The Valiant Victorious Thoroughbred Of All Times – Alydar

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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If the racing times have seen some real persistence and determination to win, it would be what Alydar exhibited in each and every race he ever ran. Alydar’s racing career was lined with confrontations with another superstar who was invincible and unrelenting, Affirmed. The maiden race of Alydar’s career began with Youthful at Belmont on June 15th, 1977, one where he competed against Affirmed and lost to finish fifth, thus beginning a legendary rivalry that stays memorable even today.

Alydar went on to challenge Affirmed again in the Great American on July 6th where he defeated him by a remarkable 3 ½ lengths owing to his fresh start in racing. Alydar went on to conveniently make a clean sweep off the Tremont in Belmont and also the Sapling Stakes establishing his grounds as a champion racer. Time and again Alydar and Affirmed collided head on for victory in various tournaments, Hopeful stakes at Saratoga being next giving way to Affirmed winning by a length.

Futurity at Belmont was next that observed a ruthless clash of the titans, this time again Affirmed wins over Alydar by a nose. The intensity showed ...
... off yet again at the Champagne stakes at Belmont with Alydar gliding right past Affirmed and winning by 1 ¼ lengths. The decisive race that year of 1977 for a two year old champion witnessed Alydar and Affirmed content for Laurel Futurity with blazing passion but Affirmed took off the 1 1/16 miles distance, the longest for two year olds and Alydar freshly out of Champagne and slightly fatigued lost by a neck though what e gave Affirmed was a menacing run for his money.

Imagine the mettle of the two dominant sprinters for the third winner Star de Naskra was left succumbing to a 10 lengths defeat while the fourth finisher was 27 lengths trailing behind.

Year 1978 geared up to a mutually open challenge between Affirmed and Alydar, the target was Triple Crown. There was no contender in a race that wasn’t followed into defeat, be it Affirmed or Believe It for that matter that was made to pay back in the Florida Gulfstream Park by a 2 lengths defeat, Alydar avenged his Aqueduct’s two year olds where Believe It beat him by 2 lengths.

The 1978 Triple Crown series of races had now developed into a battleground for the most superior thoroughbreds of all times, Alydar and Affirmed being threateningly followed consistently by Believe It. While Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby by 1 and a half lengths and Alydar competed till the home stretch with only Believe It seeming like a final threat but couldn’t match up until the wire, finishing runner up. The Preakness that followed next again had an exciting speed duel with Alydar losing again but this time only by a neck leaving Believe It behind 8 lengths.

Belmont was another speed duel that almost got Alydar winning the last stretch until Affirmed pumped in whatever gas was left and closed winner by a head. The Triple Crown was finally prevailed by a victorious Affirmed.

The Travers was a much anticipated reminiscent of Belmont Stakes and previous race statistics from the Derby and Preakness clashes. Once again Alydar and Affirmed led out a gruelling racing session but eventually Affirmed closed a 1 ¾ lengths win that later gat recalled owing to some disqualification and putting Alydar on the leading podium finish. The Travers conflict however inflicted a cut on Alydar’s front foreleg. A probable rematch with Affirmed, the Marlboro Cup trainings led to another fracture in his foot that finally ended his session.

The four year old stakes races witnessed again a comeback of the star where Alydar went on to win an allowance race and the Nassau County Handicap but lost the Oaklawn Handicap, Carter Handicap and also Metropolitan Handicap. It was the preparation for Brooklyn Handicap when Alydar fractured a sesamoid bone too that ended his career once and for all.

Alydar went on to sire Easy Goer and Alysheba some great race horses of their times. 15th November however brought a euthanized demise to a distressed Alydar owing to an endless series of fractures and non-recoveries.

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