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at Saratoga. It was time to settle old scores. Where better than the Historic Spa for the race to take place. Veitch chose the Whitney Stakes for Alydar’s Travers prep.

He responded with an easy ten length romp.

Affirmed’s camp entered him in the Jim Dandy a few days later. He got the job done in a tougher than expected outing. Both were fit and ready for the showdown. This Travers had all the earmarks to be one for the ages.

A massive crowd of over 50,000 racing fans converged on the grounds to witness the event. At 5:45 in the afternoon, the horses entered the starting gate. Affirmed, despite his mastery over Alydar was only a slight favorite. The bell rang and both horses were off to a good start. The race began to materialize on the backstretch. Affirmed took the lead on the outside of Alydar. With powerful strides Alydar closed the gap on his opponent.

Lafite Pincay Jr. aboard Affirmed chose to shift closer to the rail at the exact moment that Alydar was gaining ground on that path. The mishap caused Alydar to hit the rail and drop back a good six lengths behind his foe. He was able to compose himself and miraculously get within two lengths of Affirmed at the finish line.

The blinking lights went up immediately after the race. Affirmed’s number was taken down and Alydar was named the winner. What should have been

John Veitch’s shining moment had become a bittersweet day. The rivalry was over. The two would never meet again.

John Veitch got that shining moment in 2007. He joined his late father Sylvester and his star pupil Alydar as a newly elected member of horse racing’s Hall of Fame here on Union Avenue. A master of his trade, he will long be remembered for his part in the Alydar vs Affirmed rivalry, and as a champion in his own right.