The trainer and jockey of the doomed filly Ruffian have filed a lawsuit against ABC and ESPN alleging trademark infringement over the networks’ upcoming movie about the horse.
“Ruffian,” developed by ESPN Original Entertainment, is scheduled to air on June 9 on ABC in conjunction with the Belmont Stakes. It depicts the 3-year-old filly who won her first 10 races by a combined 82 3/4 lengths. In a battle-of-the-sexes match race against the Kentucky Derby winner at Belmont Park in 1975, she shattered her leg and had to be euthanized.
