Rivalries are the lifeblood of sport. In soccer, the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s El Clásico dominate the headlines, while in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears steal the spotlight. Horse racing, though, doesn’t tend to have such storied blood feuds.
That was up until this year, anyway.
Sovereignty vs Journalism
Right now, you’d be hard-pressed to find any sporting rivalry bigger than the ongoing one between Sovereignty and Journalism. These two three-year-old colts have turned every head-to-head into an epic battle so far this year, and there has been a surprise victor on two occasions.
At this year’s Kentucky Derby, it was Journalism that was heavily favored to get the victory. However, he was stunned by the charismatic Sovereignty, whose late burst saw him sail past the odds-on favorite to secure the upset win. The Derby winner was pulled out of the Preakness, and his rival duly managed to get the victory, mounting a late charge of his own to reign supreme.
At the recent Belmont Stakes, the two faced off once, and once again, Journalism was well backed, with his victory in Baltimore weeks prior convincing punters that he was now the best three-year-old on the planet. Once again, though, it was Sovereignty that got the job done, beating his nemesis for the second straight time to prove that it is he who is the one to beat, rather than his more fancied adversary.
Now, the two appear on a collision course for the end-of-year Breeders’ Cup Classic, the most lucrative race on the American calendar. And for the first time, online horse racing betting sites now favor Sovereignty. The latest horse racing betting at Bovada odds currently prices the Godolphin-owned colt as a +400 frontrunner, with Journalism out at +700, level with the slightly mature colt Fierceness.
While the two powerhouses have taken the horse racing world by storm this year, this isn’t the first time fans have been gripped by a battle of skill, speed, and strategy. Over the decades, there have been rivalries just as gripping as Sovereignty vs. Journalism. Here are two of the best of them.
Affirmed vs. Alydar
Sometimes, a rivalry can define an era. For horse racing aficionados in the late 1970s, it was all about Affirmed and Alydar. These two titans faced one another no fewer than ten times during their respective clashes at the top of the game, and each of their clashes was just as breathtaking as the last. While both horses won their respective battles, there can be no denying that it was Affirmed that won the war.
His finest moment came in 1978 when the would-be war winner became the 11th winner of the Triple Crown, and he did so in stunning fashion. Affirmed edged out Alydar in all three legs of the series, winning each leg of the crown by the skin of his teeth, but ultimately proving that he was the dominant force, just about.
The Belmont Stakes finale? It may as well have been a chestnut-and-bay ballet, with Affirmed holding off Alydar’s relentless charge by a mere neck in one of the closest finishes seen on the grandest stage, completing the triple crown by the finest of margins.
Red Rum vs. the Grand National
When Brits hear the name Red Rum, it’s not just history they’re remembering; it’s a legend. His rivalry wasn’t with a single horse but with the Grand National itself, and somehow he came out on top. The 1973 Aintree showdown gave us a race for the ages. A bold Australian import by the name of Crisp looked set to spring the upset, leading the field by a whopping 15 lengths at one stage and looking certain to win… until Red Rum had other ideas.
Roaring into the final furlong, Red Rum chased down Crisp like a horse possessed, ultimately clinching victory by three-quarters of a length. That remarkable comeback wasn’t just one race; it was one of the defining moments in the history of the sport. Red Rum went on to win the Grand National the following year too, but he would one day meet his match.
After winning back-to-back races, the double champion was the 7/2 favorite to claim another victory in 1975. However, L’Escargot had other ideas. The Irish horse went off as a 13/2 contender, but he took the fight to Red Rum and came out on top by an almighty margin, finishing 15 lengths clear and leaving the Liverpool crowd stunned.
It would take Red Rum some time to recover from that humbling defeat, but in 1977, he did exactly that. Despite being somewhat unfancied as a 9/1 outsider, the icon managed to roll back the years to claim his third Grand National triumph, becoming the only horse in history to win the storied race three times.
