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NOSE TO NOSE

© Joy Butler

1978 still stands as the last year to see a Triple Crown winner in thoroughbred racing. The '78 season was made even more spectacular by two chestnut colts named Affirmed and Alydar. Their fierce rivalry from June 1977 to August 1978 tested the hearts of both champions, and thrilled the hearts of all racing fans.

Affirmed was born February 21, 1975, at Harbor View Farm in Florida, owned by Louis and Patrice Wolfson, trained by Lazaro Barrera, and ridden by the teenaged Steve Cauthen. Alydar was born at Calumet Farm near Lexington Kentucky, March 23, 1975, trained by John Veitch, and ridden by Jorge Velasquez.

The two colts met at Belmont Park in 1977, for the Youthful Stakes. When Affirmed won first and Alydar came in fifth, no one could have predicted the exciting rivalry that was to come. On July 6, 1977, they met again, in the Great American Stakes, and this time Alydar beat out Affirmed by 3 and 1/2 lengths. August 27th, at Saratoga, each horse came to the Hopeful Stakes with four wins out of five races. It was either horse's race but this time it was Affirmed's turn to edge out Alydar, yet only by a half length.

Their next duel took place at Belmont Park again, in the Futurity Stakes on September 10th. At the eighth pole, Alydar was ahead by a nose but Affirmed nosed him out at the wire. A month later, in the Champagne Stakes, Alydar made an explosive comeback and passed Affirmed in the stretch to win by a length and a half. However, Affirmed would not remain defeated, and on October 29th, in the Laurel Futurity, the two battled through the stretch in a test of true courage, with Affirmed crossing the finish a neck ahead of Alydar.

From October until May, Affirmed and Alydar went separate ways. Affirmed raced successfully on the west coast and Alydar had impressive wins on the east coast. By the time the two met again, in the Kentucky Derby, suspense had reached a fever pitch. Racing fans were divided over which champion would take the first jewel of the Triple Crown but, by race time, Alydar was the slight favorite, with Affirmed a close second.

When the starting gates burst open that May afternoon, eleven thoroughbreds thundered around a fast track, but in the stretch, nine of them were trailing Alydar, who was fast closing on Affirmed. However, his magnificent run was not quite enough, and Affirmed claimed the Roses by a length and a half. Suspense heightened in anticipation of the next Triple Crown race.