Back to the ’70s
In slightly more than two weeks, Big Brown will attempt to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, the first in 30 years and only the second undefeated. In this brief lull before Belmont Stakes anticipation explodes, it seems worthwhile to take a quick look back at the last three …
The Rivals
It began during their 1977 2-year-old campaigns and continued through every Triple Crown race. In 1978, the story was the rivalry of Affirmed and Alydar, which reached its apex in the one mile match race that unfolded during the Belmont Stakes:
Affirmed’s head is in front of Alydar’s, and as the two jockeys rise in their saddles beyond the finish line Velasquez yells over to Cauthen, “Stevie, congratulations.” Cauthen yells back, “Georgie, thank you. It ain’t been easy.”
Alydar became known as the only horse to finish second in every spring classic, a shadow Triple Crown winner.
More: SI cover / recap / Kentucky Derby replay / Preakness replay
The Undefeated
Seattle Slew went into the Belmont a perfect 8-for-8, but that wasn’t enough to quell the doubters, who complained about his slow Wood victory over an undistinguished field and groused that his Kentucky Derby win wasn’t all that impressive. The 1977 Belmont convinced even the most ardent skeptics that Slew was no slouch:
It was “the easiest win race of his career,” said trainer Billy Turner after. From the start:
Slew smothered the Belmont field so completely … that his seven opponents looked as if they were running in place. Run Dusty Run challenged early in the backstretch hut Slew just moved out a notch. A half-mile later Sanhedrin made a bid, but for naught. Slew drew away as he headed home. A few jumps before the winning post. Jockey Jean Cruguet, once a $20-a-month bartender in the French army, stood high in his stirrups and waved his whip to the crowd in jubilation.
The following year, Seattle Slew met Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup, where as the 2-1 second choice, he wired the field and won by four lengths despite going wide on the final turn. Affirmed, the 1-2 favorite, finished second.
More: SI cover / recap / Kentucky Derby replay / Preakness replay
The Greatest
Secretariat, transcendent in 1973:
Secretariat won by 31 lengths and knocked more than two seconds off the track record. His performance was then, and it still remains:
The greatest performance by a racehorse in this century.
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