It's the JFK assassination, Neil Armstrong on the moon and Madonna making out with Britney Spears all rolled into one for horse racing fans.
Every dedicated punter remembers exactly what they were doing the day Affirmed wore down rival Alydar in the 1978 Belmont Stakes to capture the last Triple Crown horse racing has seen.
Big Brown snacks on reins as Michelle Nevin holds him during bath after a light jog around the track Thursday at Belmont Park.
With Big Brown poised to break the 30-year Triple Crown drought this Saturday in New York, it seemed a good time to ask folks around Assiniboia Downs to take a look back at the day Affirmed made racing history and get a prediction on whether Big Brown can equal the feat.
Bonnie Eshelman, jockey agent
Where were you? "I had a horse running that day at Monmouth Park (in New Jersey). They stopped the races that day so we could all watch."
What do you remember about that race? "It was an amazing race. As you watched those two colts (Affirmed and Alydar) fight it out, you didn't want either one to lose. You could see the game in both of them -- their ears were pinned against their heads. You could just see the try in both those horses. It gave me goosebumps."
Can Big Brown do it? "He looks like the real deal. But the Triple Crown is so hard to win, I just don't know... but he looks as good as anyone I've seen going into it."
Affirmed, with Steve Cauthen aboard (front), outduelled Alydar and Jorge Valasquez down the stretch at Belmont on June 10, 1978, to become most recent Triple Crown winner.
Carl Anderson, trainer
Where were you? "A bunch of us horsemen got together to watch it in the track kitchen here (at Assiniboia Downs)."
What do you remember? "We were all cheering for him. Everyone wanted to see a Triple Crown."
Can Big Brown do it? "I don't think anyone can catch him. I don't care what the distance is. And I don't think the new horse (second favourite Casino Drive) is good enough."
Clayton Gray, trainer
Where were you? "I remember watching it on TV, but where? I'm not sure. At home probably."
What do you remember? "All three of the Triple Crown races that year came down to Affirmed and Alydar. I don't think they were ever more than a length apart and yet Affirmed won every time. It was very unusual."
Can Big Brown do it? "He looks like he dominates them. If he's right at all, he'll destroy them."
Harvey Warner, president of the Manitoba Jockey Club
Where were you? "I can't remember exactly where I watched, but I know for sure that it was part of ABC's Wide World of Sports that day... Jim MacKay did a great job on those racing broadcasts."
What do you remember? "That stretch drive (between Affirmed and Alydar) was an all-time classic."
Can Big Brown do it? "Let's put it this way -- everyone wants it so bad, how can you possibly bet against it?"
Darren Dunn, track announcer
Where were you? "I was 11 at the time and I can remember that was the year I first really got into racing. But I don't actually recall seeing that particular race."
What do you remember? "I've seen that replay hundreds of times over the years. A very famous stretch drive."
Can Big Brown do it? "I think he'll let loose early and I think he'll be gone."
paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca
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