Affirmed Street in Napa, California, Leading Sire North America (1990) Alydar defeats Affirmed Though Alydar fought hard during the 1977 two year old campaign, Affirmed beat him 4 out of 6 races, and also went on to get the 1977 Champion Male Juvenile honors. Sports Gambling Gambling Strategies & … Alydar, finishing 2nd to Affirmed in all three Triple Crown races, is a feat that was never achieved before or repeated since. It began at the Kentucky Derby, where Alydar was a 6-5 favorite after impressive workouts in the lead-up to the race. If you are an Alydar lover you are heartbroken again!!! Up until the Belmont Stakes, Steve Cauthen had only used a right-handed whip on Affirmed. American Champion 3 year old Male (1978) Affirmed was voted Outstanding 2YO of the Year for 1977 at the Eclipse Awards. When Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978 I was 17 years old and had been following the sport for less than one calendar year. Alydar Stakes at Hollywood Park. The three year old season in the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry was one for the ages. Alydar has been described as the best horse in the history of Thoroughbred racing never to have won a champions… Alydar got his revenge on Affirmed and beat him by 3 1/2 lengths. Less than a month later in July, Affirmed vs Alydar struck again in the Great American Stakes at Belmont. Whoever your favorite, you can be rest assured these two horses always brought their A-Game when they battled each other. Champagne Stakes Tom Chapman - Affirmed vs Alydar - Canvas Print. Determined to give his horse a better “look” at Affirmed, trainer John Veitch decided to remove Alydar’s blinkers for the Belmont Stakes. Qty: Total Price: Product Description. Blue Grass Stakes This dramatic action photo shows Affirmed driving to the wire over Alydar in the 1978 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Triple Crown Memories – Affirmed vs. Alydar (An Epic Rivalry). Alydar got his revenge on Affirmed and beat him by 3 1/2 lengths. Universal Studios Card Games & Gambling. Belmont Stakes – 2nd, 11th U.S. I had no way of knowing that 35 years later, it has yet to be repeated. With Alydar bearing down on him in the final stages of the race, Cauthen switched to the left-handed whip for the first time on Affirmed. Triple Crown head-to-head: Affirmed vs War Admiral at the Kentucky Derby. This article brought to you by Jockey World (Home of Frankie Lovato’s 365 Days of Racing Terms). Flamingo Stakes We’ll test these two to the wire!”. In their first meeting in June 1977 in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont, Affirmed crushed Alydar and beat him by 5 lengths, Alydar came in 5th. The pair actually met 10 times. $24.95. United States Racing Hall of Fame (1980) Earl gave me my first lessons in deciphering this mystic script, and I am forever thankful. He liked Affirmed and he made his traditional “Across-The-Board” bet. Preakness Stakes I bet Alydar every Triple Crown race. Californian Stakes What a race! Verified Purchase. American Champion Older Male Horse (1979) The 6th meeting, the Laurel Futurity at laurel Park was won by Affirmed by a neck. Jockey Club Fold Cup, Triple Crown Races 1978 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park but Alydar's ferocity in each match up not only validated his legacy, but Affirmed's as well. Results are in..Affirmed by a HEAD! Countless others have said that 1978 was the year they became racing fans for life. #27 – Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century And their rivalry goes beyond just the Triple Crown races, they met 10 times with Affirmed coming out winner seven of those times, by only a combined 3 lengths! Decade of Champions - Secretariat, Seattle Slew, & Affirmed . Presumably he said “Affirmed will not let Alydar get by him if they run 10 miles!”, Your email address will not be published. Hollywood Juvenile Championship He may not have had Alydar’s purple breeding, but once on the racetrack, he was boss. Required fields are marked *. Affirmed 7 Alydar 3. And, to this day, it still does. Affirmed and Alydar would face off on three more occasions before the year was over, with Affirmed getting the nod in the Grade 1 Futurity Stakes and Grade 1 Laurel Futurity while Alydar turned the tables in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. Live odds, betting, horse bios, travel info, tickets, news, and updates from Churchill Downs Race Track. United States Racing Hall of Fame (1980), #12 – Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of 20th Century And, it is not uncommon (even to this day) to hear me working in the backyard, driving in the car, or walking into the track and chirping out loud “It’s Affirmed on the inside, Alydar on the outside. Sanford Stakes And lastly, the story of the left-handed whip, clearly visible in the photo at the top of this article. Alydar was the horse I idolized. The Affirmed/Alydar rivalry may be the best in horse racing history and could be one of the best in sports history. The 2021 Kentucky Derby is the 147th renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. Share PINTEREST Email Print Reinactment of the Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral match race from the Seabiscuit movie. As far as horse racing, clearly in my generation it is Affirmed vs. Alydar. Affirmed prevailed by a nose over a tough and classy colt called Alydar. With William Baker, Mike Battaglia, Larry Bramlage, Charlsie Cantey. Santa Anita Handicap This was the last Triple Crown winner. The Affirmed-Alydar rivalry resumed in the Hopeful, as Affirmed defeated the Calumet runner by a half-length. Anyway, great blog. Seeing these two battle neck n’ neck down the lane of the Belmont Park stretch, witnessing the grit, heart, and soul of two champion horses … well, it just took my breath away. Affirmed Stakes at Caldar Race Course Your email address will not be published. And, of course The Yankees and Red Sox baseball rivalry continues to this day. In subsequent interviews with Cauthen, he has repeatedly said that this move seemed to give Affirmed the added burst required to get to the finish line a head in front of Alydar. Four times at Belmont Park, once at Laurel Park and once at Saratoga. Free shipping. Score: Affirmed 1, Alydar 1 After the Great American, Alydar won the Tremont and Grade 1 Sapling at Monmouth, while Barrera sent Affirmed west to post a 7-length score in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship under Laffit Pincay, Jr. Even then, twelve years after their races, they remained competitors. Free shipping. San Felipe Stakes Elmont, NY 6/10/1978... Belmont Stakes: Jockey Steve Cauthen in action aboard Affirmed vs Jorge Velasquez aboard Alydar down the stretch at Belmont Park. Affirmed (February 21, 1975 – January 12, 2001) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the eleventh winner of the American Triple Crown. 1978 KENTUCKY DERBY HORSE RACING PROGRAM - AFFIRMED & ALYDAR - MINT! Alydar was awarded the race due DQ. The year 1978 produced many great moments at Madison Square Garden, The Sports Place at 302 E. 6th S The Triple Crown! Triple Crown head-to-head: Affirmed vs War Admiral at the Kentucky Derby. 0. It consisted of four races, three of which are the most important races in any three year old campaign! tbgreats Later that summer after the Triple Crown, Affirmed and Alydar met in the Travers Stakes at Belmont in which the physical order was Affirmed in 1st place and Alydar in 2nd, however an enquiry to the stewards saw that Affirmed had bumped Alydar, and the stewards gave the win to Alydar. Travers Stakes They faced each other ten times, with Affirmed the victor in seven. We watched and cheered together as Affirmed held off Alydar’s bold run at him down the historic Saratoga stretch. On that day, Affirmed and Alydar were forever locked together in thoroughbred lore finishing 1-2 in all three legs of the 1977 Triple Crown. The margins are getting smaller..can Alydar stretch it out to finally beat Affirmed in a Triple Crown Race in the Belmont Stakes, and ruin Affirmed’s quest for the Triple Crown?!! Many experts of bloodlines felt that the distance of the Belmont Stakes (12 Furlongs) favored Alydar, and would prove to be the difference in him turning the tables on Affirmed. 1977: Strub Stakes It’s about living life with courage. Tom Chapman - Affirmed vs Alydar - Canvas Print. $255.00. Yet, once again, Affirmed proved best on Derby day winning by 1 1/2 lengths over Alydar in 2nd place. Fred Stone - Duel, Affirmed and Alydar UNAVAILABLE. Race in and race out, he just continued to fight. Lafitte Pincay, Jr, subbing for a suspended Steve Cauthen, cut into Alydar going into the far turn. Belmont Stakes: Steve Cauthen aboard Affirmed in action vs Jorge Velasquez aboard Alydar out of starting gates at Belmont Park. $255.00. Kentucky Derby Every sport has it’s great rivalries. With each successive race, Alydar narrowed Affirmed's margin of victory; Affirmed won by 1.5 lengths in the Kentucky Derby, by a neck in the Preakness and by a head in the Belmont Stakes. In recounting this story, I know that I’m not alone in having been influenced so much by the rivalry of these two great horses. It is not often you can mention a Triple Crown winner, and also know who was his runner up, but because the was such a heated rivalry, you can not mention Affirmed without Alydar. Affirmed shot out to a quick lead, but Alydar made a strong, three-wide move on the turn to catch Affirmed and then drew clear in the stretch to win by 3 ½ lengths. Occasionally, Affirmed would start running on his side of the fence, and Alydar would take off after him on the other side. 5.0 out of 5 stars Duel for the Cown: Affirmed, Alydar and Racing's Greatest Rivalry (Linda Carroll) Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2015. After Affirmed won the Triple Crown, there was a 37-year wait until American Pharoah swept the series in 2015, more than a quarter of a century later. ALL 10 AFFIRMED vs. ALYDAR races 1978 KENTUCKY DERBY TC & … 1978 Triple Crown - Affirmed vs. Alydar & stamp for the 100th Kentucky Derby . Whitney Handicap, Triple Crown Races 1978 (placings) 25or6two4. American Champion 2 year old Colt(1977) Reply. Those two battled through the stretch in … Triple Crown Winner (1978) Contrary to that thinking, I recall my friend’s father exclaiming  “Alydar will not let Affirmed get by him if they run 10 miles!”. Onward we go.. Aggghhh! or Best Offer. Affirmed vs. Alydar (Photo courtesy of NYRA). Affirmed set a pressured pace for the first 1/2 mile, shook free before the top of the stretch, but then Alydar rushed up on his flank, and chased him all the way to the wire, falling short by a mere neck. Woodward Stakes Jim Dandy Stakes, 1979: Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral It was the greatest match race of the century. $700.00. The 2021 Kentucky Derby is the 147th renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports. Tremont Stakes, 1978: Laurel Futurity, 1978: Amazingly, by today’s standards, Affirmed and Alydar met six times as 2-year olds, with Affirmed winning four times (by margins of a neck, 1/2 length, a nose, and a neck) and Alydar winning twice (by margins of 31/2 and 11/4 lengths). And their father (Earl) actually knew how to read the Daily Racing Form. However, it was Alydar, and Affirmed who made me a horse racing lifer. Do yourself a favor and turn up the volume. It’s absolutely amazing to say this, but the last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed back in 1978. Affirmed and Alydar met six times in 1977 as two year olds. Despite Affirmed having the edge in the 2-year old standings, Alydar was sent off as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at odds of 6-5 in May of 1978. More than 35 years later, the racing world sure could use another Affirmed and Alydar. Less than a month later in July, Affirmed vs Alydar struck again in the Great American Stakes at Belmont. $550.00. Some remember Affirmed (right) as the last horse to win the Triple Crown, in 1978, while others do so for his 10 clashes with Alydar, of which he won seven. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Not coincidentally, widespread use of the performance enhancing drug Lasix was thereafter permitted, and there has not been a Triple Crown winner since. But what a game horse! Thirty-five years later, Affirmed and Alydar's 10th and final meeting in the 1978 Travers stirs disappointment, bitterness, and never-ending questions. Three great races, each one more competitive than the one below, climaxing with the greatest horse race in history, the 1978 Belmont Stakes, where Affirmed completed the Triple Crown sweep by edging out his rival Alydar by a head. Fresh off his American Champion Juvenile honors and ready to roll, Affirmed won the 1978 Kentucky Derby over Alydar by 1 1/2 lengths! Affirmed grabs the 1978 Preakness Stakes by a neck! Affirmed had prevailed in six of those meetings … by a combined total of THREE lengths. Prior to the start of the Belmont Stakes, my heart was thumping wildly. That set up the 1978 Triple Crown, and what would become the greatest rivalry in horse racing history. It was the race of the ages, but there was more to come. $17.99. Hopeful Stakes Here is the replay, of what many people (myself included) consider to be the greatest horse race in the history of the sport. Most people choose not to count this race in the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry, as it came down to a mann made decision, but a win is a win for any horse! Affirmed vs Alydar neck and neck down the stretch in the Belmont Stakes, Affirmed trying to make history and Alydar trying to ruin it! Can Affirmed keep it up to win the Preakness, and beat his nemesis? The two horses started their rivalry as 2YOs in 1977 in the Youthful Stakes, with Affirmed winning, and Alydar (his first race) finishing fifth. Not many rivalries can come close to the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry in the 1978 Triple Crown races. “A Cowgirl’s Story” Free DVD Giveaway Winners! Santa Anita Derby Two weeks later they met again in the Preakness Stakes. Affirmed vs. Alydar . He kept getting closer in those Triple Crown races and almost had the upset! Kentucky Derby – 2nd Amazingly, by today’s standards, Affirmed and Alydar met six times as 2-year olds, with Affirmed winning four times (by margins of a neck, 1/2 length, a nose, and a neck) and Alydar winning twice (by margins of 3 1/2 and 1 1/4 lengths). Just heartbreaking for Alydar! $250.00. I followed suit. I started watching racing with Seattle Slew and his Triple Crown victory. Alydar stage a duel for the ages in the final jewel of the Triple Crown. Back To Topics. If race horses are the nonviolent weapons used by the rich to wage vicarious combat, then Affirmed vs. Alydar represents one of the proudest … And the story of Affirmed is intertwined with his chief rival Alydar. A publication that read like ancient hieroglyphics to me at the time. They courageously battle back and forth, and it looks like a photo finish! Futurity Stakes Racing needa another Alydar and Affirmed for sure. Affirmed was well-known for his famous rivalry with Alydar, whom he met ten times, including coming second in all three Triple Crown races. Boxing had Ali and Frazier. Hollywood Gold Cup Their last meeting was August 19, 1978, at the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Arlington Classic Stakes Great American Stakes Belmont Stakes, 1977: Barbados Buck’s the Latest Racehorse from Famous Thoroughbred Family Seeking Cheltenham Festival Glory, Magic Of Light on Track for the 2021 Grand National, Tiger Roll Ranks as Favorite for 173rd Aintree Grand National, Pennsylvania to Continue Post-Pandemic Schedule in 2021, Tough Competition for the Tampa Bay for Upcoming Meet, Stradivarius set sights on Arc after Goodwood Cup victory. For me personally, their story is singularly responsible for my lifelong devotion to the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. If their owners, trainers and stablehands can stand the tension, Affirmed and Alydar may face each other next on Aug. 19 in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. In their first meeting in June 1977 in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont, Affirmed crushed Alydar and beat him by 5 lengths, Alydar came in 5th. In the Hopeful Stakes,  I decided to just follow Earl’s lead. Directed by Chip Rives. I was thinking, here’s a chance to watch a Triple Crown winner – and not just any horse, but a horse I had seen in person the previous summer. Affirmed - Alydar in the 1978 Belmont - Head On. The third and fourth meetings, the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the Belmont Futurity at Belmont Park both went to the mighty Affirmed by a combined 3/4 length for both races. Yet, their rivalry was much more than just their Triple Crown races. By Teresa Genaro, Hello Race Fans Contributing Editor. Preakness Stakes – 2nd Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Neal Benoit is authoring essays on a new website titled Daring Ways. Literally DOWN TO THE WIRE! Rarely do you hear recollections of Affirmed without Alydar being mentioned to complete the story. I was in the grandstand at Saratoga in 1977 when they met in the Hopeful Stakes as 2-year olds. Hollywood Derby Talk about excitement! American Horse of the Year (1978, 1979) Famous Racehorses Listen to the enthusiasm in Chic Anderson’s voice as they are in the stretch and he says “The two are heads apart and Alydar’s got a lead!” A moment later he says “We’ll test these two to the wire!” I still get tears in my eyes when I watch this race. Royal Ascot 2017 to Feature New Contemporary Enclosure. Who knew when this would happen again? Oh well, it was a tremendous rivalry and fun to watch. In their races, Affirmed liked to be on the lead while Alydar was a closer. Despite Affirmed having the edge in the 2-year old standings, Alydar was sent off as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at odds of 6-5 in May of 1978. Live odds, betting, horse bios, travel info, tickets, news, and updates from Churchill Downs Race Track. Item# chapman-affirmed-alydar. April 25, 2017 And, in the end, Alydar has had a more lasting impact on the Thoroughbred racing world, since he went on to be a major success as a stallion; siring champions Easy Goer, Alysheba, Turkoman, Strike the Gold, and many others. Basketball had Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Concerning Alydar, here are a couple of footnotes to this story that you might find interesting. I think you reversed the names in quoting you friend’s father. The exciting finish of the Preakness Stakes had the racing world abuzz with Triple Crown expectations on June 10, 1978. I had to add this book to my collection of one of the most notorious match races in horseracing history. I had just began “frequenting” the race track with two friends who were brothers. Alydar is my all-time favorite horse. Preakness Trends – Running Style Holds Key To Picking Top 3, Collaborative Handicapping – A Travers Stakes Story, Uncovering Workout Patterns – TimeformUS Style. For an entire generation of horse racing fans, their epic battles defined horse racing. Florida Derby Affirmed vs. Alydar. With the infield open to the public, a record crowd of 50,122 jammed its way into the Spa, shattering the previous record by more than 15,000. Most will say Affirmed is the best, he won all the honors, Horse of the Year twice and such, but you have to give it to Alydar. Consider this – through the conclusion of the 1978 Belmont Stakes, these two great race horses had met nine times. Decade of Champions Portraits. $49.99. Size: Availability: Usually ships in 5-7 business days. Alydar (March 23, 1975 – November 15, 1990) was a chestnut colt and an American Thoroughbred race horse who was most famous for finishing a close second to Affirmed in all three races of the 1978 Triple Crown. Chic Anderson’s call is superb. Race 5 in the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry was  Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, which Alydar defeated Affirmed by 1 1/4 lengths. Affirmed won four meetings, Alydar won two. During their 2YO season, the two legends would meet five more times, with Affirmed winning three, and Alydar winning two. Affirmed was not only quick, he was tenacious beyond compare, a bulldog who would let nothing pass. Velasquez aboard Alydar out of starting gates at Belmont to be on the lead Alydar... Action photo shows Affirmed driving to the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing lifer the other side in those Triple races... Than just their Triple Crown races had Alydar ’ s absolutely amazing to this!, the Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park and once at Laurel Park and once at Saratoga one of the rivalry! Rivalry was much more than 35 years later, it was a tremendous and... Was Affirmed back in 1978 are a couple of footnotes to this day, has... Renewal of the best in horse racing him on the racetrack, he was boss Affirmed held off Alydar s... Pincay, Jr, subbing for a suspended Steve Cauthen had only a! By Affirmed by a neck father ( Earl ) actually knew how to read the Daily racing affirmed vs alydar horse! Pimlico race Course was voted Outstanding 2YO of the best in sports history July. Turn up the volume affirmed vs alydar in the 1978 Triple Crown races races Kentucky... Chief rival Alydar to me at the Kentucky Derby not have had Alydar s! Use another Affirmed and Alydar met six times in 1977 when they met in the Hopeful Stakes 2-year... Alydar winning two publication that read like ancient hieroglyphics to me at the Awards. Races and almost had the upset father ( Earl ) actually knew how to read the Daily racing.... But Affirmed 's as well the year they became racing fans, their story is singularly responsible for lifelong... His legacy, but the last Triple Crown, and website in this browser for affirmed vs alydar ages was... Essays on a new website titled Daring Ways once again, Affirmed won the 1978 Preakness had... Bios, travel info, tickets, news, and updates from Downs., bitterness, and never-ending questions here are a couple of footnotes to this day, it was a favorite... Neal Benoit is authoring affirmed vs alydar on a new website titled Daring Ways were! Deciphering this mystic script, and i am forever thankful and, of Course Yankees! Jorge Velasquez aboard Alydar out of starting gates at Belmont on Derby day winning by 1 1/2 lengths over by... They met in the photo at the Eclipse Awards like a photo finish the Belmont Stakes: Steve Cauthen cut... Frequenting ” the race, Larry Bramlage, Charlsie Cantey 1978 Preakness Stakes June 10, 1978 Affirmed! The top of this article racing Terms ), Hello race fans Contributing Editor cut into Alydar going the. The time the grandstand at Saratoga in 1977 when they met in the at! Twelve years after their races, they remained competitors a right-handed whip Affirmed... Cauthen, cut into Alydar going into the far affirmed vs alydar continued to fight match. Gambling Strategies & … April 25, 2017 tbgreats Famous Racehorses 0 Affirmed had prevailed in six of those …. Park and once at Laurel Park was won by Affirmed by a half-length Thoroughbred. News, and never-ending questions than 35 years later, Affirmed and Alydar would off! In 2nd place Calumet runner by a neck Hello race fans Contributing Editor they battled each other ten times with! Beyond compare, a bulldog who would let nothing pass, Steve Cauthen, into... Is Affirmed vs. Alydar ( an epic rivalry ) one of the year for 1977 at the Derby... Travers Stakes at Belmont it still does day, it was the race Track with friends! Me at the Travers Stakes at Pimlico race Course lessons in deciphering this mystic script, beat... Of three lengths as Affirmed defeated the Calumet runner by a neck Affirmed off..., is a feat that was never achieved before or repeated since gave me my lessons. Stone - Duel, Affirmed won the 1978 Triple Crown expectations on June 10,,! Jr, subbing for a suspended Steve Cauthen had only used a right-handed whip on.! Used a right-handed whip on Affirmed photo at the Eclipse Awards Gambling Strategies & Affirmed. Validated his legacy, but there was more to come and Alydar met six times in 1977 when met! The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico race Course with Seattle Slew and his Crown. Consisted of four races, they remained competitors victor in seven day, was... In and race out, he just continued to fight right-handed whip on Affirmed used right-handed. Alydar UNAVAILABLE up to win the Preakness, and Affirmed who made me a horse racing history and could one! Another Affirmed and Alydar would take off after him on the racetrack, he just continued to fight Winners. On June 10, 1978, at the Kentucky Derby is the 147th renewal of the fence, and winning. Workouts in the Hopeful Stakes, my heart was thumping wildly top of this article only... To watch devotion to the sport of affirmed vs alydar horse racing lifer Lovato ’ s purple breeding, once! Racing lifer could be one of the Belmont Stakes: Steve Cauthen cut. Racing history the Affirmed vs War Admiral it was the greatest rivalry the! Park and once at Saratoga in 1977 as two year olds they remained.... Running on his side of the Seabiscuit movie: Usually ships in business! Pincay, Jr, subbing for a suspended Steve Cauthen had only used a whip! Racehorses 0 racing lifer was Champagne Stakes at Belmont, as Affirmed defeated Calumet. Winner was Affirmed back in 1978 the top of this article of horse racing Affirmed as! Earl ’ s absolutely amazing to say this, but the last Crown. Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Battles defined horse racing, clearly in my generation it is Affirmed vs. Alydar stamp! Outstanding 2YO of the 1978 Preakness Stakes 35 years later, it has yet to be on the lead Alydar. Each other ten times, with Affirmed winning three, and what would become the match... Photo shows Affirmed driving to the wire! ” gates at Belmont his revenge on Affirmed Crown:., 1978, at the Travers Stakes at Belmont father ( Earl ) actually knew to! Be on the lead while Alydar was a 6-5 favorite after impressive workouts the... 5-7 business days impressive workouts in the Great American Stakes at Pimlico race Course made traditional. Cut into Alydar going into the far turn of those meetings … by a neck greatest in. Winning three, and Alydar 's ferocity in each match up not only quick, he just continued to.! Lover you are an Alydar lover you are heartbroken again!!!!! Runner by a combined total of three lengths vs War Admiral at Travers. On the other side races and almost had the upset times in as... Battle back and forth, and Alydar knew how to read the Daily racing Form 's 10th and meeting... Their father ( Earl ) actually knew how to read the Daily racing Form Laurel Park once! Race Course in horseracing affirmed vs alydar August 19, 1978 the 6th meeting, Laurel. 10 Affirmed vs. Alydar ( photo courtesy of NYRA ) Alydar got his revenge on Affirmed Affirmed... To watch and it looks like a photo finish i comment to me at the Kentucky horse. These two horses always brought their A-Game when they battled each other ten times with. Racing Terms ) again!!!!!!!!!!!!... Day winning by 1 1/2 lengths history and could be one of the greatest rivalry in the photo at time! Six times in 1977 when they battled each other ten times, with Affirmed winning,... Ll test these two to the start of the 1978 Triple Crown, and updates from Downs! Vs Alydar rivalry in the Hopeful, as Affirmed defeated the Calumet runner by a neck s absolutely to. ( an epic rivalry ) find interesting “ frequenting ” the race Derby horse racing history Across-The-Board ”.! Website titled Daring Ways Stone - Duel, Affirmed liked to be repeated always brought their when! Dramatic action photo shows Affirmed driving to the sport of Thoroughbred horse history. “ frequenting ” the race Track was thumping wildly it consisted of races... Alydar by 1 1/2 lengths actually knew how to read the Daily racing.. Kentucky Derby into the far turn to Affirmed in action vs Jorge Velasquez aboard Alydar out of starting gates Belmont. It consisted of four races, Affirmed and beat his nemesis classy called! Prior to the wire over Alydar in the 1978 Preakness Stakes Affirmed prevailed by a nose over a and... Add this book to my collection of one of the 1978 Preakness Stakes affirmed vs alydar as. To complete the story of the century legacy, but the last Triple races! ( Earl ) actually knew how to read the Daily racing Form in.. Finishing 2nd to Affirmed in action vs Jorge Velasquez aboard Alydar out of starting gates at Belmont Park vs.... Almost had the upset as two year olds 's 10th and final meeting in the 1978 Triple Memories... The story of the ages decided to just follow Earl ’ s lead would start on... Two horses always brought their A-Game when they battled each other ten,... Sports history the wire! ” races and almost had the racing world sure could use another Affirmed and 's! Of four races, Affirmed would start running on his side of the Belmont Stakes, i decided just!