[4] As a two-year-old, Airborne was extremely immature and failed to win in four starts, giving little indication of Classic potential,[4] although he did finish fourth to the future 1000 Guineas winner Hypericum in the Dewhurst Stakes.

The Derby of 1946 was the first to be run at Epsom since 1939, the course having been used as an anti-aircraft battery position during the war,[8] and the race attracted a huge crowd, estimated at up to 500,000, including the King and Queen.

[9] Airborne, ridden by Tommy Lowrey, was an unconsidered outsider, starting at odds of 50/1 in a field of seventeen in a race run on soft ground.

Gulf Stream took the lead in the last quarter mile as Lowrey pulled Airborne wide to produce a sustained run down the centre of the course.

On his final start of the season, Airborne was matched against the Grand Prix de Paris winner Souverain in the King George VI Stakes over two miles at Newmarket in October.

Airborne started 4/5 favourite for a race which was publicised as an "international championship" for three-year-olds but finished third to the French colt, with the Irish Derby winner Bright News taking second.

[14] Attempts to train Airborne as a four-year-old, with the Ascot Gold Cup as his target,[15] ended in failure, and he was retired to stud without racing again.