Affirmed was a chestnut horse bred in Marion County, Florida by Louis Wolfson's Harbor View Farm.

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.

On July 6 in the Great American Stakes, Alydar evened the score with a 3+1⁄2 length win after mounting a powerful stretch drive.

[1] He then shipped back to New York where he won the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on August 17 by 2+1⁄2 lengths over the previously undefeated Tilt Up.

[5] In his next start on August 27 in the Hopeful Stakes, his main rival was Alydar, who was the even money favorite after winning four straight races.

In mid-stretch, Alydar had closed to within a head but Affirmed pulled away in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by half a length.

Alydar appeared to be in the lead for much of the stretch drive before Affirmed rallied in the final stride to win by a nose.

[7] Alydar turned the tables in the Champagne Stakes on October 15, sweeping by Affirmed in the stretch to win by 1+1⁄4 lengths.

[8] The two faced off again in the Laurel Futurity on October 29, then one of the most prestigious races for two-year-olds in the country, with Affirmed winning by a neck.

Affirmed made a strong move for the lead on the far turn, put away a challenge by Wood Memorial winner Believe It, and held off Alydar's fast-closing charge to win by 1+1⁄2 lengths.

He nearly became an upset loser to the front-running Sensitive Prince but closed in the last 100 yards in a race that Laz Barrera considered one of Affirmed's finest efforts.

Affirmed, piloted by Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay substituting for the injured Cauthen, cut off Alydar entering the far turn, causing his rival to hit the rail and almost go down, losing six lengths before recovering his stride.

Affirmed then prepared to meet another major rival: 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

Seattle Slew was a speed horse and got the first quarter mile in 24 seconds under jockey Angel Cordero, who never allowed Affirmed to get close.

This time, Affirmed was to be aided by his stablemate Life's Hope, who was entered in the race to extend Seattle Slew in the early stages.

He tired to finish unplaced for the only time in his career as Exceller and jockey Willie Shoemaker defeated Seattle Slew by a nose.

He had a five race losing sequence prior to starting in the Charles H. Strub Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Laz Barrera replaced Cauthen with Pincay and Affirmed didn't lose again and would dominate the handicaps the rest of the year.

At stud, Affirmed sired over 80 stakes winners, 9 champions with earnings in excess of $44,000,000 (through 2004) including: Though Affirmed never raced on the turf (grass) he was a noted sire of turf runners, most notably multiple Grade I winners Flawlessly and The Tin Man.