Affirmed victorious in the 1979 Hollywood Gold Cup

Carrying 132 lbs. including jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., on June 24, 1979 the Harbor View Farm's Affirmed added the Hollywood Gold Cup to a long résumé filled with remarkable achievements. In this race, Affirmed also became the first horse to break $2 million in earnings. The Hall of Famer, two time horse of the year, and Triple Crown winner was trained by Laz Barrera. Harry Henson is the race announcer.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Affirmed
• Laffit
• Pincay
• Hollywood
• Gold
• Cup
• 1979
• Laz
• Barrera
• Harry
• Henson
• horse
• racing

[bbmtge]

...SS was the place horse and Affirmed was out of contention with a slipped saddle. Affirmed had the better 2YO, 3YO and 4YO season...Affirmed ran 12 more races over his 3 seasons compared to SS...his losses at 3yo and 4YO were a DQ, 2 losses to older horses, one with a slipped saddle and the need for a change in rider. Once Pincay was up, Affirmed was 7-0-0 at 4YO.

[bbmtge]

...allowance races and the G3 Paterson (loss to DR. Patches) prior to the MC. SS was fully recovered from illness and could not have been better rested or better prepped for the race. SS runs a great MC as does Affirmed considering the aformentioned facts and the additonal fact that Affirmed had a throat infection. As has been stated, SS was 4YO and Affirmed 3YO as well as a mere 2 pounds? separated the horses in impost vs scale at 5 pounds. Finally, SS did NOT defeat Affirmed in the JGC...con

[bbmtge]

At the running of the 1978 MC, Affirmed had already run 9 races with a record of 8-1-0, the single loss a DQ for intefering with Alydar. The MC would be his 10th race after a season that not only included a TC but, was the most hotly contsted TC in history. 2 horses of near equal talent neck and neck in each race. The final mile in the Belmont still stands as the fastest ever run with Affirmed winning by a nose. The contrast, not to denigrate SS in any manner, is that SS ran two 7 furlong...con

[bbmtge]

@disciple90633 Interesting. You threw in the towel and ran away at the first challenge. Debate is just what it is...debate. Funny how, AGAIN, you cant' bring yourself to acknowledge the principal issue, age difference, as well as the other, multiple, details. Funny how you retreat to generalizations and, again, are factually incorrect. Maybe you should try the romper room section on youtube.

[disciple90633]

@bbmtge Trying to say who is "better" is like comparing one super model next to another and saying who's prettier. You fools are crazy with your little horsey debates. They were obviously two of the greatest ever and great champions. I'm simply saying they met heads up twice with Slew winning both. SCOREBOARD, morons.

[bbmtge]

@JayAr709 Excellent points. I do not think some here understand compare/contrast nor detail analysis.

[bbmtge]

Respond to this video... #2 As for the JGC, Affirmed was out of contention when his saddle slipped and not beaten, as you claim. #3 Affirmed was HOY in 1978, not Slew. #4- Affirmed's 4 YO season is one of the great campaigns. While SS fought illness, nonetheless, his 4YO campaign was marginal at best. Get your facts straight before you comment. The detail will embarass you every time.

[bbmtge]

@disciple90633 You are quite factually incorrect. #1 - Affirmed was 3YO and SS 4YO when they raced. Both being great horses, the 4YO has the clear and overwhelming advantage. While SS ran a great MC, Affirmed did have a throat infection and Cauthen was having trouble controlling his horse. Further, because of SS questionable performances leading up to the MC, he was allowed to carry less weight than he should have and Affirmed more than he should have.

[JayAr709]

@stonerr To the contrary. Cauthen's inexplicable decision to take back, off of Cordero's clever pace, ITSELF constitutes a valid excuse--in view of Slew's near- YEAR long rest, before the Marlboro.

Meanwhile, Affirmed had been battling Alydar, time and again. ...To say nothing of Affirmed's throat infection.

These disavantges, plus Cauthen's tactical error [one that Pincay likely would NOT have made] seem, to me, as *mission critical* as a Saddle's Slip. ...That only an idiot would not excuse

[JayAr709]

@disciple90633 Think what you like about those 2 races.

To these eyes, Seattle Slew only beat Steve CAUTHen, never Affirmed.

Though, for a fact, Slew WAS bested by Exceller--who in turn finished 8 lengths beHIND Affirmed ...when that one's saddle wasn't slipping.

& Slew was humiliated by J.O.Tobin -- who Alydar was able to DEMOLISH -- just as Slew was embarrassed by Dr. Patches. -Neither of whom History will long remember (though Affirmed can wear his Triple Crowns another 33 (or 99) years!