Nobody could have passed Affirmed after letting him loaf through such slow early fractions! Spec Bid and Coastal were great horses but Affirmed was a year older and wiser! Affirmed ran slow early fractions in the Belmont Sakes too! Affirmed was always under-rated but proved time and again that he was the champ!
@JettRink50 That was the 1980 Woodward. Everyone was so scared of The Big and Winter's Tale (the other top older horse that year) that no one entered. Then Winter's Tale was injured and something happened with the other two horses that led to the famed walkover in what turned out to be the last official race for Spectacular Bid.
I had forgotten about this race. I still don't know why Bid was in one race with no competition. Any horse can be beaten on any day. I love Bid and Affirmed and got to meet each of them.
I miss this era of horse racing . The legendary horses, the horse racing insdiders commenting . Thank you for finding this, I loved CBS coverage.
1970's were a golden age of Horse racing...
amazing that back then two triple crown winners both raced as older horses.
Could you imagine that happening today ? Not !!
Affirmed is the picture of composure!
Love him & Spectacular Bid so much- both were incredible horses
Nobody could have passed Affirmed after letting him loaf through such slow early fractions! Spec Bid and Coastal were great horses but Affirmed was a year older and wiser! Affirmed ran slow early fractions in the Belmont Sakes too! Affirmed was always under-rated but proved time and again that he was the champ!
Imagine if Seattle Slew were still healthy and running at five and in this race.
what a great memory................thank you.
It´s a pity that there cannot be races like this today. The breeder´ cup has taken away these type of races
@JettRink50 That was the 1980 Woodward. Everyone was so scared of The Big and Winter's Tale (the other top older horse that year) that no one entered. Then Winter's Tale was injured and something happened with the other two horses that led to the famed walkover in what turned out to be the last official race for Spectacular Bid.
I had forgotten about this race. I still don't know why Bid was in one race with no competition.
Any horse can be beaten on any day. I love Bid and Affirmed and got to meet each of them.
great post and race thanks!
Affirmed was on his left lead the entire race
the raill was dead so if coastal got to the outside he may have won