Affirmed - 1978 Belmont Stakes (CBS footage)

[@jivanvasant]

AFFIRMED BELIEVER I was in the viewing stands at the 1978 Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York on Long Island. when Steve Cauthen (18 years old) riding Affirmed won the race, after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, and thus won the Triple Crown. At his races, his fans wore t-shirts with the words: "Affirmed Believer", and his friendly openness to everyone who approached him before and after his races, giving everyone an individual photo-op before the days of mobile phones, won the hearts of those who admired his modest character as well as his talents. For his impressive performance, Steve Cauthen is the only jockey named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

[@ddland45]

I never get tired of watching this epic duel between two apex athletes. I have never seen a better race. Say what you want about Secretariat, Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, or any other great horses that have run this race. Affirmed and Alydar were the Ali-Frazier of horse racing!!!

[@stevecvino]

No horse ever worked harder to win the Triple crown. It was Ali/Frazier. I get chills!

[@ericday4505]

ddland45 I here you great race and two great horses but Seattle Slew was better than both these horses. Just saying.

[@dennisavent1686]

@@ericday4505 The best measure of greatness is adversity and how you respond. Say what you want about Slew, but I don't recall much opposition to him during his Triple Crown run. Who was his principal challenger? I don't even remember any of his races. I'll have to go back and review them since none of them were memorable. Affirmed and Alydar staged the greatest three race duel of all time and each horse pushed the other to their limits their entire careers with Affirmed winning 8 out of 10 races, but Alydar beating Affirmed in the stud derby. Truly two unmatched athletes.

[@ericday4505]

@@dennisavent1686 No doubt about the greatness of Affirmed, one of the best competitors EVER, period. However, Slew was an older more mature horse, and he smoked Affirmed twice. Two great champions, Slew to me the better horse. And I think the 78 Belmont may have been the best race ever, and a top ten sporting event. Brilliant drama and it lived up to the billing.

[@ricosuave9060]

Great horses, but I believe Secretariat would gave beaten them both.

[@mikemadunic7960]

Affirmed was relentless. A great warrior that should be ranked higher than he is.

[@tonyhughes110]

What a spectacular call by Chic Anderson, yet again.

[@rendragmedia]

2:22 On the NYRA feed, Chic turned off his house mic after saying, "Affirmed's got a nose in front as they come on to the wire." In those days, track announcers were told to turn off their mic once the first horse crossed the finish line.

[@makula5543]

The great Affirmed responded when Alydar got a bit in front- Belmont Stakes is the Test of a Champion and Affirmed passed that examination! Great rivalry when I was only 11 years old but still recall 👍

[@track16ofthechronic21]

By far the greatest horse racer ever, nothing is even close. Two horses running for the heavyweight championship of EACH OTHER. The most poetic thing I will ever hear in sports is: "Affirmed and Alydar. Affirmed and Alydar. Affirmed and Alydar"................ running off into history. It is a crime that they are not buried side by side.

[@christophermiltonsr.8164]

I was so outraged that they killed Alydar for insurance. If not for Affirmed , Alydar would have won the Triple Crown. I loved both of them. Hopefully Alydar's stable is band forever from racing any other horses.

[@paulinoortiz2974]

The horse that my dad was assistant trainer of. I love u dad!

[@Garofalo707]

I remember Laz’s right hand man. I was a high school friend of Larry Barrera. This was an electrifying day

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

The best rivalry in horse Racing.

[@luvbft1]

Great rivalry for sure. I think the Sunday Silence- Easy Goer rivalry was just as good.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

@@luvbft1 No Triple Crown on the line the way this was. This one was in doubt until the finish line, literally a bob of the head.

[@kennethnero2011]

@@ValleyoftheRogue Sunday silence was going for the crown lol

[@CCROGGY]

Then Sham and Secretariat after that! Also War Admiral and Seabiscuit!

[@loryhorn7113]

Incredible battle between two closely matched horses. Chick Anderson makes it so special as he calls the race!

[@rivaridge7211]

Yes, the wonderful announcer Chic Anderson, has a solid place in horse racing history, having called two Triple Crown victories at the Belmont Stakes - for "Secretariat" and "Affirmed" (1973 and 1978 respectively). Sadly, Mr. Anderson would suddenly pass on, at age 47 in early 1979, but no one will ever forget his brilliant call from 1973, as Secretariat opened up a jaw-dropping lead - "Secretariat is widening now, he's moving like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE!" RIP good sir!

[@grantp4022]

Chic Anderson added so much colour and excitement to these races. I wondered what he died of at only 47 years old ?

[@grantp4022]

@@rivaridge7211 - what was Chic's cause of death ? 47 is young to die ?

[@rivaridge7211]

Sadly, Chic Anderson unexpectedly passed due to a heart attack. @@grantp4022

[@vansavant822]

@@grantp4022 Anderson attended Wabash College for two years, served two years in the United States Navy, and then received a degree from Indiana University.[7] He and his wife, Marsha, had five children.[8] Anderson died of a heart attack at age 47 on March 24, 1979, at his home in Commack, New York, on Long Island.[8] He was succeeded at both NYRA and CBS by his backup, Marshall Cassidy.

[@sallydaniel1023]

Two legends: Affirmed and Alydar

[@grantp4022]

Hell of a race between 2 great horses, really inches apart at the finish line. Also remember that Alydar in this race, Sired the great Easy Goer, who has the 2nd fastest time in Belmont history behind the great Secretariat. Easy Goer ran it in 2:26 and Secretariat's time was 2:24. So, Alydar was a great race horse and a great Sire.

[@joebarr725]

No question Alydar was the better sire of the two. McCarron said Alysheba was the best horse he ever rode.

[@ayf1983]

Look at that final shot. Two legends stride for stride, going into the history books.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

It's like out of a movie but it was real.

[@nathanieldavis5231]

Glory !

[@jamesyoung9311]

The two horses ran the last mile or so together, not more than a length or head apart, and then beyond the finish line together. They literally ran a mile and a half side by side.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

They were giving everthing they had in the last turn. It was like a Hollywood movie but it really happened. Affirmed by a nose.

[@insaBordeNation]

Two true champion horses. There is Affirmed & Alydar.... then there are the other horses. Legends.

[@nicholascravens6674]

:Secretariat enters the chat:

[@matthumphrey8774]

@@nicholascravens6674 yep

[@Caroni100]

According to the Bloodhorse Magazine "100 Top U.S. Racehorses of the XX Century List" Affirmed (February 21, 1975 - January 12, 2001) is ranked in 12th. position. 29 starts, 22 winns, 5 seconds, 1 third place and US$ 2,393,818 earned. 11th. U.S. Triple Crown Champion, American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1977, American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse in 1978, American Champion Older Male Horse in 1979 and American Horse of the Year in 1978 and 1979. Affirmed was inducted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1980. What an extraordinary horse! Regards from Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela.

[@ericday4505]

I loved Affimed, he was great, but he was not better than Seattle Slew.

[@leslienavarro7004]

One of the greatest races of all time!!!!

[@petenrita]

in all three races, alydar rode the longer route. Cauthen ran inside of Alydar all three races by establishing Affirmed's position early. For an 18 year old, such intelligent racing.

[@rossogden9920]

It doesn't take much 'intelligence' to understand that the inside route is shorter than the outside route. I'd characterize it as poor strategy by Velasquez rather than 'intelligence' by Cauthen.

[@bulllea]

Affirmed had a heart of a lion .

[@phav1832]

I agree. Amazing dual for all 3 races. Alydar would have won the triple crown if Affirmed had not been born. My favorite dual in horse race history.

[@boswindle9050]

Except when he raced the GOAT Seattle Slew.

[@hayzyhorses6899]

Paul Havig Yep. You could say the same for Sham, two horses just born in the wrong year.

[@nathanieldavis5231]

​@@hayzyhorses6899 you mean the heart of Big Red !

[@robertarnold7643]

Affirmed was as tough as they came. You didn’t know it until you put a head up on him, then the fight started. I still like talking about him.

[@paulabbott2022]

Everyone lauds the 1973 Belmont and Secretariat. But that was just a coronation. This was a race, a battle. I'll take 1978 any day.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

To put it another way. Secretariat had 4th period blowout up by 30 points. Affirmed was a buzzer beater with half a second left on the clock. Which basketball game would you rather see?

[@benjalucian1515]

@@TheMrPeteChannel - a tough match is always thrilling, but when one player annihilates the field, that's also amazing to watch - the pure athleticism.

[@christophermiltonsr.8164]

But Secretariat was the best ever, Track Records in all 3 Triple crown races. No horse has matched that period. I also loved the dual between Affirmed and Alydar, I hated the way they killed Alydar. I wish to this day someone could have saved him.

[@paulabbott2022]

@@christophermiltonsr.8164 Of course Secretariat was the best. The 1973 field was stacked. Angle Light, who beat Secretariat in the Wood, Forego, who won eight Eclipse Awards. And Sham, one of my all time favorites. Poor Sham, who probably would have won the Triple Crown if not for Secretariat. Sham finished 2nd in both the Derby and Preakness but last in the Belmont due to a silly plan to try and tire out Secretariat early. But the Belmont wasn't a race but a parade.

[@neilmyersart]

Two of the all time magnum bosses of horse racing in an epic battle !

[@nancysherburne7445]

The most exciting end to a race I had ever witnessed and yet I have trouble remembering it was Affirmed who crossed the finish line first.

[@zman8340]

My God affirmed was a hell of a front runner

[@stephenclabaugh2651]

A young Steve Cauthon wins a race that most jockeys would have lost. He switches to a left handed whip,and gets the desired result from Affirmed.its the stuff dreams are made of

[@austenrobinson2747]

Two of the greatest. Epic duels for 2 years. They don’t breed them like this anymore. If you don’t like these two slugging it out you don’t like racing.

[@WyattJames2025]

In the back stretch everytime Allydar made a move Affirmed wouldn't let him past...

[@chrisritchey3272]

I loved that horse! I always wanted a foal by him and name it Affirmation. But I was a kid and didn’t know how much thoroughbreds cost. My parents wouldn’t even buy me a horse I loved and he loved me, and he was only $100. If my brother had wanted him he would have gotten him. My neighbor would have bought him for me and taken me to the sale and after I ran to him and hugged his leg, only thing I could reach until he put his head down for me, I bet nobody else would have even bid on him. They would have been scrambling to find his bridle and a saddle, but I would have already been gone! My parents would have been PISSED is an understatement!

[@BrianHeimbuecher]

I was at the wire that day, my very first LIVE Belmont. The Derby had been on my birthday that year (my bucket list includes attending a May 6th Derby), and 'Triple Crown Fever' was in the air. Over the years I've lost my token $2 win ticket on Affirmed, along with the program signed by Harvey Pack & Clem Florio, two handicappers of the era... I did cash my $100 win ticket, though. Meadow Star defeating Lite Light in the '91 Mother Goose by a lip was another one I was at the wire for. Got married & moved to North Carolina. At least I still have the memories of being at the track...

[@marciosouzamendonca8912]

Alydar...my favorit racing horse ever.

[@summerevans4130]

Two absolutely amazing animals. I honestly think Alydar may have had more heart while Affirmed had more ability. Bear with me, 90% of horses who lose a dual the way Alydar did to Affirmed will never really try again. Basically, in subsequent races they'll back off rather than run their heart out because they remember their previous failure. Despite Alydar's repeated losses to Affirmed he gave everything he had every single time in an attempt to beat him. Affirmed goes down in history as a horse of just insane levels of talent, he was definitely one of the all time greats, but Alydar is right up there with him because, while he may have been less talented (not by much though), he had the heart to keep trying no matter how many times he lost. I don't think any horse in history has been as ennobled in defeat as Alydar during his Triple Crown run.

[@b.f.2461]

Affirmed also benefitted from the incredibly canny rides of the teenager Steve Cauthen. He seemed to know exactly how much he could ask from his horse, and when.

[@pajasa62]

Barbara Foster Yes, Steve Cauthen was one hot rider. I lived in New York City at the time and he even made the cover of Time magazine before this race.

[@gpipeline]

I honestly don't think any horse ever had more heart than Affirmed. He had a lot of talent, but even more heart.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Affirmed had some of the best competition of all time. He raced against Seattle Slew and raced against Spectacular Bid, two of the greats, besides Alydar.

[@boswindle9050]

Affirmed was good except when he faced the GOAT Seattle Slew

[@geraldfawkes8298]

Alydar was awesome people don't credit him enough

[@miguelduran9805]

Los perdedores no tienen historia y cuando tienen es en su contra no joda

[@VampireYoshi]

"There were three other horses in the race, but they were merely spear-carriers on this day: extras to serve as background to the stars." - Jim McKay, "Jewels of the Triple Crown"

[@Psyfi85]

Similar call in 73’ Belmont: “There are 4 horses and Secretariat” always loved that.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Greatest. Race. Ever.

[@phav1832]

The extra cool part is that it was the same basic head-to-head dual for all 3 races.

[@caesarfiorini]

Absolutely. Head to head for the final mile of a mile and a half race.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Closest thing to the 1962 Travers you will ever find, and that one was a freak race. This one is the best contested horse race ever..

[@Matty11209]

At one point in deep stretch, Chic Anderson says "we'll test these two to the wire." Seems like he could have said that at any point in the race.

[@DrewCelli]

The will to win of Affirmed will never be matched. He basically tells Alydar with about a mile left to go to run as fast as he wants and it wont matter. Affirmed and Cauthen did not want speed duels but when it was time to run stride for stride with Alydar, he refused to lose.

[@asmrcharlie4605]

89 Preakness and 78 Belmont. The best ever.

[@josedelgado1138]

Love this race!!

[@richardv5674]

"We'll test these two to the wire" always gives me chills.

[@paulveneziano4082]

Love ❤️🐈‍⬛🖤😘💝 the " letter ✉️💌 perfect " call 🤙📞📱😃 by track announcer " chic "Anderson as it was broadcasted on CBS !

[@williamdunphy352]

1/4-25 1/2-50 3/4-1:14 Mile-1:37.2 1 Mile & 1/4-2:01.4 Finish-2:26.4

[@johnhunter2294]

Just walking around the track the first half, saving it all for the drive. And what a drive it was.

[@michaelleroy9281]

After this one, nobody won these 3 races until 2015

[@paulazmudzinski9225]

Wow! Only five horses in the Belmont. Now there are so many entries that it looks like rush hour in downtown L.A. -mikenotpaula.

[@stevek8829]

What a pace! A fifty second half and the field still hung behind these two. What were they thinking back there?

[@bossfan61]

Arguably the greatest horse race of all time!

[@jivanvasant]

Phar Lap from Australia and originally from New Zealand.

[@garlinrussell7451]

Dude go back and check his fractions with that of Secratariets fractions in the Belmont let alone he broke the record in each triple crown event which still stands.....just sit back and imagine that Kentucky Derby wins and breaks the track record which still stands.....Preakness wins breaks the world record (which will never be broken) the Belmont (mile and a half) sets fractions that are good I. The Breeders Cup Sprint....23 + 46+ and 3/4 in 109.4 please Affirmed a good horse but can't shit in the same barn As Secratariet.....Affirmed a better stud I'll give him that

[@laine218]

One of the best races ever.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

All things considered, nothing matches it given how many levels it was great: rivalry, dueled all the way around the track, never more than a whisker apart, great jockeys, etc. I saw this live when I was eleven and I have never seen anything that comes close. Not even Easy Goer and Sunday Silence could match this.

[@ericday4505]

No, not one of the best races ever, THE best race ever.

[@michaelleroy9281]

@@ericday4505 The Belmont Stakes 5 years earlier

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Alydar proved the better sire, though Affirmed was no slouch. Affirmed also proved his greatness in the handicap division. I watched this race live when I was eleven and Dad had taught me how to handicap (harness) five years earlier.

[@boxcarent.3147]

Incredible.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Forty-two years later, the greatest contested horse race of all time. Best horse race I ever saw (1973 Belmont excepted).

[@Walker_Bulldog]

The 1973 Belmont wasn't much of a race; but 1973 had the greatest Kentucky Derby.

[@Man143Steph637]

Sunday Silence vs Easy Goer, Preakness, 1989

[@joebarr725]

The caliber of horses was not quite the same as these, but I recall Victory Gallop catching Real Quiet on the wire to deprive the latter of the Triple Crown in 1998. That was a pretty good horse race, too.

[@nycdweller]

Alydar was treated so heinously

[@nin12dog]

fabulous! Love Alydar! But I hate how Alydar died....despicable!

[@rebecca94503]

Murdered for insurance money. May they rot in hell.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

@@rebecca94503 No, he wasn't. Please get real.

[@dry5555]

@@ValleyoftheRogue Yes, he was. You get real.

[@benjalucian1515]

Alydar was murdered. So sad. And yes it was for an insurance scam.

[@emancify]

Those fractions were very slow: a :50 second first quarter, another :50 2nd Qtr, 1:14 for 6 furlongs, 1:37 for the Mile fraction and then Affirmed finished with enough in the tank to beat Alydar.

[@regviewer]

Just reading 'Steve Cauthen...English Odyssey by Michael Tanner. Have read about the Triple Crown and also the lack of winners that Steve went through later. Am now at the point where he crossed the water to England for 14 years.....🙂

[@CheshirePhrog]

I am still not entirely convinced Alydar didn't win... At least not in the stride before or the stride after

[@rhonefraser]

my dad bet on this horse and a lot changed afterwards...

[@tomshaffi2814]

The Grundy v Bustino duel is nothing compared to this. This was a real horse race.

[@kevins1088]

Who’s here after seeing trophy on pawn stars?

[@galangsuryaanggara1421]

Kevin S you’re not alone bro, im curious what fastest horse look like

[@evoman1776]

In all 3 races Alydar ran around the final turn on the outside. How many extra strides did he have to take and still barely lose all 3 times.

[@leeeyerman4706]

Best race ever,Sunday Silence holding off Easy Goer in Breeders Cup comes close.

[@billykrino4628]

What a treat. I wrongly thought Affirmed ran away with it.

[@kevinpantera4429]

Affirmed tore the heart out of Alydar!

[@walterallen1687]

Yep about 35 lengths behind big red

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

They are moving like tremendous machines!!

[@blueasblueis]

"YOU NAMED ME AFTER A HORSE?" "Um, no. No. Your name has two L's unlike that um um equine." YOU NAMED ME AFTER A HORSE THAT LOST? "I'll have you know that he beat Affirmed twice and when it comes to studding, there is no contest." "YOU NAMED ME AFTER A HORSE THAT WAS KILLED FOR THE INSURANCE MONEY?" "Wow. That was really sad........ Ok beat it, kid. Damn internet."

[@quarf53206]

who do you think would have won if alydar skipped the preakness

[@9Ballr]

I keep hoping that Alydar will win one of these times.

[@michaelleroy9281]

It took a photo to decide it

[@Elitetreaty]

🐎🐎🐎🐎

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

Were they even faster than Twice A Prince? I suppose so, but they’d have been destroyed by Secretariat.

[@idubbzz7790]

alydar then had alysheba duaghter

[@jaimenateravalbuena7247]

Affirmed and Alydar.never will be under any Triplecrown from last time( American pharaoh and Justify) at least with “el puyuo de Bob Baffler!!🥱

[@TGP109]

Affirmed was the better racehorse, but Alydar was the better sire.

[@austenrobinson2747]

If you don’t get emotional watching these two slug it out you don’t know shit about horse racing.

[@boswindle9050]

Affirmed was good except when he had to face Seattle Slew.

[@dennisavent1686]

Slew was a year older, so there's that.

[@boswindle9050]

@@dennisavent1686 Affirmed was also in his prime so there is that

[@dennisavent1686]

@@boswindle9050 They technically both were. Slew was 1 year ahead of Affirmed. Usually the older horse will win. Do you know of any 3-year olds beating 4-year olds?

[@boswindle9050]

@@dennisavent1686 i know Affirmed ran the Belmont like 3 or 4 seconds faster than Slew. Some horse peak differently. Like Secratariat peaked at 3. Zenyatta peaked at 5 To me Affirmed was more in prime than Slew. Affitmed ran his fastest times as a three year old. That is why i said that.

[@dennisavent1686]

@@boswindle9050 I think since they only raced against each other once (that I know of), I think that It would be even money that either would dominate the other over a 10 race span, as Affirmed did against Alydar.