Affirmed

Affirmed, a chestnut colt born February 21, 1975, at Harbor View Farm, Ocala, Florida ? died January 12, 2001 at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, was an American thoroughbred race horse that won the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1978, only the 11th horse to accomplish the feat. As of 2005, he was the last horse to do so.

Related Topics:
February 21 - 1975 - Ocala, Florida - January 12 - 2001 - Lexington, Kentucky - American - Thoroughbred - Horse - Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing - 2005

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Harbor View Farm, established by Louis Wolfson and his wife, Patrice, in 1960, was a top breeding farm in earnings in 1970 and 1971 and again from 1978 to 1980 but Affirmed brought the farm much fame, earning it an Eclipse Award in 1978 as Horse of the Year. As a four-year-old, Affirmed continued his brillance, earning his second consecutive Horse of the Year honors.

Related Topics:
Louis Wolfson - Eclipse Award - Horse of the Year

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Trained by Laz Barrera and ridden by Steve Cauthen, then an 18-year-old jockey, leading up to the 1978 Triple Crown races, Affirmed raced in California, winning the Santa Anita Derby and the Hollywood Derby. Affirmed narrowly defeated his arch rival Alydar in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes to claim the Triple Crown.

Related Topics:
Laz Barrera - Steve Cauthen - California - Santa Anita Derby - Hollywood Derby - Alydar - Kentucky Derby - Preakness Stakes - Belmont Stakes

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Affirmed and Alydar's stretch duel in the Belmont was one of the greatest in racing history. Alydar, with Jorge Velasquez up, briefly put a head in front in mid stretch and otherwise got so close to Affirmed that Cauthen had to switch his whip from his right to his left hand. (Some writers have questioned Alydar's brief lead, but Cauthen admitted to CBS's Jack Whitaker and Frank Wright after the race that his rival did just that.)

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The CBS-TV call of the Affirmed-Alydar stretch drive -- by sportscaster and Belmont Park track announcer Chic Anderson -- became one of the landmarks of TV sports:

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:It's Alydar and Affirmed battling back along the inside! We'll test these two to the wire! Affirmed under a left-hand whip. Alydar on the outside driving! Affirmed and Alydar heads-apart! Affirmed's got a nose in front as they come on to the wire!

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Affirmed earned a then record $2,393,818 with 22 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 29 starts. The only time he didn't finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd was when his saddle slipped in the 1978 Woodward Stakes racing against fellow triple crown winner, Seattle Slew.

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Affirmed's Triple Crown accomplishment has not been repeated since, and his career has been honored with his election to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

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At stud Affirmed sired 80 stakes winners, 9 champions with earnings in excess of $44,000,000 (through 2004) including Flawlessly and Peteski (Canadian triple crown winner in 1993). Though Affirmed never raced on the turf (grass) he was a noted sire of turf runners. His daughters are valued as broodmares.

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Affirmed was the second US Triple Crown winner to sire a second generation Triple Crown champion. Affirmed's foal, Peteski, won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1993.

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In 2001, Affirmed was euthanized after falling seriously ill with laminitis, a circulatory hoof disease. Years earlier, the same disease also led to the death of fellow Triple Crown winner Secretariat.

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In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Affirmed was ranked #12.

Related Topics:
Blood-Horse magazine - Top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century

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