Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful! Best One!
Review: This is definately one of the best books written on Ruffian. It was the final jewel to my Ruffian collection... Pictures, all the books written on her, videos of all her races, models, etc... and is one of my favorites. I've read it three times and each time it makes me cry. Unlike the other books, it does not describe Ruffian's death as "Ruffian was euthanized." Instead, it is in Ruffian's point of view. She's running freely now, with no cast, no pain. I did an oral language piece on this book and went on to regionals. I highly recommend this book to adults, but not to young kids. There is very frequent, strong language throughout this book, and is very detailed.Whether you are into horse racing or not, you will love this book. It is a wonderful addition to any horse lover's book collection!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best racing books
Review: This is one book that is impossible to put down. Although the reader knows how the story will end, it is still a powerful and tragic story. A reader would have to be made of stone to not cry after reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: The best ever?
Review: This is the story of the star-crossed filly Ruffian, whose death is the equine equivalent of Princess Diana's tragic accident, except for one difference: Diana was a princess; Ruffian was a queen. Ruffian died before a nationwide television audience in a match race with Kentucky Debry winner, Foolish Pleasure. It was only her eleventh race. Only eleven races, yet in that brief span, she has been hailed as the greatest filly of all time. But after reading Ms. Schwartz's book, I think the case can be made that she was the greatest thoroughbred of all time, and that includes the wondrous Man o' War. Consider these facts. Ruffian was bigger than most colts; was never behind in any race, except for the first couple of jumps out of the starting gate (when she broke her leg in the match race, she was a length ahead of Foolish Pleasure and widening); and was always slowing down well before the finish line, having destroyed her competition while cruising the backstretch. Yet, despite ten easy romps, Ruffian set speed records that are hard to believe. For example, her first race took place at Belmont Park. She ran the 5 and 1/2 furlongs under heavy restraint in 1:03 flat. This tied the track record! In the Spinaway at Saratoga, she ran six fulongs in 1:08 and 3/5. This was the fastest six fulrongs ever run by any two-year-old in the history of Saratoga, including Colin, Man o'War, Native Dancer, Nashua, and Secretariat! And in the Comely, Ruffian not only set a stakes record, she also created a minus pool across the board, both on-track and OTB. The match race is told in all of its horror, but the last few pages are so lovingly and poetically written, I stopped crying, and was just so glad Ms. Schwartz wrote this book, and allowed me to learn about the great Ruffian.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to put down once you begin reading...
Review: Though most books on horses tend to become dull and drag in certain places, "Ruffian" is anything but that. Superb writing keeps you interested even while knowing how it will end. If you had to choose one book to read about a race horse, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: The best Ruffian book I've seen!
Review: Tones of information, first-hand interviews, and even some interesting photos in the back. Told in a story, you actually get the know the filly and every little bit is true. A very popular book and a must-have by all horse lovers.
Rating:
Summary: the greatest tribute to a true champion
Review: When I was a child I picked up my first Ruffian book off a dusty bookshelf in my public library and since then her story has never failed to move me to tears. With this book Schwartz has managed to capture the true essence and beauty, the courage and the tragedy of the greatest filly that ever drew breath. Schwartz carefully crafts every facet of the filly's short life to her untimely death through the people and events surrounding Ruffian, and how she won the hearts of the world through her own unfailing heart and undefeatable love of the track she owned. This is indeed a superbly written book and is one of the greatest tributes that could be paid to Ruffian, the filly who broke the records and whose tragic, triumphant finish will continue to break our hearts for decades to come.
| 
