Duel for the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing's Greatest Rivalry

by Linda Carroll, David Rosner

A gripping look at the great duel between Affirmed, the last horse to win the Triple Crown—comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes—and his archrival, Alydar.

From the moment they first galloped head-to-head in Saratoga Springs, the two chestnut colts showed they were the stuff of racing legend. Alydar, all muscle with a fearsome closing kick, was already the popular favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Affirmed, deceptively laid-back streamlined elegance, was powered forward by his steely determination not to settle for second place.

In the Sport of Kings, the Triple Crown is the most valued prize, requiring a horse to win not just one race, but the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. And 1978 would not be just for the record books, but also one of the greatest dramas ever played out in the racing world.

There were names to conjure with, worthy of the Sport of Kings. The bloodline of Native Dancer. The teen wonderboy jockey Steve Cauthen. The once unbeatable Calumet Farm—the Damn Yankees of the racing world—now in eclipse and hoping for a comeback. The newcomer Harbor View Farm—owned by brash financier Louis Wolfson, who wouldn’t let even a conviction and a prison sentence for securities violations stand in the way of his dreams of glory. And the racetracks Belmont, Saratoga, Pimlico. And, of course, Churchill Downs.

It has been thirty-five years since Affirmed and Alydar fought for the Triple Crown, thirty-five years when no other horse has won it. Duel for the Crown brings this epic battle to life. Not just two magnificent Thoroughbreds but the colorful human personalities surrounding them, caught up in an ever-intensifying battle of will and wits that lasted until the photo finish of the final Triple Crown race . . . and Alydar and Affirmed leaped into the history books.

Genres: Nonfiction, Horse Racing, History, Sports, Horses, Biography, Animals

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two colts were really remarkable. And they raced against each other an unbelievable 10 times, head to head, nose to nose. We're never going to get a rivalry like this again, not in modern racing.

The story is told well, and doesn't stray from the usual formula in the genre, introducing the key characters (the owners, the trainers, the jockeys, the horses) and recounting the important races. One complaint I have is that too many chapters were devoted to the human characters, as we got to know their whole lives, which wasn't really needed. However, I did enjoy these, and the jockeys' bios were interesting (the real highlight being Velasquez & Cauthen's friendship).

Even though Affirmed won most of their match races, Alydar was usually just a nose or a head behind, making it hard to say if one or the other was the better horse.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Affirmed. Alydar. Two great champions, each in their own right.
I took a pleasant trip down memory lane reading this book; back to my high school days when these beautiful champions were running their great rivalry. They have provided some great memories which still bring a smile to my face.

These authors have done a fantastic job of recounting the facts and events surrounding these champions and their famous rivalry.
They cover the history behind the owners and their horse farms, lives of the trainers and the jockeys, other races ran by these 2 greats, everything the reader could possibly want to know.
This book follows the history of the 2 farms, Calumet and Harbor View, in-depth, from beginning to end, which I found interesting. Tastefully and respectfully recounts the death of Alydar, but in no way glorifies this horrendous act.

This book stood out for me due to the amount of information included, yet the easy way it is laid out for the reader. Technical, factual, but not dumbed down. Shows the authors did their research and spent a lot of time doing it.
There's something here for anyone who loves horse racing - whether novice, seasoned pro, jockey, trainer, owner or layperson.
Skillful, factual, yet still a pleasure to read. I've thoroughly enjoyed this one.

A copy was graciously provided by the authors and/or publisher for an honest review.

[Pegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alydar is my very most favoritest racehorse of all time. Why? Because I loved watching him battle on and never give up. And because he was more handsome than Affirmed. (And no, you're not going to change my opinion on that.)

So I had to read this book. HAD TO READ IT. And it was well worth the time. As with most books about racehorses - it really isn't. It's about the breeders and owners of the horses. But that's okay, because without them, we wouldn't have the horse.

The first half of the book is about the ancestors of the two horses, Affirmed and Alydar, and the people who owned them. It's good reading if you love horse racing. It might be a little dry if you don't.

The second half of the book is about the greatest rivalry in sports. The dueling 3-year-old colts who captivated a nation in 1978. The lean, elegant colt from the wrong side of the tracks versus the big, burly colt with a pedigree beyond compare and their humans. Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the rivalry. Even though I've loved this story for years, I gained some new perspective of the horses and the people around them. But - all this new knowledge notwithstanding - Alydar is still my favoritest racehorse ever. ;)

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happened to Alydar was disgusting and horrific, and I hate people. I think that every single time I read about him. Otherwise, the book really explained a lot about the rivalry between the camps of Affirmed and Alydar, and I can see why their races were so electrifying. The book was well-researched, and I enjoyed reading it, despite the outcome that Alydar had and how disgusting human beings are.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

Affirmed and Alydar -- when you think of rivalries in horse racing, those are the names that come first to mind. This is a nice version of their stories. As with many, if not most thoroughbred racing books, this one covers familiar ground -- the breeders/owners, the trainers, the jockeys, the races, the stud life. Seems like most horse racing books I've read could have been written with that checklist in mind, and this one is no exception. That basic list of topics makes one of these books. But when I look back on the dozens of thoroughbred "biographies" I've read, the ones that really stood out to me had a strong human interest story, often overcoming some issue like addiction or medical issues. Apparently, I really like those kinds of stories. This one really doesn't have that kind of a "personal story" hook. This is more of what I'd call a traditional racing "biography", albeit with the focus on the rivalry. The authors try to make the owners sympathetic, but they are the very rich and to me were not people I could identify with. The first third of the book is really history about the owners and their farms. There is a lot of writing about the history of Calumet Farm that seemed like filler for this story. The horses aren't born until that history is over. The writing felt to me a little like a YA non-fiction book. I think part of that feeling came from the times where the authors quoted a person's thoughts. This peek inside the head of a person made this feel like the non-fiction books I read when in school, like some of it is made up to make it more readable. I did check the nice "sources" section, and the people I noticed quoted in this way were interviewed by the authors, so that could be explained (although there are no footnotes/endnotes). I may also have felt a little too much familiarity with this story, as I have read more than a couple of the books that were referenced as sources. I was also a bit surprised that there weren't more pictures included with the book - there are a few printed inline with the text, but no central glossy photo section like many similar books.

Overall, I found this a fine version of the story of these two great racehorses and their races against each other.

I won a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads program, but was able to read my library's copy before it arrived.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was a very well written chronicle of the famous duel between these two horses. I loved the back story on all the relevant characters, how the horses were bred, raised, trained. These kinds of books are not always written well, but this was an exception. I googled them and was able to see racing footage from You Tube of some of their battles in races - awesome! Horrifying story of Alydar's suspicious death was covered in the book, although not dwelt on, as is appropriate. It was a book meant to be about both horses. For a good book on horse killing and insurance fraud I recommend the book chronicling the disappearance of Helen Brach (forget the name). Definitely recommend Duel for the Crown to any horse lovers or horse racing/sports fans!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duel for the Crown by Linda Carroll and David Rosner is a mostly engaging and always informative look at horse racing’s greatest rivalry. If you were around at the time (the 70s) Affirmed and Alydar raced against one another, you’ll be transported back to that time of wonderful excitement. If you came later, than it’s well worth reading the story of how these two colts pulled even non-racing folks into the tracks or into their living rooms to watch them go (literally) head to head.

Most famously, of course, the two battled it out in the three most famous races comprising the Triple Crown, with Affirmed winning the Crown but (outside of the Derby) just barely, as Alydar pushed Affirmed to the limit. The two competed directly ten times, and though Affirmed won a clear majority of those race, few of those victories came easily. In fact, half the races were photo finishes and, in one of the more amazing stats, though Affirmed won all three Triple Crown races, their cumulative separation was less than half a second. Cumulative! To give a sense of just how special both these horses were, how they were truly the class of their year, not only would Alydar have been a Triple Crown winner were it not for Affirmed’s existence, he would have won the Crown with the third best combined margin of victory over the other horses, behind only Secretariat and Count Fleet.

But the book goes into far more that the Triple Crown competition or even the ten races. Instead, the authors begin at the beginning, taking us through their lineage, their birth, their training, their racing, and then what happened post-retirement. We learn of their different personalities (Alydar aloof and high strung, Affirmed calm and downright sleepy) and their different expectations (high for “royal” Alydar, less so for upstart Affirmed).
The authors also weave in the numerous human stories surrounding the two colts, from their famed jockeys (Stephen Cauthen on Affirmed and Jorge Velasquez) to their owners (Lou and Patrice Wolfson for Affirmed and Lucile Markey—“Queen of Calumet” — for Alydar) to their trainers (Laz Barrera for Affirmed and John Veitch for Alydar).
We move back and forth in time as each new person is introduced in present day, and then we move backward to how they started out and then come forward until we arrive back at the present day. So, we learn for instance of how Lou Wolfson, “an immigrant junkman’s son” rose to financial prominence, got taken down by an SEC conviction (strongly implied by the authors to be an unfair one), and then gained redemption via Affirmed’s success. We watch as Calumet Farms is founded and rises to become a behemoth, dominating yearly earnings and breeding lists and winning the Derby an amazing seven times in a 20-year stretch, before falling far and deep into near bankruptcy and then being rescued by Alydar. We see Cauthen learning to ride on haystacks and Velasquez attending a jockey school with no horses where the students “rode” barrels and were taught a “curriculum” based on a series of Sports Illustrated articles. And we get the two trainers, taut Veitch always so close and so sure his horse would break through and the malaprop-prone Barrera, ever frustrated his horse didn’t get the respect he should.

Mostly these stories are engaging and at times entertaining. Sometimes, I confess, the book got a little overly detailed in describing the histories, and the same held true for some of the races. But once we neared the Triple Crown races the pace, appropriately enough, picked up, with the authors telling us just what we need/want to know and no more. The race descriptions themselves are exciting even knowing what happens, and the jockey strategies are fascinating. The writers also do a good job of picking out just the right amount and right type of quotes from those involved, whether it’s another owner deciding he’d seen enough of those two horses and so “I’m going where they ain’t” or Veitch talking about how Alydar wasn’t heartbroken over his losses and that to ensure that wouldn’t happen he’d turned off the TV so the horse wouldn’t see the replays (though he was angry about missing the cartoons.)

All in all, Duel for the Crown is an excellent book even for non-race fans, one that informs and entertains about far more than just the three races. Well recommended.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a 25-year drought in which no horse won the Triple Crown, the decade of the 1970’s saw this happen three times. After fans watched in awe the feats of Secretariat (1973) and Seattle Slew (1977), they were absolutely enthralled by the races for the Triple Crown in 1978. During that year, all three races – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes – were decided by less than one length. The same horse won – Affirmed – and the same horse finished second – Alydar – in all three races. This book by Linda Carroll and David Rosner is a through account of this great rivalry.

There is much more to the book than just the races. Although the writing about all three Triple Crown races (and many others in which one or both horses participated), what makes this book stand out is the background information. To start, it was noted that both horses were conceived in the same breeding shed, with ties to another famous horse (Native Dancer) within a month of each other. The breeding and training grounds of the famous Calumet Farms was described in rich detail. Background information that was so detailed that they almost read like biographies of the owners was included.

It also helped these two great horses that they had two famous jockeys in the saddle. For Alydar, that duty went to Jorge Velasquez, who did everything he was supposed to do with the horse but came up short seven times out of nine in duels with Affirmed. Affirmed, in the meantime, was ridden by Steve Cauthen who at the time was the most recognizable person in the sport of horse racing. Riding Affirmed at the young age of 18, he had already smashed records for wins and earnings and was even named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated – the first person in horse racing to be so honored. This helped hype up the media for these races – and again, the rich writing by Carroll and Rosner will bring the reader knowledge that they will enjoy, even if they are not fans of the sport.

No matter your interest or knowledge of horse racing, this book is one that any sports fan will treasure. Fans of any sport love a good rivalry. Whether your favorite rivalry was Ali vs. Frazier, Yankees vs. Red Sox or Celtics vs. Lakers, Affirmed vs. Alydar is one that ranks right up there with the great rivalries and this is the best source for information on these two outstanding horses.

[Zlikespasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The actual details of Affirmed and Ayadar's races don't bring until at least the second half of the book. I understand how setting up the stallions' predecessors and backgrounds helps contextualize their rivalry, but there was also a point where I kind of wanted the book to just get on with it. I also found the heavy emphasis on the money of the sport (the owner's money) a little obscene, but that's also the sport, I guess. Beyond that, definitely engaging and did a good job of building a suspenseful narrative. Also well-researched.

[Mike Holbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chronicles the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar during the 1977-78 racing seasons. It was initially published in 2014 and was recently updated to reflect the history of these two horses, their trainers, owners, and jockeys in the interim. I got into racing about three years after the historic 1978 Triple Crown, so much of what was in the book was new to me.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read for horse racing enthusiasts.. I followed these horses in the 70’s when they were racing, but the background on their owners, riders, and sires added much to my actual memories of two great horses.mmi wish there were more pictures, but overall, this was a really good history of Affirmed and Alydar. Who knew they came from the same lineage? Thanks for the memories!

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in horses in any way - riding, breeding, horse racing or just simply loving horses. It is well written and is not bogged down in the weeds of statistics.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- An in-depth look at the legendary racing rivalry between renowned thoroughbreds Affirmed and Alydar, readers will experience all the drama, sacrifice, triumph, and defeat that paved the way for the 1978 Triple Crown. Highly recommended and a fun ride!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book it would be a great read on before the Kentucky derby just to remember how exciting horse racing is. Really a great history book as well.

[Jim Hendrickson]

Fantastic read for everybody but especially horse racing fans. Great stories and background

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.

I am a horse racing fan so I am sure that fact made this book all the more enjoyable to me. However, I think this is a book for anyone who has an interest in the good old rivalry tale. All my life I had always heard the story of Secretariat and how no horse was as wonderful as he was on the track. But after reading this book, I can’t help but wonder how much truth there is to that when Secretariat had no competition. This story shows the true heart of not one champion but two and likes of which we may never see again.

The most enjoyable part of this book was the way the author follows each horse from their conception to their death and the people whose lives the changed along the way. The beginnings and ends of the “old blood” families of racing to those who are just beginning and looking for redemption are all covered here. You also look at the lives of the trainers and the jockeys, some of who are just starting out and making names for themselves. You also see the love and care that can go into being a ‘horseman’ as well as those who are in the game to make a profit. It is nice to visit the bygone days when this was the Game of Champions and not just the moneymaker at times it feels it has turned into.

All of that said, this book is about two horses. Two very different personalities but still striving for the same goal, to win. Many can say that horse racing is in the training, the jockey, and the breeding. Sure, all of that plays a part, but these are two competitors who fought with everything they had and many times didn’t need to wait for a cue from their jockeys. Just as we watch horse out in a pasture who are goading each other into a racing duel, these two did it on the track. The chances of having two greats from the same bloodlines in one year is outstanding, but to have these two meet up to duel for the Triple Crown is history and one that we should never forget.

Definitely a book for all with just as much tension and energy as watching the actual race!

[Erin Lindsay McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book right before this year's Belmont, and it really got me excited about the potential for a Triple Crown winner. The accounts of Affirmed and Alydar's rivalry is detailed-- I felt like I got to know the key players. In particular I was really impressed with how the accounts of the races managed to be exciting, even though, of course, I knew the outcome. This was definitely an enjoyable read, though it is definitely more narrowly focused and less "story" oriented than, say, Seabiscuit, so may not have as wide of an appeal to those who aren't interested in horses or racing.

You can read my full review at HorseNation.com:
http://www.horsenation.com/2014/06/11...

[♞ Pat Gent · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so fun to take a walk back into history that I remember. I was in college when Alydar and Affirmed were dueling, and as far as I'm concerned, their Belmont run was the greatest horse race in history. My heart literally stopped as I watched the last 5 strides of that race.

I was an Alydar fan through and through. I still am. He deserved a better ending than he got, and it makes me sad to think about this huge hearted horse being crippled just so someone could collect an insurance check.

Great read - lots of history of the people, the farms, the pedigrees, and the horses themselves.

[Cheryl Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars. This took me back to that golden spring of 1978 when Affirmed had to battle Alydar for every inch of the Triple Crown - becoming the last horse to achieve that feat for a record 38 years. This book does an excellent job of filling in the backstory and introducing us to the people behind the two colts. Although I knew how each race turned out, the authors still managed to infuse the call by call with a sense of suspense. A wonderful read for anyone who has an interest in the "golden age" of thoroughbred racing.

[Patrick Macke · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful read, wonderful story about, not just racing's but one of sport's all-around best rivalries ... makes one very nostalgic for the days when horse racing was on center stage and the Nation's great race tracks were cathedrals of beauty and brilliance ... the fact that it took the authors over 100 pages to get to the horses was a bit of a drawback, but the appendices detailing the horses' careers, rivalry and race charts adds greatly to this fine book

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love horses and thoroughbred racing. Every week I get to be a tour guide and introduce visitors to some of the great stars of the turf. These two racehorses were among some of the greatest of all time. Affirmed is the last Triple Crown winner, 37 years ago. Lots of details in this book, almost too many, but I guess to tell their story, you need details. Just a little too many in some spots.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali-Frazier. Magic-Bird. Nicklaus-Palmer. Sports is full of well-documented rivalries that have us on the edge of our seats, but during the spring of 1978 two horses had the nation enthralled. Affirmed and Alydar dueled each other during every race of the Triple Crown, and this book documents the rivalry in vivid detail, getting into the personalities of the trainers, owners and jockeys while leaving the most thrilling moments on the racetrack. A must-read for horse racing fans

[Karla Martinsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed going down Memory Lane reliving the excitement of the 1978 Triple Crown rivalry. It was written in layman terms, not racetrack jargon, and I felt like I was there, living the drama. Of course it helps that Steve Cauthen was and is still my hero, I so wanted to be a race rider but that was absolutely unthinkable for girls when I was kid. I've read several books on Affirmed/Alydar and this by far has been my favorite, it's more the real life of it.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Affirmed has always been my favorite Triple Crown winner- a hard fighter, a handsome chestnut, and best of all, we hail from the same hometown! This book really brought me back to "the good ole days" of my childhood (admittedly long after 1978!) in which I followed The Sport of Kings passionately. Excellent book covering an excellent true story.

[Jan R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better written than most horse books. Any lover of horses or horse racing will enjoy this book, but others should enjoy as well. Similar to Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand, it not only tells the story of the Triple Crown races, but also the stories of the owners, trainers, and jockeys. A fun read!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book on horse racing in general and the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar in particular. I remember going to see the Belmont Stakes with these two horses and it left an impression that has stayed with me all these years since. The author of this book did a really good job drawing you even if you have never been to a horse race in your life.

[Taylor Ejdys · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who works at the track, I loved the excitement, disappointment and seer emotion that Linda Carroll has conveyed in this book. If you never considered there to be such a thing as a rivalry between horse, you need to sit down and read this book. Racing will never see anything like Affirmed and Alydar and the passion they brought to the track.

[Paul Groffie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors did a great job describing the well-known rivalry between Affirmed & Alydar. They delved into every race, they discussed the human interests of these horses - the owners, trainers, jockey's and fans. It was a great read for any horse race fan, especially those who appreciate why it's still considered the Sport of Kings!!

[Perri · Rating 4 out of 5]

In addition to the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar, an introduction to what goes on behind the scenes in horse racing- the owners, trainers, and jockeys , I was a fan in the 1970s, so this was a treat to read.

[Donna Luu · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a bit too much history on the owners, trainers and jockeys, such as the background of Calumet Farms' people from 100 years ago. The chapters on the actual duel were quite interesting for someone too young to remember it.