Queen of the Fillies Traditional Cache

With the passing of the first anniversary of Barbaro's victory at the 2006 Kentucky Derby and the subsequent heartbreak at the 2006 Preakness Stakes, it serves as a proper time to remember another magnificent horse Ruffian, who had been equally adored and tragiccaly met a similar fate.

Foaled at nearby Claiborne Farm, the dark bay filly is considered by many to be the greatest female racehorse of all-time. The Blood-Horse ranked Ruffian 35th in its top 100 list of U.S. thoroughbred champions of the century. Sports Illustrated included her as the only non-human on their list of the top 100 female athletes of the century, ranking her 53rd.

Ruffian was undefeated in her ten races prior to her last and won by an average margin of 8 1/3 lengths. Her eleventh race was a match race on July 6, 1975 at Belmont Park against that year's Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. In the context of women's rights movement and not long after tennis' "battle of the sexes" between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, this match race was billed as the "equine battle of the sexes". Over 50,000 people watched the race in person and an estimated 18 million watch on television.

Ruffian's spirit did not give way during the match race but her body ultimately did. Ruffian was leading by half a length three furlongs into the race when both sesamoid bones in her right foreleg snapped. Her jockey tried to pull her up, but Ruffian did not give in and continued to race for another 50 yards. Despite the efforts of a team of four veterinarians and an orthopedic surgeon, Ruffina could not recover and was euthanized the next day. Ruffian is buried near the finish line in the infield at Belmont Park, her nose pointed towards the finish pole. It is often said, "she died on the lead."

The coordinates bring you to an area not far from the granite stone that pays tribute to Ruffian. The coordinates to the memorial are posted in case you decide to pay a visit. The cache is a camouflaged, 35-mm film canister with log only. As always, bring your own writing instrument.