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On DVD or VHS:
One of the greatest rivalries in racing history would have to be AFFIRMED and ALYDAR. They raced against each other ten times, from June 15, 1977, in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont Park, to August 19, 1978, in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. AFFIRMED won seven of those matches including thrilling duels in all three Triple Crown races.
They met six times as two-year-olds; the first in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont. This was ALYDAR's first start and he finished fifth while AFFIRMED won. They met five more times with AFFIRMED winning the Hopeful, Futurity, and Laurel Futurity while ALYDAR took the Great American and the Champagne Stakes. ALYDAR ended the year with a record of ten starts, five wins, and four seconds. AFFIRMED ended the year with a record of nine starts, seven wins, and two seconds and was given the Eclipse Award as Champion Two-Year-Old of 1977.
In their three-year-old seasons they took different paths to the Triple Crown races and didn't meet again until the Kentucky Derby. ALYDAR took the Florida route and won the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby and finally the Blue Grass STakes by an incredible 13 lengths in 1:47 3/5. AFFIRMED, despite being a Florida-bred, took the California route and won the San Felipe Handicap, Santa Anita Derby in 1:48 flat, and the Hollywood Derby in 1:48 1/5. ALYDAR had a stalking style while AFFIRMED was a speed horse so when they finally met again in the Kentucky Derby, ALYDAR was made the slight favorite at 1.20-1 and AFFIRMED the second favorite at 1.80-1.
AFFIRMED wasn't able to make the lead until the stretch, although he was never worse than third, while ALYDAR rallied from ninth and although he tried gamely to catch his rival he fell short by 1-1/2 lengths in second place. The final time was 2:01.2.
SEE the ENTIRE 1978 Kentucky Derby TELEVISED BROADCAST which officially kicked off AFFIRMED and ALYDAR's three-year-old season rivalry hosted by Jim McKay with help from co-anchors Howard Cosell and legendary Hall-of-Fame jockey, Eddie Arcaro, reporting all the action from the paddock and saddling enclosure. Complete with one-on-one interviews with some of the trainers before the race including Laz Barrera (AFFIRMED), John Veitch (ALYDAR), Woody Stephens (BELIEVE IT) and Allen Jerkens (SENSITIVE PRINCE).
In addition, a very lengthy segment on teen riding sensation Steve Cauthen, is shown narrated by Eddie Arcaro; also comprehensive coverage of all the horses being readied in the saddling enclosure with the jockeys being given a leg up, the horses all coming through the tunnel during the playing of, "My Old Kentucky Home", and going out onto the track for the entire post-parade and then off they go in the 104th running of the Kentucky Derby!
The entire field consisted of the following horses:
RAYMOND EARL
The entire race is shown several times in slow-motion and from different vantage points with commentary in addition to all the after-race festivities of the winner's circle, interviews and trophy presentation - a historic race and a very rare addition to anyone's racing collection - make it yours today!
40 Minutes. Thanks for looking. Winning bidder pays $6 shipping and handling.
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