The best of five full sisters known as the “Barbarous Battalion,” Ruthless asked no quarter from any rival and gave none. After victories over males in the inaugural Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes, she was widely regarded as the best member of her crop of either sex. Her racing career was cut short by a leg injury in the fall of her 3-year-old season, and her broodmare career was likewise prematurely ended as she died in a bizarre accident at the age of 12.
Race record
11 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$11,000
1866:
1867:
Honors
As an individual
A strapping bay mare standing 16 hands, Ruthless was portrayed by celebrated equine artist Edward Troye as a well-balanced, deep-girthed mare with prominent withers, powerful hindquarters, and sickle hocks.
As a producer
Ruthless produced only two named foals, both colts. The better of the pair was Battle Axe (by Monday), winner of the 1873 Kentucky Stakes at Saratoga.
Connections
Foaled in Westchester County, New York, Ruthless was bred and owned by Francis Morris. She was trained by William Brown at 2 and by A. J. Minor at 3. She was ridden to her Belmont Stakes win by Gilbert W. “Gilpatrick” Patrick. She died in 1876.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the important English import Eclipse (by Orlando; not to be confused with the famous 18th-century racehorse who is the male-line ancestor of the vast majority of today’s Thoroughbreds), Ruthless is a full sister to Remorseless, considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1869. Ruthless is also a full sister to Alabama Stakes winners Regardless (1874; considered the American co-champion 3-year-old filly of that year) and Merciless (1876) and to 1867 Saratoga Stakes winner Relentless.
Barbarity, the dam of Ruthless and her sisters, was bred in Ireland by a Mr. Bradshaw and was imported by Richard Ten Broeck, who won three match races with Barbarity when she was a 4-year-old in 1858; she was also second in that year's City and Suburban Handicap. The following year, the mare was imported to the United Stakes. She ended up in the ownership of Francis Morris as partial settlement of a lawsuit. Sired by Simoon (by 1838 English champion sire Camel), she is a full sister to Barbarian who won the 1851 National Produce Stakes in Ireland and was second in the 1852 Derby Stakes. She is also a full sister to Barbary, winner of the 1857 National Produce Stakes. Barbarity was produced from a daughter of Buzzard (by 1829 English champion sire Blacklock), who in turn was produced from Donna Maria (by the high-class racer and sire Partisan x Donna Clara, by Cesario).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 2, 2025
Race record
11 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$11,000
1866:
- Won Nursery Stakes (USA, 8FD, Jerome Park)
- 2nd Saratoga Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Trial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Paterson NJ)
1867:
- Won Spring Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jerome Park; equaled track record 1:21)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 13FD, Jerome Park)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- Won Sequel Stakes (USA, 16FD, Saratoga; new track record 3:37-1/2)
- 2nd Jersey Derby (USA, 12FD, Paterson NJ)
- 2nd Jersey St. Leger (USA, 18FD, Paterson NJ)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1975)
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1867)
As an individual
A strapping bay mare standing 16 hands, Ruthless was portrayed by celebrated equine artist Edward Troye as a well-balanced, deep-girthed mare with prominent withers, powerful hindquarters, and sickle hocks.
As a producer
Ruthless produced only two named foals, both colts. The better of the pair was Battle Axe (by Monday), winner of the 1873 Kentucky Stakes at Saratoga.
Connections
Foaled in Westchester County, New York, Ruthless was bred and owned by Francis Morris. She was trained by William Brown at 2 and by A. J. Minor at 3. She was ridden to her Belmont Stakes win by Gilbert W. “Gilpatrick” Patrick. She died in 1876.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the important English import Eclipse (by Orlando; not to be confused with the famous 18th-century racehorse who is the male-line ancestor of the vast majority of today’s Thoroughbreds), Ruthless is a full sister to Remorseless, considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1869. Ruthless is also a full sister to Alabama Stakes winners Regardless (1874; considered the American co-champion 3-year-old filly of that year) and Merciless (1876) and to 1867 Saratoga Stakes winner Relentless.
Barbarity, the dam of Ruthless and her sisters, was bred in Ireland by a Mr. Bradshaw and was imported by Richard Ten Broeck, who won three match races with Barbarity when she was a 4-year-old in 1858; she was also second in that year's City and Suburban Handicap. The following year, the mare was imported to the United Stakes. She ended up in the ownership of Francis Morris as partial settlement of a lawsuit. Sired by Simoon (by 1838 English champion sire Camel), she is a full sister to Barbarian who won the 1851 National Produce Stakes in Ireland and was second in the 1852 Derby Stakes. She is also a full sister to Barbary, winner of the 1857 National Produce Stakes. Barbarity was produced from a daughter of Buzzard (by 1829 English champion sire Blacklock), who in turn was produced from Donna Maria (by the high-class racer and sire Partisan x Donna Clara, by Cesario).
Fun facts
- Ruthless was beaten by her stablemate Monday (a colt) in the 1866 Trial Stakes and the 1867 Jersey Derby, but on both occasions, Francis Morris had declared to win with Monday. (Under the rules of racing then extant, the owner of an entry was permitted to designate which animal he would rather have win if possible, and the jockey of the less-favored entry could legally “pull” his mount to allow the chosen stablemate to win.) Nevertheless, the accounts of the races in question suggest that Ruthless was not pulled in favor of Monday but was simply allowed to finish at her own pace after Monday had taken the lead. She defeated her stablemate on two other occasions, including the Belmont Stakes in which Monday had been declared to win but was unable to get the job done.
- In 1876, Ruthless was shot in her paddock,at Morris's farm near Ellicott City, Maryland, presumably by a hunter who had mistaken her for a deer. She died of complications of the initial injuries five weeks later.
- In 1874, Francis Morris had Ruthless bred to her own sire, Eclipse. The result was an unnamed bay colt that was said to have had deformed forelegs.
- Ruthless became the namesake for a stakes race at Aqueduct in 1974.
Last updated: August 2, 2025