THE SECOND AVATAR INCARNATION:
RUFFIAN
oil on canvas 1971, Alicia Windsong Diamond
RUFFIAN: THE GREAT MATCH RACE
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1972-1975
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ECLIPSE AWARD WINNER
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY
WINNER OF FILLY TRIPLE CROWN
SET STAKES RECORDS IN EACH OF THE EIGHT STAKES RACES SHE RAN
SET TWO TRACK RECORDS
UNDEFEATED IN FIRST TEN RACES
AVERAGE WINNING MARGIN 8 1/2 LENGTHS
INJURED JULY 6, 1975 IN THE GREAT MATCH RACE
EUTHANIZED JULY 7, 1975
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To most horse racing enthusiasts, the name Ruffian needs no explanation. The most fascinating, incomparable, and ethereal filly, was born at Claiborne Farms, in Paris Kentucky, where she had lived as Nasrullah from 1950-1959. Bred and owned by Mr. and Mr. Stuart Janney, Ruffian was a serious professional racehorse from the very beginning. Ruffian was clear on her cause: to win and be the most acclaimed, fastest racehorse that ever lived. She is considered to be the greatest female thoroughbred racehorse of all time.
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Out of the grey mare, Shenanigans by the Bold Ruler son, Rieviewer, the dark brown filly born in April of 1972 was directly descended from Nasrullah, through Nasrullah's premier son, Bold Ruler. When she entered training a year later, Ruffian was taller and bigger than most colts. Black, elegant and fast, she was compared favorably to Secretariat, who had the year before, swept the fabled trio of races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes that comprise racing's Triple Crown. Secretariat's trainer himself mused that Ruffian was greater than Big Red.
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Ruffian's career began with a fifteen length victory in her maiden race and thereafter, she dazzled the racing world in every race. In the midst of the tumultuous Women's Liberation Movement, Ruffian, the Avatar Horse, was heralded as an icon for women. She completed her mission of transforming human conflict into compassion when she was injured, during the Great Match Race on July 6, 1975.
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Her mission completed, she was euthanized the following day. Ruffian is buried at Belmont Park. The significance of Ruffian's death as an intervention for humanity is told in her next incarnation appearance, as Guerro Negro.
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About the painting
THE GREAT MATCH RACE came entirely out of unconsciousness. This is only oil painting I have ever done and the painting painted itself. At the time, I had no reference for what I was painting except knowing that there was a horse race between a black horse and a brown horse and the black horse was struggling and slightly ahead. The colors, in retrospect, make perfect sense since the purpose and impact of the Match Race was to create a spiritual shift in human consciousness.
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