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SARGA.CO – In the long history of world horse racing, the name Ruthless stands as a symbol of courage, resilience, and achievement far ahead of her time. While hundreds of horses have claimed victories in Triple Crown races since the 19th century, only 12 fillies have ever won one of the Triple Crown series—and Ruthless was the first to do so.
Even more remarkable, that historic victory came in 1867, when the first-ever Belmont Stakes was held. An almost unbelievable fact: the very first Triple Crown race was won by a filly.
Atlantic Blood, Born in New York
Ruthless was bred in New York by Francis Morris, but her bloodlines came from across the Atlantic. Her sire was Eclipse, an imported English horse (not the legendary unbeaten Eclipse), while her dam, Barbarity, also carried European blood.
Under the guidance of trainer A. Jack Minor, Ruthless’s talent was evident from an early age. In her debut season as a two-year-old in 1866, she raced only four times, yet it was enough to showcase her class. She scored her first win at Saratoga, then captured the Nursery Handicap over one mile at Jerome Park in convincing fashion, and finished second in her other two starts.
Beating Colts, Defying Tradition
The year 1867 became Ruthless’s grand stage. She did not merely win—she challenged tradition. After taking a six-furlong sprint at Jerome Park on May 23, Ruthless returned to race the very next day and shockingly defeated older male horses over 1¼ miles.
More than a week later, she finished second in the Jersey Derby, a result that served as a tune-up for the Belmont Stakes on June 19, 1867. At the time, the Belmont Stakes was run at Jerome Park over 1⅝ miles, longer than the modern distance.
Facing three rivals, including her stablemate Monday, Ruthless was not the favorite. Many expected Monday to claim victory. Instead, Monday delivered a disappointing performance and finished last.
Ruthless fought tooth and nail in a three-horse battle against De Courcey and Rivoli. Until the final strides, the outcome remained uncertain. With extraordinary determination, Ruthless hit the wire first by a head, with Rivoli only half a length behind. The inaugural Belmont Stakes thus belonged to a young filly.
Cementing Her Legendary Status
If her Belmont victory was not enough, Ruthless went on to defeat colts once again by winning the Travers Stakes at Saratoga later that same summer. Over the grueling distance of 1¾ miles, she scored an easy two-length victory over De Courcey.
That brilliant season, however, also included a dramatic defeat. In the St. Leger over 2¼ miles, Ruthless engaged in an early duel with a colt named Clement. The pair surged far ahead of the field by as many as 20 lengths. Ruthless eventually shook off Clement but ran out of stamina, allowing De Courcey to come from behind and claim the win.
A Tragic End, an Enduring Legacy
Ruthless retired with a record of seven wins and four runner-up finishes from 11 starts, earning a total of US$11,000 (around Rp180 million), a considerable sum in her era. She lived for nine years after retirement before meeting a tragic and ironic end.
According to racing historian William H. P. Robertson, Ruthless “died in the strangest manner ever recorded for a famous Thoroughbred—she was accidentally shot by a hunter passing through the Morris farm.”
Despite her tragic end, Ruthless’s legacy has never faded. She is remembered as the first horse in history to win a Triple Crown race, a monumental achievement that earned her induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1975.
(Source: America’s Best Racing)
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