The real story of Alydar, the facts laid out so you can draw your own conclusions on the fate of this great racehorse and star of the sport.
Alydar is often remembered as the horse who finished second to Affirmed in all three Triple Crown races, but he was more than that and there are many horsemen who believe Alydar was the better of the two. He certainly was much better in the breeding shed.
Alydar was a star of the then legendary Calumet Farm whose Red and Blue colors were indeed racing royalty. He raced in what many consider the glory days of racing and his rivalry with Affirmed is to this day one of the greatest rivalries in the historic Sport of Kings. Alydar won 14 of 26 races, he finished second 9 times and third once. He earned $957,195. He raced against Affirmed ten times in his career, winning three.
Alydar was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1989. His win in the Whitney by 10 lengths against older horses was breath taking and he did this before taking on Affirmed again in The Travers, a controversial Travers at that. It was the only time in his racing career, a Hall of Fame career, that Alydar changed leads. Imagine if he had changed leads on cue in all his starts.
We spoke about the Travers with the rider of Affirmed that day Laffit Pincay Jr., who was riding for Steve Cauthen. Cauthen had gone down in a spill at Saratoga after Affirmed won the Jim Dandy by about half a length against three year olds. You can watch Laffit Pincay talk about the race here:
Unfortunately for the history of the Sport of Kings the Alydar story does not have a happy ending.
Was Alydar brutally killed in his stall for insurance money?
Did the man who married into the Calumet fortune destroy and bankrupt the farm?
What did Lundy have to say?
What did Dr. Larry Bramlage have to say?
Was Alydar leveraged to the point he was worth more dead than alive?
Was the heir to the Calumet fortune working as a chamber maid at a motel near Gulfstream Park before she passed?
In the end what do YOU think and believe? Fred M. Kray, Animal Attorney and Author has done a phenomenal job gathering the facts and laying them out for you to decide.
On this episode of Unfiltered on Past the Wire TV Fred sits down with Jonathan Stettin who was at The Belmont Stakes when Alydar put a head in front deep stretch only to see Affirmed come back on the inside. Jon was also at Saratoga that August for the Jim Dandy, Whitney and Travers. You’ll love the passion and knowledge these two have for the sport and their admiration for Alydar. You will get a lot out of this show, but even more, a lot more out of Broken, by Fred M Kray. Learn more about Fred and order your book HERE
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Speaking of “Real Stories” here is the only time the “Real Story” of the great Ruffian has ever been told.
All 1’s Ruffian The Real Story
Photos: Courtesy of Fred M. Kray
Videography: Jim Gazzale
