Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalry

Lexington, KY April, 2002 Eclipse Press announces the publication of Affirmed and Alydar, the fifteenth title in the Thoroughbred Legends series.

The greatest rivalry in modern racing history began with little fanfare on June 15, 1977. The more experienced Affirmed defeated Alydar, who was making his racing debut in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont Park. In nine subsequent meetings, Affirmed got the better of Alydar six times, often by just inches.

Their meetings, especially during the Triple Crown season of 1978, became the stuff of racing lore. Affirmed claimed the Triple Crown, but Alydar tested him to the limits each time in stirring stretch drives that left onlookers limp. Indeed, many racing historians consider their Belmont Stakes to be the greatest race of the 20th century.

To tell one's story is to tell the other's, so closely intertwined are the lives of Affirmed and Alydar. Author Tim Capps, who witnessed many of the Affirmed-Alydar races, chronicles their early years, first encounters, and epic clashes. He also tells the stories of the people who raised, trained, and rode these titans. Affirmed was bred in Florida by financier Louis Wolfson, trained by the legendary Laz Barrera, and ridden by Steve Cauthen, known as "The Kid."

Alydar entered life on the historic grounds of Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, the last great horse of the old Wright regime. Trained by the young John Veitch, Alydar would have been a Triple Crown winner in any other year. As a stallion, Alydar surpassed his nemesis although Affirmed found surprising success as a sire of turf horses.

Author Timothy T. Capps is executive vice president of the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Pimlico and Laurel racetracks. He is the former editor and publisher of MidAtlantic Thoroughbred. He wrote Spectacular Bid, also in the Thoroughbred Legends series. Capps lives in Columbia, Maryland, near Baltimore.

Published by Eclipse Press, April 2002
ISBN: 1-58150-073-4
16-page photo well
Pages: 230, Bound Size: 6 x 8
Retail price: $24.95 Hardcover

Available at your local bookstore or Exclusively Equine
1-800-582-5604 (www.exclusivelyequine.com)

Eclipse Press is a division of The Blood-Horse, Inc., publishers of The Blood-Horse; The Horse; TBH MarketWatch; Keeneland magazine; Equine Images; the official Kentucky Derby and Breeders� Cup souvenir magazines; and an array of books, videos, CD-ROMs, and annual references. The Blood-Horse, Inc. also operates The Blood-Horse Interactive on the web (www.bloodhorse.com), The Horse Interactive (www.thehorse.com), Eclipse Press (www.eclipsepress.com), Thoroughbred Legends (www.thoroughbredlegends.com), Keeneland Magazine (www.keenelandmagazine.com), The HayNet (www.haynet.net), and Exclusively Equine (www.exclusivelyequine.com).

Copyright 2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc. All rights reserved. The Blood-Horse, The Horse, and TBH MarketWatch are registered trademarks of The Blood-Horse, Inc.

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