Affirmed (FL)

Biography

Affirmed became America’s 11th Triple Crown winner in 1978 during the first of his back-to-back Horse of the Year campaigns. At the time of his retirement in 1979, Affirmed was the sport’s all-time leading money winner at $2,393,818.

Bred in Florida by Louis and Patrice Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm, Affirmed began one of racing’s greatest rivalries as a 2-year-old in 1977 with Alydar. Affirmed defeated Alydar by a half-length in the Hopeful Stakes, by a nose in the Belmont Futurity, and by a neck in the Laurel Futurity. Alydar, meanwhile, finished ahead of Affirmed in the Great American Stakes and Champagne Stakes, setting the stage for the 1978 Triple Crown series. Affirmed won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male in 1977 with a record of 7-2-0 from nine starts and earnings of $343,477.

Affirmed won his first eight starts as a 3-year-old in 1978 — including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes — to win the Triple Crown. Alydar finished second in each of the Triple Crown races. Other victories for Affirmed in 1978 included the San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Derby, and Jim Dandy Stakes. Affirmed finished first in the Travers Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second behind Alydar. Affirmed was named Horse of the Year and finished with a record of 8-2-0 from 11 starts and earnings of $901,541.

As a 4-year-old in 1979, Affirmed set a track record in the Santa Anita Handicap, defeated Belmont Stakes winner Coastal in the Woodward Stakes, and Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Spectacular Bid in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to conclude his career with seven consecutive victories. He was again named Horse of the Year with a record of 7-1-1 from nine starts and earnings of $1,148,800.

At stud, Affirmed sired a dozen champions, including Hall of Fame member Flawlessly, who won back-to-back titles on the grass in 1992 and 1993 for the Wolfsons. Affirmed also sired Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski and a second Canadian Horse of the Year, Quiet Resolve.

Affirmed died at the age of 26 in 2001 at Jonabell Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male — 1977
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1978
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1978
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1979
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1979

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1978
Won the Preakness Stakes — 1978
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1978