From the vaults: Steve Dennis relives the epic battle of Grundy v Bustino

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes was held at Ascot in 1977. Grundy and Bustino won the race. The race is considered to be the greatest in the history of the modern era.

Grundy was a flashy chestnut colt with a white blaze and three white feet. He was by Great Nephew out of Word From Lundy and cost Dr Carlo Vittadini 11,000gns as a Tattersalls yearling. As a two-year-old, Grundi won minor events at Ascot and Kempton. At three, he won the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and Dewhurst Stake. Grunderi was beaten into second place by Bolkonski in the 2,00k Guineas. But he returned to the Curragh for the Irish version and won by two lengths.

Bustino was trained by Dick Hern at West Ilsley and owned by the Dowager Lady Beaverbrook. He won the Sandown Classic Trial and the Lingfield Derby Trial at three and broke the course record in the Coronation Cup at four. Bustino won at the Great Voltigeur and was second favourite at Ascot. The home contingent was strengthened by previous year's Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks winner Dibidale, Princess of Wales's Stakes winner Libra's Rib and two 500-1 no-hopers in Highest and Kinglet. The international contingent included Star Appeal, Dahlia, Ashmore, Card King and On My Way.

Major Hern had a plan to accentuate Bustino's stamina reserves at the expense of Grundy's finishing kick. He would run three pacemakers, who would pass the baton from one to another at head of affairs. Riboson had been intended to run the ‘anchor leg’ at Ascot but a cracked cannonbone on the gallops a couple of weeks earlier ended his career.

According to amateur stopwatch work, Highest could only maintain his lead for five furlongs. Kinglet took on the role of domestique and maintained the headlong gallop. Star Appeal was second, with Bustino and Grundy in line astern. Mercer sent Busto to the front as they passed the half-mile pole. Grundery came off the bridle as he passed Star appeal and Eddery tried to reduce the three-length advantage held by Bustio.

Grundy and Bustino were engaged in a thrilling race in 1975 King George. Eddery won the race. The course record was broken. Dahlia finished third.   The race left a permanent mark on the combatants. It was won by GrundY. If they'd had Riboson, he would have taken them to the line. He was a stayer. They also beat the old record. In the end, Dahla finished five lengths ahead of the second place. She was trained by Mark Cranham. His horse Wondersermare finished in third place in the 1975 race, which was also won on a course that was shortened.

The 1975 King George was voted third in this newspaper's readers' list of racing's 100 greatest races. Eddery won the race. The Queen presented the trophies. Walwyn was the first to congratulate Eddy. He shook his hand with the grip of a bear. Steve Dennis relives the epic battle of Grundy v Bustino.

Steve Dennis relives the epic battle of Grundy v Bustino. The following year, the weight-for-age scale was amended so that four-year-olds conceded 13lb to three-years-old instead of the stone that Bustin gave Grundery.

The 1975 King George was won by Grundy. Lady Beaverbrook was proud of Bustino. The horse who came second has an equal status with the winner. It takes two to make a horse race. Steve Dennis relives the epic battle of Grunder and Bustin.

Grundy won the King George but was beaten by Dahlia in the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup at York. Bustino died at the Japanese stud in 1992. He was a successful stallion. He produced Oaks winner Bireme and Gold and Little Wolf. His offspring included Terimon and Paean. The filly Height Of Fashion was his great-granddam.

The race of the century was won by Grundy and Bustino. The spectators pushing to greet the two heroes know they have seen as great a race as they are ever likely to witness. The Observer, Sunday Times, The Racing Post, Christopher Hawkins, Sean Magee, Tony Morris and Alastair Down are among the writers who have written about the race.