Ruffian movie brings back painful memories

By JOHN HALL
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, June 06, 2007

More than three decades after Ruffian took the racing world by storm with her beauty and blazing speed, a new television movie recounts her rise and untimely fall with sincerity and reverence.

"Ruffian," will air on ABC at 9 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 9, the same day as the Belmont Stakes. Just outside New York City, Belmont Park was the location of Ruffian's final race, the tragedy-marred match race in 1975 against Kentucky Derby winner, Foolish Pleasure.

The film takes on a deeper poignancy following a similar tragedy that befell 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who broke down at the Preakness Stakes only two weeks after his decisive victory at Churchill Downs. Barbaro's breakdown and the struggle to save his leg and his life instantly drew parallels with Ruffian.

"Ruffian," directed by television veteran Yves Simoneau and produced by ESPN Original Entertainment, excels at bringing to life the racing world of the mid-'70s. The film's casting director scored big with Sam Shepard, perhaps best known for his portrayal of test pilot, Chuck Yeager in "The Right Stuff." Shepard takes on the role of Frank Whiteley, Ruffian's ornery yet likeable trainer. Shepard, who owns a horse farm in Midway, Kentucky, brings a tangible authenticity and a thorough knowledge of horses to the performance. As such, he easily leads the film, making some of the rest of the acting seem pale in comparison.

"Ruffian" also stars Frank Whaley as Newsday turf reporter William Nack, who served as a consultant to the movie. Real life jockey Vladimir Diaz gives a refreshing performance as Ruffian's regular rider, Jacinto Vasquez. Diaz' personality shines through and he holds his own surprisingly well opposite Shepard.

Naturally a horse movie succeeds or fails by its treatment of the real stars, the horses. "Ruffian" doesn't disappoint in this department. Despite limitations on how far and how often the horses used in filming could run, the race scenes are fluid and exciting. A rich layer of sound complements the camera work around the horses. Every hoof beat and jingle of the harness and bit is captured. In the end, Ruffian, played by four separate horses in the movie, is able to elicit as much or more emotion than any of the human actors that surround her.

While the acting and the horses form a solid foundation for the film, the special effects prove to be its Achilles heel. At several points during the race scenes slow motion footage is used to dramatize finishes or showcase the grace of equine kinetics. The first time it was novel and interesting, but Simoneau gave in to temptation and used the effect too often, the most awkward being Ruffian's start at the Coaching Club Oaks stakes race, which served no apparent purpose and failed to add anything to the scene. Other times the computer-generated grandstands and digitally produced crowds give away the film's made-for-TV roots and spoil the richness and authenticity with unnatural light, obvious fakes and noticeably weak crowd cheers.

Still, "Ruffian" offers a lot to be enjoyed. Animal lovers, race fans and everyone in between should find something compelling, be it Shepard's superb acting or a glimpse at a painful slice of horse racing history 32 years later.