Affirmed splashes home first in the 1979 Woodward at Belmont

Making the penultimate start of his illustrious career, the Harbor View Farm's Affirmed was sent off at 2-5 and did not disappoint his backers as he rolled to a two and a half length victory in the September 22, 1979 Woodward Stakes over a sloppy Belmont Park oval. In his march toward Horse of the Year honors, Affirmed took on a pair of top younger rivals, including that year's Belmont Stakes winner Coastal and the talented Czaravich. Sirlad and Mister Brea rounded out the field of five. Affirmed was trained by Laz Barrera and ridden here by Laffit Pincay, Jr., who finished first aboard Affirmed (with one disqualification) the ten times he ultimately piloted him. Marshall Cassidy has the call.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Affirmed
• Coastal
• Laffit
• Pincay
• Woodward
• Stakes
• Belmont
• Park
• 1979
• Laz
• Barrera
• Marshall
• Cassidy
• thoroughbred
• horse
• racing

[JohnFPorcaro]

Sad fact of this series is that Spectacular Bid & Affirmed did not go head to head in this race, nor the Marlboro Cup.

Ah, what could have been!

[trackside77]

Affirmed was the horse that really began my interest in American Racing, and to this day I still rate him one of the finest of all time. A horse can only beat what is put up against him. The same could be said of Rachael Alexandra, Zenyatta etc. The sight of those famous flamingo pink and black silks passing the winning post will live with me forever.

[bigroan]

@JohnFPorcaro But did in the Jockey Club Gold Cup; where Affirmed bounced Bid on the square!



[JayAr709]

@johnnyblack1974 Well, but Flawlessly was a daughter of Affirmed. Turned out to be champion female grass horse of '92 and '93... So, we're seeing no paucity of blooded stock capable of earning the oats they consume, and worthwhile pur$e money, besides. (...More from Alydar's line, to his lasting credit). But greatness? Which, if any, of those "great racehorses" sired by Alydar had the sand to finish 2ND in three triple crown races? None was Alydar's equal --- still less Affirmed's.

[JayAr709]

@johnnyblack1974 wrote: "...Alydar clearly had superior bloodlines." Well what of that? At issue here, what is supremely important in controversies of this type, is Which Horse Is Better? (An enthusiast cares not a fig which of their respective breeding operations ultimately piles up the greater profits.) The evidence shows that--barring mishap--Affirmed's ATHLETIC PROWESS was superior to that of Alydar. ...or 'Bid, Coastal, Slew, & arguably to that of his great-great-great grandpa, Man o' War

[bbmtge]

@jhordanian Refreshing, well spoken opinion. I feel the same way about Afirmed and rate him ahead of Slew and Bid. Question for you..the Paterson in which Slew carried 134 and barely lost..was the a Gr 1???

[joefederico]

How badly did Affirmed look beaten in this as they entered the turn and 2 slop loving horses like Coastal and Czaravich in front of him. May not have been the sire everyone hoped for but, as someone said before, he had the heart of a champion on the racetrack in beating a fellow champion named Alydar as well.

[brokensoul335]

does anyone know how tall Affirmed was?

[jhordanian]

(cont) Seattle Slew beat Affirmed twice when Slew was 4 and Affirmed 3. However, in the 2nd of those meetings Affirmed's saddle slipped. Looking at their careers, Affirmed and Slew had similar 3 year old campaigns, but Affirmed had the stronger 2 and 4 year old seasons and won 14 career grade 1 races to Slew's 8. I will say that at their best, Slew was more brilliant, but Affirmed had greater career accomplishments. Affirmed carried 132,130, and 128 lbs in gr.1s; Slew carried 128lbs once in gr1

[jhordanian]

It may sound weird saying this, but I think Affirmed has been terribly underrated. To this day, there are still die-hard Alydar fans who believe, at the very least, he was just as good as Affirmed, even though Affirmed led the series 7-3, and was a far superior 4 year old. Alydar won 6 career grade 1 races; Affirmed won 6 grade 1 races at age 4 alone, and 14 overall. Most rate Affirmed behind Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid even though Affirmed beat Bid in their only meeting(cont)

[JohnFPorcaro]

He died 01/12/2001.

Great Horse!