There are millions of words that can be used to describe the intense emotions caught up in classic rivalry.
However, there is only one word with only three letters that stamp a particular athletic battle as a rare conflict that can withstand the test of time and become even more legendary with each generation passing by.
and.
It’s that easy.
Whenever you can’t name one participant without the reflection action of adding “and” to the second one, you know there’s something really special.
Yankees and Red Sox.
Celtics and Lakers.
North Carolina and Duke.
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
In horse racing, there is one rivalry that sets a standard that is too high that has not been consistent in the past 44 years, and the same may be true 44 years from now.
Affirmation and Alider.
From the spring of 1977 to the end of the summer of 1978, the two horses met ten times.
At the 1978 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, Harborview Farm’s assertion and Calmette Farm’s Alider competed for a total of nearly four miles, separating about two miles in three races. The Derby was the most “biased” of the trio, but the one that was declared won by a length of 1½.
They then engaged in a memorable stretch duel at Preakness, asserting they would win the neck.
Later, on the biggest stage of the race, there was a triple crown on the line of the Belmont Stakes, and they wrote what they consider to be the biggest race of the sport when they fought each other for the final seven furlongs. Affirmed won that ultimate test of stamina and courage, reaching the wire by his head over his ubiquitous rival as the two horses competed forever between “and in between” as a binding entry to race lore.
“You can’t mention it without others. That’s the way you always remember. You don’t just remember the winners. Every time they met they were right there in the finish and they held a show, so you remember them synonymously,” John Vetch, who trained Alider, said in a 2015 interview. “You run horses that run towards each other a lot, but they’re not as consistent as they declared Alider. That was a great part of the rivalry.”
The rivalry certainly leaps in favor of Affirmed. He won seven of the ten meetings for owners Louis and Patrice Wolfson and trainer Laz Barrera. Alydar’s three victories included a 1978 victory due to disqualification at Travers.
But what made their race such an unforgettable blockbuster event was that they finished 1-2 with nine at these 10 meetings, one of which was the winner in all 10 races.
“They competed with them and they were far better than other horses that made something very, very, very, very special. I think it resonates with people 100 years from now. Without a doubt, it’s the biggest rivalry in horse racing.” “It was like the battle between Ali and Fraser. You always remember what was going on in your life when it happened and what you were doing at the time. It was special. It was one of the great things about the sport.”
Just as the two horses were inseparable, there was one quality that best explains why the reasons why they were favored in 70% of collisions were prioritized.
Alydar delivered the class, a strapping class raised from one of the sport’s most famous farms that had a devastating knockout punch. Meanwhile, what was declared was an unparalleled street fighter who was determined to win.
Ninth in Affirmed’s career start of 29, his margin of victory or loss was less than long. He won them all.
Meanwhile, Alider was involved in seven races, where he won or lost under length. He lost all seven of them.
Cauthen, a 1994 Hall of Fame inductee, said: “He was a winner. He loved winning, he loved fighting. He was like that guy in a bar looking for a fight. He loved racing and he loved fighting horses.
“Even so, I have to give it to Alider. He never stops. He’s even back in Belmont. You can understand the horses that give up when they can’t pass the horses he was asserted of, but he never quit. So I admired both horses.”
It was also the fierce will of both horses that allowed Veitch to put aside the initial disappointment he felt in these 10-man races and to have a deep appreciation for being part of the race’s most legendary rivalry.
“It’s very rewarding for me to be able to still come to me, talk about Alidar, assert and remember my relationship with both horses in affirmation,” Veitch said. “This sport means everything to me, as was the case for my dad and grandfather. It’s a real joy for me. It’s something I always cherish.”
In 1977, a great rivalry was formed.
Affirmed came to the race first. Trained by Barrera, who turned the quick bold Forbes into winners of the 1976 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, was a small, light colt when he entered the starting gate at Belmont Park for his career debut on May 24, 1977.
Barrera was approaching Cauthen about the asserted riding, but he was sidelined with an injury for that first start. Instead, the exclusive native son from the craft mares admiral is not told to you, but was on the ride when Bernie Gonzalez was sent at odds of 14-1, but collapsed on his debut at a length of 4½.
In contrast, Alider was considered a future star since his early days.
When Veitch was appointed Calumet’s trainer in April 1976 at the age of 30, he took over something stable with a deep tail spin. In the 1940s and 1950s, Calumet won the Derby seven times, and was the gold standard in the industry. However, from 1958 to 1976, the only winner of Calmette’s Run for the Rose was Forward Pass. He was declared the winner of the 1968 edition after the image of the dancer was disqualified for a drug violation, and in that 18 years the stable was represented by only three derby starters.
When Veitch was brought in, Admiral Gene Markey, owner of Calumet, and his wife Lucille (who assumed control of the farm after the death of her husband William Wright in 1950), was suffering from a decline in health at about 80 years old. However, it didn’t take long for Veitch to cause a revival and bring the famous Calumet colour back to prominence in the main race.
In 1977, Veitch won the Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club Oaks. Mims is the 3-year-old Philly chosen Mims.
“Most people have had such a dry spell since the days of (trainers) Ben and Jimmy Jones and have not noticed that they had fallen off the map. It was special to me to be part of the farm’s revival,” Veitch said. “There were people who spent the whole job on the farm with the Devil’s Red and Blue, and it brought them back to life to bring the championship caliber horses back together. It was a really great experience.
“And I think seeing her farm in the spotlight gave her a reason to live longer and live Lucille Marquie.
Aside from our Mim, we also had a son who raised his own native breeds from the sweet teeth of a mare named Alider, who was creating excitement at Lexington Farm in Kentucky.
“He showed great talent from the beginning. When farm staff shipped Alider to me in December of his year, he was highly recommended and saw him on the farm many times when he was broken and trained. Stakes.”
Veitch has chosen a youthful stake for $37,000 as the spot for Alydar’s debut.
Round 1
June 15th, 1977, Belmont Park, youthful stakes
Calmette’s faith in Alider was accepted by the bettor, who made him a 9-5 favorite on the 11-year-old field.
One of the 11 people was an impressive maiden winner named Affirmed, sent 3-1.
Alydar and Rider Eddie Maple got off to a late start, returning to ninth in the early stages and finishing fifth.
Front end, affirmation and jockey Angel Coldero Jr. pushed a half-length timber pace behind him on the turn, rimmed by a narrow lead in midstretch, and the neck ultimately won.
Check score: 1, Alydar 0
Veitch was disappointed with Alydar’s performance, but he believed it was an educational effort and was delighted when Calumet Runner announced his 6¾ length victory over his faith at Maiden Race after its start.
Alider’s next destination was to return to the stakes company.
Round 2
Great American Stakes, July 6, 1977, Belmont Park
Alider was once again matched what was affirmed, but Alider was bet on a 3-5 favorite on the 7-year-old field.
The asserted assertion got a quick lead, but Alider declared the catch by making a strong three-width move on the turn, then drew clear to win at 3½ length on the stretch.
Check score: 1, Alider 1
After the great American, Alider won Tremont and Grade 1 saplings at Monmouth Park, while Barrera crossed west to score seven lengths at the Hollywood Youth Championship under Lafitte Pinkai Jr.
When he returned east for the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes in Saratoga, Barrera had chosen to ride another two-year-old in the race, so he needed a new jockey. He found one in 17-year-old Cauthen, who lost a “bug” in June after an astonishing apprentice who won the 100th race in New York by February 14th.
In his first race after an injury in May, which saw him by the sidelines for about a month, Cauthen won on a Valera Harbour View horse called Little Miracle.
At Sanford, Cauthen was first declared to the Little Miracle half-brother.
“At that point, no one was thinking of anyone who was declared a champion other than Raz,” Cauthen said. “People weren’t lined up to ride him.”
Cauthen confirmed his 2¾ or less victory over the slope, and declared another meeting with Alider, a Grade 1 hopeful stage.
Round 3
Full of hope for Grade 1, Saratoga, August 27, 1977
In the hopeful, the assertion was third in the early stages, with even-numbered favourite Alidar in the fourth right behind him.
On the turn they moved together, and Alider drew with him. However, this time I declared, and didn’t pass Alidar and won half the length.
“Affirmed won Sanford for me and he won it well,” Cauthen said. “But it wasn’t the day he impressed me as a horse he turned out to be. It was full of hope.”
Check score: 2, Alydar 1
Two weeks later, the scene shifted to Belmont Park and reached the future at a distance of 7 furlongs.
Round 4
Grade 1 Future, September 10, 1977, Belmont Park
The assertion was sent as Alider’s favorite for the first time, breaking through the gate as a 6-5 option in the race that produced the closest finish in 10 meetings.
On the 3/8 pole, Harborview and Calmette stars were joined to the waist. By the quarter pole. The Alider was forged into a slim lead. But once again, the assertion was that he placed his head in front of him halfway through and fought quickly. Alider did not retreat, making a final, desperate run with his rival, cutting into a short margin, but shortening his nose with a wire.
Score: 3, Alider 1 confirmed
A month later, Affirmed and Alydar both pointed to the Belmont Champagne Stakes for a mile, but this time there was something different. Perennial New York riding champion Jorge Velazquez recovered from his injury and took over the Alider mount for champagne.
Round 5
Grade 1 Champagne, October 15, 1977, Belmont Park
The champagne was contested on a muddy track and, as usual, used his tactical speed to grab Alider’s early lead. Affirmed, a 6-5 favorite, was two lengths from the lead after the opening quarter mile, with Alider fourth.
Approaching the half-mile pole, Cauthen moved for the lead, but Alider didn’t go with him. Instead, Derby Creek Road moved as a declared team while Velazquez loaded his time behind them.
Affirmations and Derby Creek Road were forged in front before Harborview Runner tasted what Alider had received as his new rival. However, as asserted, as avoiding Derby Creek Road at the top of the stretch, Alidahl charged in the center of the truck and was asserted.
Affirmed tried to fight, but the wire could only reduce the margin to 1¼ length.
Score: 3, Alydar 2 confirmed
After champagne, Veitch gave Alydar a break for the rest of the year, but decided to work on it again at Laurel Futurity.
“If Alider hadn’t run him after champagne, he might have been the two-year-old champion, but with Mrs. Markey’s approval, I decided to go with him,” Veitch said. “In hindsight, I shouldn’t have run, but I have turned to the next year and the Kentucky Derby.
“I was very confident in Laurel’s future and wanted to run Alider two turns and prepare for the Derby to get a better idea of what I had to do in the upcoming winter and early spring. I was able to throw a monkey wrench at the horse for the second turn.
Round 6
Grade 1 Laurel Futurity, October 29, 1977, Laurel Park
The two-year-old star’s presence took up only four fields in Laurel’s future, putting pressure on Velázquez to ensure that the assertions didn’t control the slow pace.
Star de Nascra set the pace with the miles, and the 16th stakes asserted the length behind him, with 2-5 favorite Alider delighting Kausen.
“Alider didn’t like it inside, so I left the rails.Alider has to come out and go around us, or move inside us,” Cauthen said. “He came in and didn’t like it. It was one of the tricks I was up my sleeve and he never did it again.”
Arider was declared stretching as he ran through the assertions, and was declared and declared with his neck tied to the neck to close the two-year-old’s championship.
“I was surprised that I declared him as if I was about to blow him away, but when I got inside his neck he just kept going,” Velazquez said. “It was like an entire stretch.”
Score: 4, Alydar 2 confirmed
Affirmed took the rest of 1977, and Alydar returned a month later with sophomore Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, but finished second in the second length.
Both camps then prepared for the triple crown.
Affirmed spent the winter in California, winning four consecutive victories, closing out with two length scores in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park.
Alider stayed on the East Coast and won three consecutive races, including the Florida Derby and Flamingo. He then headed for Kentucky and collapsed 13 lengths in the Bluegrass Stakes in Keeneland. This is a race that is more important than its role as a preparation for the Derby.
“We had a perfect winter, everything went according to the plan,” Veitch said. “Alider exceeded our expectations in Florida and the race on the blue grass was very impressive.
“The blue grass was very important to the Admiral and Mrs. Markey, because they lived on a farm about a mile away from the track, and for them it was the last time they would have gone to the race and see Alider acting. For the other horses, I was sure it was the right move.”
Both Marquise were in wheelchairs, so Keeneland allowed them to drive at the farm station and into an area near the winner’s circle.
It was an emotionally charged afternoon fueled by moving scenes like during a post parade when Velazquez took Alider to the Marquise.
“Here’s your baby,” Velazquez said as Alider’s head turned to his owner. “Don’t he look pretty?”
“I am pleased to see the Admiral and Mrs. Markey come to Keeneland and that it has become so special to them, as Alider and Keeneland are elderly and similarly unavoidable,” recalls Veitch. “Even when they were in Saratoga, they couldn’t go to the race, and I was happy to make that happen. Mrs. Markey felt great to be able to go to the race and see the fans.
For the 1978 Triple Crown, the excitement created by the duel between Affirmed and Alydar produced wild excitement for the two triple crowns. The consensus of opinion was that the longer the classical distance would support Alider, but Cauthen was not upset.
“When I entered the Derby, I didn’t know how much Alydar had improved since the two,” Cauthen said. “What was asserted was that he was such an intelligent horse. He was easy to handle and could do anything you asked. We had options that Alider had no choice.
Round 7
Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, May 6, 1978, Churchill Downs
Alider was sent as a 6-5 favorite in the Derby, but the affirmation was a 9-5 choice in 11 fields.
The triple crown miles and a quarter opening leg were regularly affirmed as he was rated third early on and waited for Cauthen to call him.
However, Alider went on a miserable trip. Veitch said that rocks and chunks of dirt hit him in his eyes, and he was behind by 17 lengths.
As expected, Alider placed the competition on the final turn, but he confirmed that the lead was too big.
“It wasn’t until the half-mile Paul that Alider began to appear,” Velazquez said. “He made a strong move, but he wasn’t strong enough to declare that.
The Harborview Colt managed to control the quarter pole away and dodge the late charging alider by 1½ length.
“In the end, it worked as we planned. We jumped out and chased Alider after us. Only then did Alider get too late,” Cauthen said. “For some reason he couldn’t get it. He flew in, but we were home by then. We won comfortably.
Score: 5, Alider 2 confirmed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nkb0u9ym8u
Stung by a loss at Churchill Downs, Veitch puts a quick drill into Alider to get him closer to a short preakness lead.
“I thought I’d get him next time,” Velazquez said of the affirmation.
Round 8
Grade 1 Preakness, May 20, 1978, Pimlico
What was asserted was that he capitalized a small field of 7 in Preakness and took the lead on the first turn. Alider started in sixth place and made a move that was close to his final turn.
“The good thing was that it was a small field and I was able to make sure I was slowing down and relaxed,” Cauthen said. “We were basically sitting there waiting for Alidar. Luckily, when he got there, I had a lot of horses left.”
In the often repeated scenes, Alider’s collared affirmed and nervous as he passed him, but the assertion was unforgiving. He owned a half-long lead on the eighth pole, as hard as Alider tried on that last furlong, he fell shy about his neck. I believe that the two enemies are 7½ long.
“Preakness was the same old thing. I started to assert and he opened, we came back, but he beat us with his neck,” Velazquez said.
Score: 6, Alider 2 confirmed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nltyh3dirbo
Given that he is leading a 6-2 lead in Affirmed’s rivalry, it could have been fuelled to find a competition where the 3-year-old Alider could easily connect. However, Veitch believed that half-mile distance, which Alider had declared, posted two victories and his return to Belmont, would turn the tables in the Belmont stakes.
“I felt like I had a better hand with the wider turn at Belmont,” Veitch said.
Cauthen was equally confident in his champion.
“No one knows how their horses will go into Belmont to handle distance. They’ve never done that. You’re just guessing. But I knew the mind wasn’t going to be an issue,” Cauthen said. “Another advantage we had was Laz Barrera. I think one of the most amazing training jobs ever was when he got a bold Forbes to win Belmont, which proved he was a great trainer.
Round 9
Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, June 10, 1978, Belmont Park
It turns out that a crowd of 65,417 would expect to see the third triple crown sweep in five years at Belmont Park, but this time they were feeling different. Unlike the year when Secretariat (1973) and Seattle Thru (1977) won the Triple Crown, the majority of fans were not eager to see the Corner of Greatness. The fundamental interest of the crowd at Belmont is split as evenly as the odds on the tote board, with Alider being declared at 3-5 favorites on the field of 5 and 6-5.
“I wanted to jump out, slow the race and decide the pace,” Cauthen said.
When declared, it was accomplished on the mission for Cauthen, when he led a half-mile in 50 seconds. However, Velazquez was not trying to assert the cruise asserted on the front end.
“The pace was so slow that I couldn’t let him get away with it, so I pulled out Alider and assured him,” Velazquez said.
With about seven furlongs remaining, Velazquez put Alider in gear and later affirmed. He was the only one who surprised Cauthen.
“You can’t normally hear the crowd during the race. You’re so focused and breathing hard,” Cauthen said. “But that day, behind the scenes, I heard the crowd and knew that Alidar was coming.”
Certainly he was.
Alider was quickly declared from the outside, closing the ultimate award with a line for the next seven furlongs, and they remained locked up together, picking up the pace with each furlong, embarking on a heroic duel widely regarded in the sport’s long and proud history.
As the crowd became even more enthusiastic in every step, the two great horses turned to stretch together, clearly visible from the other three starters. As they approached the 3/16 pole, Alider appeared to take a slim lead, but fate began when Velazquez moved Alider very close and Cauthen confirmed that he was unable to whip his colt with his right hand.
“I could feel the slight fatigue that was affirmed by stretching, which made me worried,” Cauthen said. “I thought to myself, ‘If I want to win this, I have to dig deeper into both today.” I bumped to the left that day, but I thought I had attacked him. That extraordinary thing begins. ”
For Velázquez, there was a sense of sinking when the affirmation mounted his final surge.
“I saw Steve hit him left-handed and said, ‘Yes, he’ll come back again,'” Velazquez said. “And he beat me.”
Also.
True to his nature, Alider continued his fight after grabbing a slim lead in the final 100 yards, but Belmont was no different from Preakness, Laurel’s future, Belmont’s future, or anything with hope.
The proclaimed head won.
“The most satisfying thing is that we went to the race knowing we couldn’t afford to make a mistake,” Cauthen said. “I don’t think Georgie and Alider made either. We were four inches enough to win the Triple Crown. It was pure talent and greatness between the two horses. I was disappointed that someone had to lose, but I also knew you were part of something spectacular.”
Score: 7, Alider 2 confirmed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxkv2qnhvxa
After Belmont, both sides arrived at the race in various fashions, pointing to the travers.
Alider took 10 lengths on the field, including Joe Tobin, who destroyed an elderly horse in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney in the race before the Travers.
Affirmed struggled with his traversal adjustments and won third-grade Jim Dandy in half after chasing the sensitive prince at eight lengths at one point.
“I was more confident in going into the traver than any other time we faced,” Veitch said.
Round 10
Grade 1 Travers Stakes, August 19, 1978, Saratoga
A record crowd of 50,122 wanted to see another epic battle between the Belmont replay and two arch rivals for the Midsummer Derby in Saratoga.
What they saw was controversial.
Cauthen was unable to ride Travers due to a knee injury and Pincay was brought in to replace him.
On the four-man field, two horses were expected to face off, but it was the overmatch long shot shake shake that had a major impact on the outcome.
Aboard the Cordero, Shake Shake Shake fights for the lead while racing while asserting several passes from the rails.
Determined to make a critical move with the backstretch, Velazquez sent Alider into the opening of the rail, and at the same time, the opening of the rail. When Pinkai cleared the long shot, he was seen towards the rails, blocking Alider running around there.
Velazquez stood on the iron and pulled Alidar’s reins back in a sudden way, urging track announcer Sic Anderson to say that Alidar was being lifted.
“I saw the opening and said I was going through it. (Pinkai) didn’t realize how fast I was moving, we got there. He knew he didn’t do it on purpose.
Alydar came in third place as he confirmed Drew Clear. Calumet Star ran on the run as declared in the stretch, but tracked the 1¾ length in the finish.
Only this time, the horse that first crossed the wires was not the winner. The steward stepped in and was disqualified, and was affirmed second, with Alider declared the winner.
Score: 7, Alider 3 confirmed.
Veitch was not satisfied with the way he won, and although he was looking forward to Seattle being declared in the fall classic at Belmont Park, killing Seattle, but Fate intervened. Alider ended the season after suffering a broken co-bone in his left forefoot during his workout on September 11th.
Knowing how important Alydar was to Calumet, Veitch did his best in 1979 to bring Colt back to top form, but the native Raise son was four years old and not the same horse. He only won two of his six starts that year, but retired after finishing third in Grade 1 suburbs on July 4th.
His career and racing biggest rivalry have ended.
But the memories lived for those who saw it, or for everyone who was lucky enough to be involved in it.
“When Belmont was over, I realized that these horses were the impression that they had on the race public and even casual fans,” Veitch said. “Even sports fans will come close to me and say that it was the biggest thing they’ve ever seen in any sport.
“While there was no hostility between those associated with horses and finally the great gentleman and sportsman Lou Wolfson, I thanked Alider to Lucille Marquis and the Admiral, and thanked him for the sport he and Marquis loved and cherished.
“There was no bitter sweetness about it. I’m part of a rivalry with great horses like Alider and I’m proud to face great champions like Alider. I’ve won some great races and trained some great horses, but Alider and Alider are always at the foundation of my heart.”
Alider and affirm.
That word comes again – and. We explained little words that powerfully describe the unlimited excitement that two great rivals gave horse racing, and why another duo would be so difficult to fit them.
Note: This story was originally released and updated in May 2019.
