Affirmed - 1978 Belmont Stakes

The 1978 Belmont Stakes won by Affirmed in a barn-burning race to the wire with his terrific rival, the beloved Alydar.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Thoroughbred
• Horse
• Racing
• Affirmed
• Alydar
• 1978
• Belmont
• Stakes
• NYRA
• Chic
• Anderson
• New
• York

[gotch09]

Who rode Affirmed in the TC? I found a interview with Lefit Pincay (who rode Sham against Secretariat) where he said he had the privelige to ride Affirmed. He said it was the smoothest ride he ever rode. Riding Affirmed as opossed to a regular racing horse was like the difference between a Rolls Royce and a VW.

[cf1970]

Steve Cauthen rode Affirmed in the Triple Crown.

[Legacy383]

At thoroughbreed(dot)com I posted a picture of Affirmed that I took at Jonabell Farm a few months before he died. R.I.P. great champion.

[cf1970]

Wonderful picture of Affirmed; he looked great. Thanks for the info.

[sargeanthulka]

The greatest head-to-head battle in the history of sports, bar none.

[raygordon]

The greatest race of all time, if you consider the rivals, the quality, the stakes of the race, the length of the duel, and the margin of victory.

From one of the greatestrivalries of all time.

[ParkAvenueDanielle]

@brunoaltimino Lasix is the real culprit. Many of the top lines from the 1970s and 1980s have disappeared from pedigree influence, while the "lasix lines" of Mr. Prospector and Norther Dancer and their get have taken over. As lasix is being weeded out of many stakes events in the coming years, that should wreak havoc with the breed, this time in a good way.

[brunoaltimino]

@burningrosegirl98 Probably because the breed has been mismanaged where there has been an emphasis of breeding speed to speed. Back in those days, they would usually breed a fast sire line to a stamina mare line. That is exactly what gave us Secretariat, great speed from the sire, Bold Ruler and stamina from the Princequllo line on the bottom. Those are called nicks and the lines have become so blurred that it is hard to tell the nicks apart. Mr. Prospector is a culprit.

[mshobohorse]

I wonder if we will ever see another triple crown winner...

[Ringobjingo]

The ride.

[joeysal77]

@gotch09 18 year Steve Cauthen rode Affirmed in all three legs, he eventually lost the mounts to Lafit Pincay when he went on a cold spell. Steve Cauthen is the youngest jockey ever to win the Triple Crown. Affirmed, 29 lifetime races, 22 firsts 5 seconds 1 third. Only out of the money once. Great book titled 'Affirmed' by Leo Sahadi just came out, I read it, very good story.

[RuffianQueenOfRacing]

@sargeanthulka i think winning colors and personal ensigns race in the mud was one of the greatest battles!

[xxcrystlecityxx]

@burningrosegirl98 i know right!

i wish i could of seen ruffian race!

[CPProductions13]

@gotch09

Steve Cauthen rode Affirmed in the Triple Crown.

[burningrosegirl98]

Why can't racing be like this now? I think I was born in the wrong time.