Columnist Ralph Siraco: Affirmed provided great rivalry for fans

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Jan. 15, 2001 | 10:24 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday through Friday. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.

The one thing that makes sports so great is rivalries.

Whether it be man-to-man competition, team against team or horse for horse, rivalries are the lifeline of sport.

In horse racing, rivalries have become farther and farther apart. In the past decade, not one rivalry stood out in racing. Silver Charm and Free House festered a rivalry through their sophomore year in 1997 although they shared the battles with Captain Bodgit during their Triple Crown duels. One would have to go back to 1989 to find the last memorable rivalry in racing -- that of Sunday Silence and Easy Goer.

But, when great rivalries of racing are conjured up around the local watering hole, it is the Affirmed-Alydar rivalry in the late 1970s that everyone remembers.

In a vintage decade that produced the great Secretariat, Forego, Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid and three Triple Crown winners, it is the Affirmed-Alydar duel through the 1978 Triple Crown that still sends chills down the back remembering those great battles of glory.

So, it is with sadness and a sense of privilege that we learn of the news that Affirmed had passed on at the age of 26. He was euthanized Friday at Lexington's Jonabell Farm in Kentucky after suffering irreversible symptoms of laminitis, a painful hoof disease that deteriorates the foot beyond repair.

Affirmed showed brilliance right from the first time he stepped on a race track, winning his first career start at Belmont Park on May 24, 1977.

And before he won his last start on Oct. 6, 1979, in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup, also at Belmont Park, he amassed a lifetime race record of 22 victories from 29 starts with five seconds and one third with his only off-the-board finish coming in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup when the rider's saddle slipped. He retired with the sport's record earnings of $2,393,818.

Along the way the son of Exclusive Native from the mare Won't Tell You, by Crafty Admiral, became the 11th -- and last -- Triple Crown winner in 1978 leading to Horse of the Year honors, was crowned Champion 2-year-old the previous year, repeated as Horse of the Year in 1979 and was the first horse to break the great Kelso's earnings record when he won the 1979 Hollywood Gold Cup to surpass the $2 million plateau.

As a stallion, Affirmed sired 11 different champions worldwide and his progeny has earned more that $40 million to date.

But, it was the fierce rivalry with Alydar, who passed away under mysterious circumstances in 1990, that sealed his greatness in the sport.

Affirmed and Alydar met 10 times in their careers. But, you couldn't have expected their now famous duels from the first meeting. It was the 1977 Youthful stakes at Belmont Park. Affirmed beat Wood Native by a neck while Alydar, who was making his racing debut, finished fifth.

At the end of 1977 the score was Affirmed 4, Alydar 2.

The stage was set for the 1978 Triple Crown.

Affirmed would take the road to Louisville through California while Alydar punched his ticket from Florida through Lexington. Affirmed racked up four victories that included the Santa Anita and Hollywood Derbies while Alydar had polished off the Flamingo and Florida Derby at Gulfstream and a breathtaking 13-length Blue Grass victory before the summit at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

Alydar went off a slight favorite to win the "Run for the Roses," but, it was Affirmed's tactical speed and a confident ride by 17-year-old Steve Cauthen that would prevail in the Kentucky Derby. After stalking in third, Affirmed kicked to the lead turning for home while Alydar had launched a late bid from ninth place that fell 1 1/2 lengths short at the end of the 1 1/4 miles classic.

Round two at Pimlico would provide a much closer finish. In the Preakness, Affirmed would take the lead from the start, and as they turned for home in the 1 3/16ths mile race Alydar would once again fall short----this time by a neck.

The Belmont Stakes would be vintage.

Affirmed and Steve Cauthen took the initiative as they settled into the lead. Alydar would lay just off his flank this time. After the first half mile it was Affirmed by a head. At the mile marker it was Affirmed, still by only a head. At the top of the long sweeping homestretch at the 1 1/4 mile marker it was Affirmed and Alydar hooked in a battle royal while the rest of the field fell into obscurity. The deafening roar of the crowd, the heart-stopping duel of wills had Alydar poking a head in front at the 1/16th pole while Affirmed, under intense pressure, would summon one last championship surge that brought the pair to the wire inseparable. Cauthen would say later that his partner was laboring but refused to lose. And, at the end of 1 1/2 miles of stride for stride combat, he didn't. Affirmed had won the Belmont Stakes by a head and the entire Triple C rown over Alydar by a total of less than two lengths.

They would meet one more time. It was at Saratoga in the summer for the Grade I Travers Stakes. Affirmed would finish first, but, eventually be disqualified and placed second to Alydar. Their last chapter to be debated over decades of interpretation.

The final score: Affirmed 7, Alydar 2 with one no decision.

Affirmed would finish out his career at 4 with seven consecutive victories from nine starts and a second Horse of the Year trophy in 1979.

Thanks for the memories, Affirmed -- and Alydar.