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- Ruffian
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It’s June 1973 and Secretariat has just become the first horse in 25 years to win the triple crown, obliterating his competition in the Belmont stakes by 31 lengths and setting a new world record. Interest in horseracing is soaring. Women’s Lib is in full swing. Ms. Magazine is just one year old. The Equal Rights Ammendment has been ratified in 30 states but is still a very contentious issue. And in September of ’73, a loud-mouth former tennis champion named Bobby Riggs becomes the male chauvinist pig that everyone loved to hate.
This was the climate in which a beautiful female race-horse named Ruffian captured the attention of the country, and stole Gwen Macsai's fourteen-year-old heart. In this personal essay, Gwen recounts Ruffian's racing career, including her tragic battle-the-sexes race that ended in heartbreak.
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Piece Description
It’s June 1973 and Secretariat has just become the first horse in 25 years to win the triple crown, obliterating his competition in the Belmont stakes by 31 lengths and setting a new world record. Interest in horseracing is soaring. Women’s Lib is in full swing. Ms. Magazine is just one year old. The Equal Rights Ammendment has been ratified in 30 states but is still a very contentious issue. And in September of ’73, a loud-mouth former tennis champion named Bobby Riggs becomes the male chauvinist pig that everyone loved to hate.
This was the climate in which a beautiful female race-horse named Ruffian captured the attention of the country, and stole Gwen Macsai's fourteen-year-old heart. In this personal essay, Gwen recounts Ruffian's racing career, including her tragic battle-the-sexes race that ended in heartbreak.
Broadcast History
Aired on Re:sound, 1-8-11
Additional Credits
Edited by Johanna Zorn and Julie Shapiro
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