Thoroughbred racing suffered its most ignominious, industry-deflating moment 50 years ago today with the breakdown of Ruffian, an undefeated filly running against Foolish Pleasure in a highly promoted match race at Belmont Park. The New York Racing Association, eager to boost daily racing crowds in the mid-1970s, proposed a competition similar to that of King and Riggs. "[Ruffian's] abilities gave her the advantage in the match race," Janney said. Braulio Baeza, who had ridden Foolish Pleasure to victory in the previous year's premier 2-year-old race, Hopeful Stakes, was chosen to ride Foolish Pleasure. "I had ridden Foolish Pleasure and ridden against Ruffian," Baeza said, with language assistance from his wife, Janice Blake.