Affirmed Triple Crown Winner Item: 1192 In 1978, a sleek chestnut colt named Affirmed won the Triple Crown and a permanent place in racing history thanks to his rivalry against the equally talented and similarly bred Alydar. Their rivalry boosted the popularity of Thoroughbred racing, and that year, it provided one of the most exciting Triple Crown series ever. Although Affirmed forever held the lead in these spring races ¿ as well as in the majority of their other meetings ¿ Alydar proved tremendous competition, and the two of them battling neck and neck, stride for stride, is one of the great sporting legacies of the century