Affirmed

Affirmed (February 21, 1975 – January 12, 2001) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the eleventh of twelve winners of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Affirmed was also known for his famous rivalry with Alydar, whom he met ten times, including in all three Triple Crown races. Affirmed was the last horse to win the Triple Crown for a 37-year period which was ended in 2015 by American Pharoah.

Background

Affirmed was a chestnut horse bred in Florida by Louis E. Wolfson's Harbor View Farm. The derivation of the name "Affirmed" has been the subject of speculation, in part because the conviction of Wolfson, for securities law violations had been affirmed on appeal in 1969 resulting in his imprisonment. He was sired by the Harbor View stallion Exclusive Native, a high-class racehorse and breeding stallion, whose other progeny included the Kentucky Derby winning filly Genuine Risk.

Racing record

1977: two-year-old season

As a two-year-old, Affirmed won seven of his nine starts with two placings for earnings of $343,477 under regular rider Steve Cauthen, then a teenager. Notably, six of those starts were against his rival, Calumet Farm's Alydar, with Affirmed winning four and Alydar winning two.