Ruffian Handicap

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The Ruffian Handicap is a race for thoroughbred fillies and mares ages three-years-old and up. The race is run at one and one-sixteenth miles on the Belmont Park dirt track. A Grade I event, carrying a purse of $300,000, it is named in honor of the great filly Ruffian, who dominated at Belmont. Begun in 1976, the Ruffian is run annually at the beginning of September.

Sky Beauty won this race in 1994, Bayakoa won it in 1989, and Lady's Secret won it twice, in 1985 and 1986, after which she was awarded the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. The second filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Genuine Risk won it in 1980.