Several Year 1 Confirmed Success winners euthanized at 28

Old Friends retired since 2007

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WTVQ) – A claimed success, multiple Grade 1 winner and true warrior on the New York racetrack, was euthanized Wednesday at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, where he had retired since 2007.

According to the attending veterinarians, the 28-year-old gelding suffered from chronic hoof infections.

Owned and bred by Albert Fried, Jr., and trained by Richard Schosberg, Affirmed Success was among the top sons of Triple Crown winner Affirmed. He showed his mettle with his first jump from the gate, capturing his first three career starts in 1997 at Aqueduct and Belmont Park.

According to Old Friends, the following year the bay gelding won his first graded stakes, the GR2 Forego Handicap, in Saratoga, setting off a series of victories on dirt and grass, among them the GR1 Vosburg Stakes, the GR1 Cigar Mile, and consecutive GR3 Poker Handicap races.

In 2002, at the age of eight, Affirmed Success became the oldest horse to win the Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct, a victory he followed a few weeks later with a spectacular victory in the GR1 Carter Handicap.

Making its final start in 2003, still in the Carter, Affirmed Success was first retired to Kentucky Horse Park where it was featured on the daily Parade of Breeds. When soundness issues prevented him from continuing to compete, he was retired to Old Friends.

Affirmed Success ended his career with 17 wins in his 42 starts and earnings of over $2.2 million.

“He was such an amazing racehorse and he had such a great personality,” said trainer Rick Schosberg. “As well as his obvious talent, he had class, was brilliant and it was a joy to train. He always gave his best. And with his high cruising speed and racing style, he was also exciting for fans to watch.

“You think of a horse like that like the iron horse, like indestructible,” Schosberg added, “but being in this business all my life, you know that day is coming. But he’s had an amazing life. He’s had a great life on the track and an amazing life in his follow-up at Old Friends.

“I love my horses as I love my people, honest and hardworking, and Affirmed Success embodied that completely,” said jockey Richard Migliore, who has won numerous victories with Affirmed Success. “He was as hardworking and tenacious as any horse I have ever been around, and I am happy to have been a small part of his story. I take comfort in knowing that he had a great twilight of his life.

“He was one of my first horses, and he was a great champion,” said owner-breeder Al Fried, Jr. “I’m so sorry to lose him.”

“As a disabled person, I loved Affirmed Success,” said Old Friends Founder and President Michael Blowen. “Wet, dry, grass or dirt, he gave his best every time, earning 38 triple-digit Beyer speed figures in 42 lifetime starts. He remains the oldest competitor to have won the Carter Handicap, a race that has been running for over 100 years. But I didn’t really know him until he came to Old Friends, where his personality kept blossoming. Kind, intelligent and independent. He gave us almost 15 years of pure pleasure.