1978 Marlboro Cup - Seattle Slew

This is a slightly different version of the first race I posted on YouTube, Seattle Slew's victory over Affirmed in the first meeting of Triple Crown winners. It looks like the CBS version and not the track replay. Note the different graphics, and Chic Anderson's microphone stays on longer than the previous version.

Unfortunately, there are some video imperfections in mid stretch. That was the case before translation to YouTube.

The media struggled with the tobacco related title of this race for years. I remember varying references every time. Notice the final graphic says The Cup with no mention of Marlboro.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1978
• Marlboro
• Cup
• Belmont
• Park
• Seattle
• Slew
• Affirmed
• Triple
• Crown
• Angel
• Cordero
• Steve
• Cauthen
• Horse
• Racing

[jess4metoo]

How much weight did Slew give to Affirmed, if any?

[AwsiDooger]

It was 4 pounds, 1 pound less on scale. The racing secretary rated Affirmed slightly above Slew prior to the race, since it should have been 5 pounds based on age.

In the post race interview Cauthen said he wasn't disappointed, that Affirmed had fired when asked, but Slew did also. Cauthen mentioned that Affirmed was given 1 pound less on scale.

BTW, recently I found an audio tape of the telecast, and also Marshall Cassidy's full call of the race. I'll try to make a video with Cassidy's call.

[yipyappyyip]

Did this come before or after the Woodward?

[AwsiDooger]

It was before the Woodward. The order was: Marlboro Cup, Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Slew ran in all 3. Affirmed skipped the Woodward. Exceller skipped the Marlboro Cup.

[DevilHisDue]

We will NEVER see another race featuring not 1 but 2 Tripple Crown winners! The 70's truly were "The Golden Age" of racing

[ruffchamp1]

seattle slew-a true immortal great..he absolutely demolished another legend here!

[bcleeusa]

Thanks for posting.... Slew makes Affirmed look like a pony. I didn't realize how big he was.  It would have been a more interesting race if Affirmed had challenged Slew from the beginning (just like vs. Alydar).

[JayAr709]

@yipyappyyip The throat infection can't have helped Affirmed any. ...But this is a botched ride by Steve Cauthen, in my opinion.

No way Laffit Pincay lets Cordero steal off to THIS clever pace. ...any more than Cordero, in turn -- were HE aboard Slew, back in California -- would have let Shomaker steal away aboard J.O.Tobin. Bad rides work lasting distortions on reality, and you don't get them back.

[JayAr709]

@brunoaltimino Agreed.

[takor123]

@devil. You are absolutely right. We will never see 2 trpl crown champs race again. I saw that race liveon tv feed @ santa anita with my brother, I did not know that I was watching history. I had money of affirmed

[brunoaltimino]

@GBeret83 Wrong. Affirmed won the triple crown over a better horse than Bid ever faced in the classics, Alydar. Affirmed beat Bid at weight for age head to head with no excuse for Bid. Moreover, Bid ducked Winter's Tale at 4. Bid was great, Affirmed was better.

[rscarbro100]

@edgeandmybeaglerule When a horse race after June in his 4th season he is automatically given 126. A 3 year old is assigned 117. Quote Racing Secretary N.Y. State Kenny Noe 1973. Secretariat was given 124 to R.R. 127 & Kenny Noe stated Secretariat was 6 lbs over scale.better more than Riva Ridge. According to Noe then Affirmed was 5 lbs. better over scale.

[drfager01]

monster!

[edgeandmybeaglerule]

I remember watching that race as a kid. Loved the Slew. I still wish my beloved Alydar would have been healthy and able to run in the race. Got hurt in the Travers thanks to Pincay's cheap shot on Affirmed. :(

[GBeret83]

Any trainer will tell you that one of the peak levels of a horses career is from his 3yr.old to his 4yr.old season. So we had a 4yr.old Triple Crown winner going against a 3yr.old Triple Crown winner in this race. I think Seattle Slew being older and stronger was the difference in the race. Of course, there's exception's to that theory. But Affirmed as a 4yr.old beat Spectacular Bid as a 3yr.old in 1979. I've always thought Spectacular Bid, top to bottom, was better than Affirmed. JMO.

[DanielSong39]

Terrific race from Seattle Slew. A fast but measured pace pretty much guaranteed victory.

In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Seattle Slew was simply too keyed up and ran the race like 6-furlong sprint... and the results were predictable. It's a testament to his greatness that he was able to challenge Exceller at the wire, Affirmed was last seen loping somewhere in the backstretch - has he crossed the finish line yet?