It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

littledean1 — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 05:43:15 GMT

Statistically, Ruffian was the better horse. Would she have won the match race? I sincerely believe the answer is "yes".Foolish Pleasure would have made her earn the win, though. Ruffian had him by almost a length when she broke down though, so who can say for sure?

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

BrianF — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:31:26 GMT

I remember the Great Match Race and the tragedy of Ruffian.

To this day, I believe Foolish Pleasure would have defeated Ruffian. They would have dueled down the homestretch and Foolish Pleasure would have handed the great filly her first defeat.

There are many tragedies surrounding Ruffian's demise in the Great Match Race. One of them is that people overlook what a gutty, tough little horse Foolish Pleasure was.

Because of her untimely death, people simply assume Ruffian was going to add Foolish Pleasure to her list of vanquished opponents. That she would have pulled away and recorded her 11th win.

But Foolish Pleasure was right where he needed to be in the Great Match Race. He wasn't going anywhere that day. I suspect he would be there stride-for-stride with the big filly and his experience against great horses in major races would have led him to victory.

Ruffian was great, but was untested. Hot n Nasty challenged her and Foolish Pleasure was in a class that Hot n Nasty could only dream of.

Ruffian was great. When she broke down it saddened me for weeks.

But let us not forgot what a great horse Foolish Pleasure was. As gutty and tough and courageous as they come. Just like Ruffian, he will always be a great champion.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

vikingblood22 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:03:38 GMT

Wonderful article. Thanks for writing it. Sceptre, sorry for your loss(es) but thank you so much for sharing that track story and putting a smile on my face this morning!

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Linda Hopkins — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:07:12 GMT

I just read John Clifano's wonderful article on Foolish Pleasure. It was spot on until I reached the end-Ruffian would have been right there on the other side to greet FP all right, inviting him, no- challenging him, to finish the race they never got to finish here on earth. And just like that day in 1975, my money would be on Ruffian.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Brock Sheridan — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:31:31 GMT

Great article John with a great perspective on a very, very good horse remembered for the wrong reason. Thanks for reminding us how good he was.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Pedigree Shelly — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:18:24 GMT

I have a newspaper clipping of the day Ruffians gallant fight to live came to an end ! Foolish Pleasure was a nice horse but,he could not hold a candle to Ruffian and her spirit that fatefull day ! It surely tells you how much of an influential sire Bold Ruler was on that tragic day ,when both of his paternal offspring fought to the very end !!!

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Rachel — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:28:45 GMT

Foolish Pleasure was a wonderful horse, his vicories tinged by the Ruffian tragedy...

I still grieve for his last days to this day...the horrible pain he endured and the agony of his last hours ...I'm glad God loves all creatures and He was waiting to welcome FP to his forever pastures...

I'm glad you remembered him...♥♥♥

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

FoolishPleasure — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:56:05 GMT

Foolish Pleasure was is my all time favorite. I will never forget the Derby. I to can remember watching it on tv as a 16 year old girl and hearing the wrong the wrong horses named being called. I was yelling THATS FOOLISH PLEASURE. I will never forget the match race I cried for days after. In the early 90's I was fortunate to visit the old man at Spendthrift and got to pet him and feed him peppermints. A thrill of a lifetime. I miss him and I will never forget him My Foolish Pleasure.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Somethingroyal — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:08:08 GMT

Sceptre,

Lol..what a wonderful story to remember and share about Tony. I've had a few good shots ruined because when fans have unknowingly jummped in front of my camera.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

sceptre — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:51:37 GMT

Foolish Pleasure was a neat horse and quite talented. He didn't much resemble his sire, What A Pleasure, but rather had more the look of his dam sire, the immortal Tom Fool...I was looking for Tom Fool mares, and was offered Fool-Me Not, Foolish Pleasure's dam, for $50,000 shortly before the beginning of Foolish Pleasure's career, but unfortunately turned her down.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

sceptre — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:45:22 GMT

I happened to be with Tony Leonard, right on the rail at the finish line as they were coming home. The royally bred Prince Thou Art was a favorite of mine, and I had bet him to win. When Anderson incorrectly called him as closing fast, mistaking him for Foolish Pleasure, I started jumping up and down, and ruined some of Tony Leonard's closing/finish shots. Last time the master took me to a Derby.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

John T — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:42:59 GMT

Foolish Pleasure should be remembered for what he was,a great

racehorse.During those years Bold Ruler and his son,s played a large part in producing top class racehorses and he certainly played

his part at keeping the family name up.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Matthew W — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:26:03 GMT

Foolish Pleasure was an honest horse, and Leroy Jolley was an honest trainer--case in point, as they're watching the Derby Replay, on CBS, Leroy notes the rough bumping between Avatar and Diabolo, Shoemaker and Pincay, on the Cali horses, about three clear at the 1/8 poile, when they collide--hard! That race would've been a close finish if not for that, and Jolley was forthright in his assesment of the bumping--also Chic Anderson called it "Prince Thou Art"...failing to recognize it was Foolish Pleasure until right at the wire...then the match race, and just the empty feeling...I mean, I was in the West, but very aware of Ruffian--very aware of her times, which were better than the boy's...yet I had also become aware of this fact: there is no difference between fillies and colts when it comes to two things: speed and stamina. Those are imherant in the breed--strength, however, favors male horses, by far, and, perhaps (probably) the Ruffian trajedy hardened it in me that from 5 fur through 1 1/4 miles, strength trumps both speed and stamina, therefore, males are far more superior by nature--at least on dirt...Foolish Pleasure was a top horse in his own right but Ruffian had peaked the imagination, and, therefore, it was a "no win" situation"...as an older horse, I did get the chance to see him try Ancient Title out here--heck, I even think Foolish Pleasure beat 'Title as a three year old in 75, and maybe even Forego, in the old Govenor's Cup, run at Belmont...of corse, they were both toting 130--plus, in those days, in other words, he wasn't as good as those tough geldings....then next year Honest Pleasure becomes the lowest priced loser in Derby History (??)...but gets in the poster, later on, vs the old boy, old #10, Wm Shoemaker up, Marlboro Cup, 1976, Forego hangs his nose on him in one of the all-time greatest horse races....

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Somethingroyal — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:51:13 GMT

Thanks Anna for the correction. I forgot there was a year in between the two.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

joe c. — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:06:52 GMT

Foolish Pleasure started a Wood-Derby win trend in the 70's; his victory was followed by Bold Forbes and Seattle Slew. Sadly, he was left out of the roster of Wood-Derby winners in last week's print Blodhorse, p. 1219, noting Esky's win. Then, the 4/17 Bloodhorse notes, p.1287, that Forward Pass won the 68 Blue Grass (correct) then finished first in the Derby but was disqualified! Of course, Forward Pass finished second in the Derby and was placed first; Dancer's Image was disqualified. I love the stories of yesterday's champions; I hate when facts are omitted or in error. Articles such as this celebrating a somewhat forgotten champion are important in bringing memories back to some of us, and educating those too young to remember.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

anna — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:04:01 GMT

somethingroyal.

honest pleasure was born in 1973 and foolish pleasure was born in 1972 a yr apart

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

marktoothaker — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:47:51 GMT

Great read, Foolish Pleasure was before my day but not my respect for Leroy Jolley. As a kid at Belmont working as a groom you would hear people say dont work for Jolley he has a terrible temper and is crazy but I always wish I had. He is a tremendous talent and wish he would get another talented horse so those younger than I would have a chance to get to know him. THe first time I saw his name Danny Peitz asked me to walk over from the backside at Belmont to watch a first time starter out of Jamella run, well that horse turned out to be Gulch and I was a Jolley fan.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Somethingroyal — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:49:04 GMT

Thank you for writing a long over due article. Foolish was one of my favorites as well. I believe Foolish Pleasure and Honest Pleasure were from the last crop of What a Pleasure, by Bold Ruler.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

sodapopkid — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:05:23 GMT

Very sad story, How sad, it wasnt' his fault they raced him with Ruffian that day. He was just as innocent as Ruffian was.

"Wow, realizing the price they had to pay" One with their life and the other with his dignity, as he was forever looked down upon for that fateful and tragic day.

I know God has a special place in heaven for our equine greats that have gave it all to please us, doing what we ask of them and having to pay for it with their lives.......

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Deby — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:31:56 GMT

Thank you John. That was a nice article about him. Foolish Pleasure was one of my favorites. I also loved Honest Pleasure.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Linda in Texas — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:20:40 GMT

Let us hope they are together again. And in the grand scheme of life and death, it should be no other way.

Mr. Califano, very nice words about a wonderful horse who raced as he was asked to do.

I have not forgotten him, watched the race and never did the thought ever occur that he was in anyway responsible and he wasn't. I would venture to guess that no one felt or feels that way to this day. However, i must admit it took me many years to be able to watch another horserace. And to this day, before every race i watch i say a little travel safely prayer for all who run.

re: It Was a Pleasure - By John Califano

Mary — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:46:57 GMT

Great article. Foolish Pleasure was my favorite horse back in the day. But as you probably know, for quite some time after Ruffian's tragedy people couldn't admit out loud that they loved Foolish Pleasure.

To this day I still hear people slamming his trainer because of what happened to Ruffian. Just last year on Bloodhorse one of the commentors to a blog here made a very nasty comment insinuating Mr. Jolley purposely set out to make the filly break down. It sickened me.

Anyway, thanks for acknowledging this fine colt's talent.