Black Ruby has been inducted into the Equus Hall of Fame for her lifetime achievement and advancement of mule racing locally, nationally, and internationally.
According to the NY Times, "To say that Black Ruby is the Secretariat of mules is a bit unfair. Secretariat never won 57 races, nor was he named Champion of his breed five straight times. He did not hold the world record in three distances. Black Ruby has done that and more. She is one fast mule." The NY Times featured Black Ruby mid-career; she had much, much more to accomplish.
Black Ruby is a nineteen year old mule mare owned by Mary and Sonny McPherson of Healdsburg, Ca. Her dam was an Appendix mare named Satinette, and her sire a Jack named Two Bals. She raced successfully from age four to age sixteen, when the American Mule Racing Association (AMRA) mandates retirement. Mule races include males and females racing against each other. Given the mixed field, Black Ruby's successes seem even more impressive. She has been called "the winning-est racing mule of all time," by publications all over the world, from the Press Democrat to the London Times.
Black Ruby has enjoyed an extraordinary career. She has 119 starts, with seventy wins, twenty-two second places, and fifteen thirds. The AMRA named her the World Champion Sprint Mule seven straight years in a row (1997-2003), Long Distance Champion in 2003, and Speed Index Champion in 1996. Major race wins include the Fresno Gold Cup, the Cream City Mule Stakes, the Solano County Mule Stakes, and the Winnemucca Mule Classic, among many others. Black Ruby was the winner of three high-purse Invitational Match Races (Del Mar, Pomona, and Los Alomotis), and is one of only two non-Thoroughbreds to ever race at Del Mar.
Perhaps most importantly, Black Ruby put mule racing on the map. Her success has earned her not only national, but international attention.
She has been featured in Featured in Sports Illustrated, the NY Times, the London Times, Equus Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Thoroughbred Times, Blood Horse, the Daily Racing Forum, and Caballo (Mexico). ABC TV, CBS TV, and Channel 50 (local) have covered stories on Black Ruby. You'll find a chapter written about her in Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul. Finally, she is likely the only mule to have a song written exclusively about her: "Black Ruby Fever" (Gary Hyde Music BMI).
Black Ruby was inducted into the National Mule Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Locally, during the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Sonoma County Fair, fair officials designated August 7, 2011 "Black Ruby Day." Black Ruby made an appearance, dancing around the track and posing in the winner's circle for some well-deserved attention.
According to Sonny and Mary, it is a privilege to own such a serious athlete. Although Black Ruby did not come from racing stock, she loved her job, and always did her best. While Black Ruby is officially designated as "retired," the description is hardly accurate. She is currently employed at her home in Healdsburg guarding the pasture and babysitting the yearlings and two year olds.
