bay Middleton
. and was imported at the same time as Eclipse.
and was a 1 miles (1,609.3 m) race restricted to two-year-olds. Her jockey was Davidson and she carried 97 pounds (44 kg) for the win. Second place was Maid of Honor and third was Monday. The value to the winner was $2,450 (approximately $ as of ) and the winning time was 1 minute 49 seconds. She won by six lengths, and the correspondent for the New York Times commented that she finished the race "galloping along as if she was at exercise".
On June 4, 1867, Ruthless ran in the Jersey Derby at Paterson, New York. This was a 1+1/2 mi race for three-year-olds, and Ruthless placed second to her stablemate Monday, who won by two lengths. On June 19, 1867, Ruthless beat out De Courcey by a head at Jerome Park Racetrack to win the inaugural running of the Belmont Stakes
. The winner's share of the purse was $1,850 (approximately $ as of ) and the winning time was 3 minutes and 5 seconds. Her jockey was Gilbert Patrick, later inducted into the Hall of Fame, whose name was often abbreviated to "Gilpatrick" in the race results. The race was run at a distance of 1+5/8 mi and the track was heavy. Rivoli came in third and the last place horse was Monday, also owned by Morris. Morris had originally intended Monday to win the race, but De Courcey's speed was such that Ruthless' jockey, in attempt to help out Monday, managed to win the race. The correspondent for the New York Times called it a "splendid race home" and "a most exciting finish", as Ruthless won by "a short neck". Although seven other horses had originally been entered, the speed of Morris' two horses was such that they all forfeited the race rather than face Monday and Ruthless. Since Ruthless' victory, only two other fillies have won the Belmont Stakes. Tanya
did it in 1905 and Rags to Riches
in 2007.
Ruthless also won the 1867 Travers Stakes
which was run at 1+3/4 mi. The winning time was 3 minutes 13 seconds, and she carried 103 pounds (46.7 kg). The second place finisher was R. B. Connolly and third place went to De Courcey. The race added $2,850 (approximately $ as of ) to her earnings. Again her jockey was Gilbert Patrick. There was one false start for the race, but she took the lead at the half-mile pole and never lost it, winning the race in a gallop by two horselengths.
In October 1867, Ruthless lost the St Leger Race at the Paterson Racetrack in Paterson, New York. This was a 2+1/4 mi race, and she came in second to De Courcey, but managed to beat Number Three (owned also by Morris), Jubal and Clement.
Ruthless ended her racing career with a record of 11 starts, placing first 7 times and 4 second place finishes. Her earning were $11,000 (approximately $ as of ) on the racetrack.
is named in her honor. It is run at Aqueduct Racetrack
and is a race for three-year-old fillies only, at a distance of six furlongs. Ruthless was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1975. The racing journalist, W. S. Vosburgh, considered her to be the best three-year-old of her racing year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
and a National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inducted racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
.
Early life
Owned and bredHorse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
by Francis Morris of New York, and was foaled on Morris' farm at Throgg's Neck, New York. Ruthless was sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
d by the imported stallion Eclipse (born 1854) and out of the imported mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
Barbarity who also produced several other award-winning daughters collectively known as the "Barbarous Battalion". The other "Battalion" members, all full sisters, were Remorseless, Relentless, Regardless, and Merciless. Barbarity was an 1854 bay mare sired by Simoon and her dam was named Dam who was sired by Buzzard, Eclipse was sired by Orlando
Orlando (horse)
Orlando was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Epsom Derby and as a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Racing record:...
and out of the mare Gaze by Bay Middleton
Bay Middleton
Capt. William George "Bay" Middleton was a noted English horseman of the 19th century. He was equerry to John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1869-1874 and 1882-1885....
. and was imported at the same time as Eclipse.
Racing career
As a two-year-old, Ruthless won the Nursery Handicap in 1866. This was the inaugural running of the race, which took place at Jerome Park RacetrackJerome Park Racetrack
Jerome Park Racetrack was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility.-History:It opened in 1866 in the northwest part of Fordham, Westchester County , New York....
and was a 1 miles (1,609.3 m) race restricted to two-year-olds. Her jockey was Davidson and she carried 97 pounds (44 kg) for the win. Second place was Maid of Honor and third was Monday. The value to the winner was $2,450 (approximately $ as of ) and the winning time was 1 minute 49 seconds. She won by six lengths, and the correspondent for the New York Times commented that she finished the race "galloping along as if she was at exercise".
On June 4, 1867, Ruthless ran in the Jersey Derby at Paterson, New York. This was a 1+1/2 mi race for three-year-olds, and Ruthless placed second to her stablemate Monday, who won by two lengths. On June 19, 1867, Ruthless beat out De Courcey by a head at Jerome Park Racetrack to win the inaugural running of the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
. The winner's share of the purse was $1,850 (approximately $ as of ) and the winning time was 3 minutes and 5 seconds. Her jockey was Gilbert Patrick, later inducted into the Hall of Fame, whose name was often abbreviated to "Gilpatrick" in the race results. The race was run at a distance of 1+5/8 mi and the track was heavy. Rivoli came in third and the last place horse was Monday, also owned by Morris. Morris had originally intended Monday to win the race, but De Courcey's speed was such that Ruthless' jockey, in attempt to help out Monday, managed to win the race. The correspondent for the New York Times called it a "splendid race home" and "a most exciting finish", as Ruthless won by "a short neck". Although seven other horses had originally been entered, the speed of Morris' two horses was such that they all forfeited the race rather than face Monday and Ruthless. Since Ruthless' victory, only two other fillies have won the Belmont Stakes. Tanya
Tanya (horse)
Tanya was an American thoroughbred filly racehorse bred and raised in Kentucky. She was bred by William Collins Whitney and foaled at his Brookdale Farm in Lincroft, New Jersey. Sired by the outstanding English stallion Meddler, she was out of the mare Handspun.Unfortunately, before Tanya could...
did it in 1905 and Rags to Riches
Rags to Riches (horse)
Rags to Riches is an American thoroughbred filly racehorse who in 2007 became the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in over a century. She was sired by 1992 U.S. Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee A.P. Indy, who in turn was a son of 1977 U.S...
in 2007.
Ruthless also won the 1867 Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
which was run at 1+3/4 mi. The winning time was 3 minutes 13 seconds, and she carried 103 pounds (46.7 kg). The second place finisher was R. B. Connolly and third place went to De Courcey. The race added $2,850 (approximately $ as of ) to her earnings. Again her jockey was Gilbert Patrick. There was one false start for the race, but she took the lead at the half-mile pole and never lost it, winning the race in a gallop by two horselengths.
In October 1867, Ruthless lost the St Leger Race at the Paterson Racetrack in Paterson, New York. This was a 2+1/4 mi race, and she came in second to De Courcey, but managed to beat Number Three (owned also by Morris), Jubal and Clement.
Ruthless ended her racing career with a record of 11 starts, placing first 7 times and 4 second place finishes. Her earning were $11,000 (approximately $ as of ) on the racetrack.
Breeding career
As a broodmare, Ruthless was the dam of the stakes-winning colt Battle Axe. He was a 1871 bay stallion sired by Monday, and in 1873 he won the Kentucky Stakes. She died in 1876, after being shot by a hunter who was on her owner's farm in Westchester, New York.Posthumous honors
The Ruthless StakesRuthless Stakes
The Ruthless Stakes is an American open or non-Graded stakes race held yearly since 1974 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York City. Run in January, it is a six furlong thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies carrying a weight of 121 pounds...
is named in her honor. It is run at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
and is a race for three-year-old fillies only, at a distance of six furlongs. Ruthless was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 1975. The racing journalist, W. S. Vosburgh, considered her to be the best three-year-old of her racing year.