Alydar vs Affirmed
In May of 1978, the senior class of Boone County High School Florence KY was counting down the days until graduation. Across the county, jockey Stevie Cauthen was counting down the days until the Kentucky Derby. The class of 1978 was dreaming of making history...but Steve Cauthen made it.
Could that have really been over thirty years ago?
For generations, my family has had a fascination with the Kentucky Derby. Grandma's people had ties to Calumet farm, grandest of the Lexington KY horse farms. She even painted her house white with red trim, in honor of Calumet. In 1978, she was thrilled Jorge Velasquaz would be wearing the devil red and blue silks. So it comes as no surprise, Grandma was pulling for Alydar.
As for me, well I went to 4-H Camp with Steve Cauthen. He was less than a month older than me. He was a local kid I could identify with...and so of course I championed Affirmed. Never mind that I had never heard of Harbor View Farm.
On that glorious Saturday in May, all was well with the world. We gathered around the TV, got misty eyed when they sang "My Old Kentucky Home", then held our breath as they shouted "Riders Up!" And then, They were OFF!
It was not until the second turn that Steve and Affirmed seemed to get control. But then at the quarter mile, things got pretty exciting. After some checks, bumping, and literally jockeying for position, it was Affirmed who crossed the finish line first.
I was elated. A few weeks later, Affirmed prevailed at the Preakness and the Belmont. A triple crown!!!!
I still remember Grandma getting me a copy of Time Magazine with Stevie Cauthen on the cover in pink silks. How great was that?
In retrospect
Many horse racing enthusiasts believe that the Alydar and Affirmed rivalry, was perhaps the best in recorded history. The great equines met ten times, with Affirmed winning seven of those match ups. Alydar was to be the saving grace for Calumet, and his untimely and suspicious death may have been the nail in the coffin for bankrupt Calumet. So sad.
It's been a long time since there was a pairing the likes of Alydar and Affirmed. But you never know, the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday. Business obligations will keep me away from Louisville KY and Churchill Downs, but you can be sure we'll gather around the TV, get misty eyed when they sing "My Old Kentucky Home" and wait excitedly for the greatest two minutes in Kentucky sports.
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Author Joyce Pinson is a Kentucky insurance agent, who is passionate about the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky horse racing. On Saturday, you might hear her sing "My Old Kentucky Home" as she anticipates another great day of Kentucky sports history. Her husband, fellow insurance agent and Kentucky sportscaster Charlie Pinson, wonders how he will ever build a house big enough to store all of Joyce's Kentucky Derby memorabilia. Help Charlie.Get Kentucky Auto Insurance online
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