Week of August 23rd Through August 29th

August 22nd, 1974 - Famous Thoroughbred racehorse Ruffian won the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse. It is said that when a reporter asked Ruffian's groom, Minnor Massey, by what margin she would win the Spinaway Stakes, Massey replied that Ruffian would win by thirteen lengths. After answering, Massey worried that he had spoken too boldly of the horse. Ruffian would win the race in 1:08, 3/5, setting a new stakes record. She would also finish exactly thirteen lengths ahead of the next horse.

Information and photo courtesy of spiletta.com

August 26th, 1973 – Quarter Horse racehorse Truckle Feature set the world record for the quarter mile at the World Championship Classic, held at Ruidoso Downs. Truckle Feature covered
the quarter mile in 21.02 seconds, which would remain the world record for the
next 23 years.

Information courtesy of aqharacing.com

Photo courtesy of circledhorses.com

August 27th, 1954 - Dressage rider Debbie McDonald was born today. McDonald won the 2003 World Cup Dressage Finals in Sweden, and, in doing so, became the first United States
dressage rider to ever win the title of Dressage World Cup Champion. McDonald
was riding Hanoverian mare Brentina when the won the Championship. The pair
also won individual and team gold medals at the 1999 Pan American Games.

Information courtesy of horseconnection.com

Photo courtesy of hanoverian.us