| Famous Horses Biographies
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The Crown
"And Affirmed puts his nose in front... It's Affirmed!"
With those words track announcer Chick Anderson hailed the 11th
American Triple Crown Winner as the gallant colt reached down
for all his reserves, to outfinish his rival, Calumet Farm's
Alydar. Finally, this hearty competitor would receive the accolades
and rewards of greatness that he so richly deserved. Until that
shining moment, there were still more than a few people who
held the belief that Alydar was the better colt. But the smaller
colt had triumphed and the doubters retreated.
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The Beginnings
It had been a long haul for the Florida-bred Affirmed from his
humble beginnings. Owners Louis and Patrice Wolfson may have
hoped for the best when they bred their Crafty Admiral mare,
Won't Tell You, to the well-bred but modestly accomplished Exclusive
Native, but realistically the mating looked like it would produce
just another decent horse to wear the flamingo, black and white
colors oftheir Harbor View Farm. This colt named Affirmed would
debut in May of his 2-year-old year as he drew away from his
rivals winning off at the generous odds of 13-1. Trainer Laz
Barrera who had brought Bold Forbes to prominence in the preceding
season appeared to have a colt of some potential. Meanwhile,
there were whispers on the backstretch that Calumet had a good
one, a well developed, blue-blooded colt named Alydar who was
yet to start, but had on a couple of occasions worked a "hole
in the wind." The rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar would
soon begin. A few weeks after his impressive debut Affirmed
was entered in the Youthful Stakes. The connections of the unraced
Aldyar threw caution and conservatism to the wind and boldly
decided to enter in the same race. The result was Affirmed winning,
with Alydar finishing fifth. Shortly thereafter, Alydar dropped
back to the maiden ranks and pulverized his competitors. In
July, Affirmed and Alydar were to meet for the second time in
the Great American Stakes with the stakes winning Affirmed giving
his rival 5 lbs. Alydar drew off and beat Affirmed by 3 1⁄2
lengths as Affirmed held second. Score the rivalry 1-1.
Barrera chose to send Affirmed west for the rich prize of the
Hollywood Juvenile Stakes. The race split into two divisions
and Affirmed breezed in his division winning off by 7 lengths
in a crisp 1:09.1. In the east, the focus remained on Alydar
who easily handled his competitors in the Tremont Stakes.
The whispers had subsided. The powerfully built Alydar, wearing
the legendary devil's red and blue silks of Calumet, looked
like the real item, and the easterners were embracing him. Trainer
Barrera commented he saw a better Affirmed after his western
foray, a smarter and more mature individual. The rivalry was
shaping up. Affirmed shipped back to the east in Mid-August
and took the Sanford Stakes from off the pace. Up til then,
Affirmed had contested the lead in all of his races. About that
same time, Alydar shipped to Monmouth and easily took down the
Sapling Stakes. Round three was just around the corner, with
the prestigious Hopeful Stakes the site for the match. The crowd
favored Alydar with Affirmed second choice. Affirmed, tracking
the pace of the speedy Tilt Up, drew up to the leader as Alydar
followed. At the eighth pole, they were stride for stride. Affirmed,
in what was later to become a frequently seen characteristic
reached down inside himself, called on his reserves and inched
forward of Alydar as they hit the wire in a very fast 1:15.2
for the 61⁄2 furlongs. Score it, Affirmed 2 - Alydar 1.
Two weeks later Affirmed and Alydar met once again in the Futurity
Stakes with the results identical to the Hopeful. Alydar again
got on terms with his rival but could not go by. Once again,
the smaller Affirmed showed his heart, and won by inches. Next
they met in a muddy Champagne and Alydar won it by a head, running
out in the middle of the track and Affirmed near the rail. Trainer
Barrera reasoned that Affirmed could not see his rival well.
Affirmed 3 - Alydar 2. The Laurel Futurity was to mark their
last meeting of the year. The eastern crowd fully embraced their
popular Alydar at 2-5 and made Affirmed second choice at 7-5.
But again, it was Affirmed outgaming his rival, winning by a
neck. Final Score for the year, Affirmed 4-Alydar 2. On the
basis of his superior record over his rival Affirmed was given
the year end 2 year old honors as best colt. The rivalry was
to be continued.
The Road to the Crown
All was well in both camps as the three-year-old season began.
Trainer Barrerra had brought Affirmed west for a winter campaign,
Alydar remained in the east. In 1978, in the west, the rains
poured down and Affirmed's training was often restricted. Nevertheless,
physically, Affirmed was doing well and had narrowed the gap
on rival Alydar. No longer was it like night and day, pony versus
horse, Affirmed was developing into a fine looking horse. Described
that winter as a "big, small-horse", reflecting his
good muscling and development, Affirmed was moving into Alydar's
realm. Not his equal, but closer.
As Affirmed and trainer Barrera waited out the rains, Alydar
began. In February, winning his Hialeah debut easily while prepping
for the Flamingo, Alydar looked every part the champion. Two
weeks later he went in the Flamingo and crushed his rivals while
getting the nine furlongs in a very fast 1:47.1. Meanwhile Affirmed
was yet to make his 3-year-old debut. The pressure was on trainer
Barrera and Affirmed to not get too far behind their rival.
Finally, Affirmed found a spot. Debuting at 6 1⁄2 furlongs
in early March, he cruised to an easy victory against moderate
rivals in fast time. Affirmed, now only one step behind, came
right back 10 days later in the San Felipe and won nicely, though
in moderate time. Two weeks hence, in the first part of April,
Alydar shipped south and went in the Florida Derby. Again, he
won cleverly by two lengths in 1:47.1. Affirmed, not to be outdone,
ran the very next day in the Santa Anita Derby and blitzed his
rivals drawing off by eight lengths. Both colts appeared to
be on target.
As a final prep for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Veitch chose
the Blue Grass Stakes for Alydar and Affirmed stayed west and
went in the Hollywood Derby. Both won convincingly. Next, it
was on to Churchill Downs to run for the roses.
On a beautiful spring day in Kentucky, with a very large crowd
on hand, the rivals entered the gate for the 1978 Kentucky Derby.
Not mindful of the previous years results, the large crowd again
embraced Alydar, making him the 6-5 favorite, while Affirmed
was made the 9-5 second choice. Leaving promptly, Affirmed got
his position and tracked the speed horses in front of him. Alydar,
not gifted with great dexterity leaving the gate, fell back.
As the race began in earnest approaching the quarter pole, jockey
Cauthen allowed Affirmed to cruise up to the pacemakers, still
well within himself. Meanwhile, Alydar was unwinding from the
back. When set down in the lane, Affirmed spurted clear from
Believe It to grab the lead, while Alydar came wide into the
lane. Affirmed, enjoying all the best of it, finished well while
never in danger. Alydar finished strongly along the outside.
Again Affirmed has bested his rival. And on to the Preakness.
There had been some talk in the eastern press that Affirmed
was again lucky to beat Alydar, but the Pimlico crowd was having
none of it. They backed Affirmed strongly at 1-2 and let Alydar
go at 9-5. The race ran to form. Affirmed again tracked the
speed, always going well. Alydar laid closer. As they rounded
into the turn for home, Cauthen sat calmly and still while outside
and just in front of the other pace horses as his rival moved
up. Turning for home, the crowd roared when Alydar got to Affirmed's
throatlatch, expecting Alydar's usual strong finish, but he
could gain no more. Affirmed stuck his neck forward, seemingly
in great control throughout, set out for the finish line and
turned back his arch-rival, winning by a long neck.
He had finally won the respect that he deserved but there was
one more race to be won. Some in the press were confident that
Alydar would prevail at the 12-furlong distance of the Belmont,
and there seemed to be good reason to believe it. Though Alydar
was getting beat, he wasn't losing by much and he always seemed
very willing in the stretch drive. Trainer Veitch insisted that
Affirmed would get no rest in the upcoming Belmont, planning
to go after Affirmed right from the start and wear him down.
Though he was right, and the race unfolded as trainer Veitch
wished, Affirmed had the heart of a lion. Caught and pressed
by his bigger, stronger rival, they raced as a team for the
last mile. In the stretch, Alydar poked his neck in front while
pinning his rival to the rail. Seemingly the Triple Crown had
evaded the deserving Affirmed. But in a showing of extraordinary
courage, Affirmed again reached down for all he had, and pulled
back to his rival. With 100 yards left, with Cauthen whipping
vigorously from the left side, Affirmed was back nose to nose
with Alydar. Finally, while pushing forward with every vestige
of his remaining strength, he got his nose in front and kept
it there. The Triple Crown was his.
The Aftermath
Affirmed will always be remembered by the people for his great
winning resolve and his victories in the 1978 Triple Crown series.
Surely he was one of the greats. But he was to meet his match
later on in that year. In an extraordinary matchup, he met the
great Seattle Slew, winner of the previous year's Triple Crown,
in the 1978 Marlboro Cup. Slew, blessed with an extraordinary
turn of speed, got the jump on him out of the gate though Affirmed
had broke running. Jockey Cauthen inexplicably took a long hold
on Affirmed and let the brilliant Seattle Slew go his first
quarter in a very leisurely 24 seconds. For all intents and
purposes, at that point the race was over. Seattle Slew simply
turned on his speed and finished brilliantly, getting his last
7 furlongs in 1:21.4. Affirmed stayed some 3 lengths behind
him throughout and did his best, but he was helpless to match
Slew's great speed. Nevertheless, though Seattle Slew finished
up the year with gusto, the Eclipse voters opted for Affirmed
as the Horse of the Year. A deserving reward for a great champion,
but he was perhaps the second best colt in that year.
At four, Affirmed was again a champion and Horse of the Year.
Though starting the year with two losses in the Malibu and San
Fernando Stakes, he reeled off 7 consecutive wins to conclude
the racing year. In June, while campaigning out west, he carried
132 lbs in the Hollywood Gold Cup and gave the high-class Irish
colt Sirlad 12 lbs and a beating in a sprightly 1:58.2 for the
mile and a quarter. In September, Affirmed shipped east to run
in a couple of the prestigious and traditional races for top
older horses. He took down the Woodward without trouble and
then matched up with the terrific Spectacular Bid in the Jockey
Club Gold Cup. At that time, Spectacular Bid was widely regarded
as one of racing's greats and was considered unlucky to not
have a Triple Crown of his own. In any event, the race lived
up to its billing. Affirmed, always in front and racing out
from the rail, turned back challenges by Spectacular Bid and
maintained a safe lead throughout. In doing so he sealed the
year's championship honors and a more exalted place amongst
racing's greats.
At stud, Affirmed was a qualified success. Like many of the
greats, high expectations are accorded them. He was often maligned
for not siring one as good as himself. Nevertheless, he sired
champions in many countries, including the very high-class American
mare, Flawlessly. Oddly, though Affirmed was a great runner
on the dirt, most of his best offspring were grass horses. Starting
off his stud career at Spendthrift, Affirmed was later to join
his rival Alydar, at Calumet Farms.
If horses could talk, I'd love to hear what those two might
have said to each other.
Pedigree
Affirmed, ch.c.
foaled 1975 |
Exclusive Native, 1965 |
Raise A Native, 1961 |
Native Dancer |
| Raise You |
| Exclusive, 1953 |
Shut Out |
| Good Example |
| Won't Tell You, 1962 |
Crafty Admiral, 1948 |
Fighting Fox |
| Admiral's Lady |
| Scarlet Ribbon, 1957 |
Volcanic |
| Native Valor |
(female family # 23)
Born: February 21, 1975, Harbor View Farm, Florida.
Current Location: Active stallion at Jonabell Farm, Lexington,
Kentucky.
Racing Record:
| Year |
Age |
Starts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
unp. |
earnings |
| 1977 |
2 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
$
343,477 |
| 1978 |
3 |
11 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
901,541 |
| 1979 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1,148,800 |
| total |
|
29 |
22 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
$2,393,818 |
Stakes Record:
at 2:
- won - Hopeful Stakes [G1]
- won - Futurity Stakes [G1]
- won - Laurel Futurity [G1]
- won - Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes [G2]
- won - Sanford Stakes [G2]
- won - Youthful Stakes
- 2nd - Champagne Stakes [G1]
- 2nd - Great American Stakes
- Champion 2yo Colt
at 3:
- won - Kentucky Derby [G1]
- won - Preakness Stakes [G1]
- won - Belmont Stakes [G1]
- won - Santa Anita Derby [G1]
- won - Hollywood Derby [G1]
- won - San Felipe Handicap [G2]
- won - Jim Dandy Stakes {G3]
- 2nd - Marlboro Cup H. [G1]
- 2nd - Travers Stakes [G1]
- Champion 3yo Colt
- Horse Of The Year
at 4
- won - Hollywood Gold Cup [G1]
- won - Jockey Club Gold Cup [G1]
- won - Santa Anita Handicap [G1] *NTR 10f 1:59 3/5
- won - Californian Stakes [G1]
- won - Charles H Strub Stakes [G1]
- won - Woodward Stakes [G1]
- 2nd - San Fernando Stakes [G2]
- 3rd - Malibu Stakes [G1]
- Champion Handicap Horse
- Horse of The Year
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