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The field for the 61st running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1979 was one of the finest ever assembled, which is no small compliment. The previous year the great EXCELLER had nosed out Triple Crown winner SEATTLE SLEW while Triple Crown winner AFFIRMED ran out of the money for the only time in his career due to a slipped saddle. In the 1950 edition HILL PRINCE claimed Horse-of-the-Year honors by beating NOOR. In 1959 SWORD DANCER beat ROUND TABLE. KELSO won five years in-a-row. Time and time again, the outcome of the Jockey Club Gold Cup decided Horse-of-the-Year honors.

In 1979, they called it, "The Race of the Century", a term which hadn't been used all year. AFFIRMED had just won six straight, and SPECTACULAR BID had only the Belmont Stakes to mar his record. COASTAL had just run second to AFFIRMED in the Woodward Stakes.

SPECTACULAR BID wasn't the winner that day, but he displayed a rare courage. He tried to get by AFFIRMED with four separate runs. If a horse makes two strong moves in a race, he is praised. "THE BID" tried to get by the great AFFIRMED four times. That he couldn't is no black mark on his record, but is only a testament to both his own courage and AFFIRMED's ability.

COASTAL had made his own run at AFFIRMED, with no success, before the two three-year-olds were left to fight it out for second money. SPECTACULAR BID made his final run, beat COASTAL by three lengths, a gamely kept trying to get at AFFIRMED. He couldn't get closer than three-quarters of a length. "THE BID's" game second locked up the divisional title if not Horse-of-the-Year.

SEE this HISTORIC RACE race in its ENTIRE TELEVISED BROADCAST, hosted by Jack Whittaker and Frank Wright. In 1979 the Jockey Club Gold Cup is 1-1/2 miles and has a four-horse field: GALLANT BEST, SPECTACULAR BID, AFFIRMED and COASTAL.

SPECTACULAR BID is shown arriving at Belmont Park at 7 A.M. the day before (Friday) and exclusive interviews with AFFIRMED's rider Lafitt Pincay, Jr., and Willie Shoemaker (BID's regular rider) are shown as well as candid dialogue with trainer Bud Delp (BID's trainer) and AFFIRMED's trainer, Laz Barrera.

The entire race coverage shows all horses preparing for the race in the saddling paddock, the horses in the post-parade, the entire race with all re-plays, and winner's circle and all trophy presentations and post-race interviews - a very rare piece of racing history.
 

AS AN ADDED BONUS...a very rare Spendthrift Farm Stallion Commercial is shown at the end of the broadcast promoting SEATTLE SLEW and its soon-to-be newest stallion, AFFIRMED.
 

48 Minutes.

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