This video is long but addictive once you start watching.

Triple Crown winner Affirmed was euthanized Jan. 12, 2001, due to pain from laminitis. He was 26.

The 16-1 hand chestnut had a distinctive blaze that was easy to identify in each of his stretch runs.

In October 2000, Affirmed dislocated his left front pastern joint in a paddock accident at Jonabell Farm in Lexington Ky., where he stood at stud for 10 years. Following the injury, he overloaded his right front and developed laminitis in that hoof. He was moved to Rood & Riddle Hospital, where Dr. Larry Bramlage performed surgery to repair the left front pastern.

The horse was recovering well at Jonabell when exercising led to additional problems that aggravated the laminitis.

He returned to Rood & Riddle on January 8, and Bramlage recommended euthanasia.

Affirmed remains the last winner of the Triple Crown, in 1978, and his epic rivalry with Alydar made it an exciting year. He was ridden by young jockey Steve Cauthen, who said after his death: “He was basically the best horse I ever rode.”

Patrice Wolfson said she hoped people would remember the champion for being kind, gentle and versatile under all circumstances.

Affirmed retired with 22 wins out of 29 races for $2,393,818. He won Horse of the Year honors at ages 2, 3 and 4.

The horse entered stud at Spendthrift Farm, then moved to Calumet Farm and then to Jonabell Farm in 1991.

He was syndicated for $14.4 million dollars and sired more than 80 stakes winners.

Affirmed was born Feb. 21, 1975, at Louis and Patrice Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm in Florida. He was by Harbor View stallion Exclusive Native out of the mare Won’t Tell You. He was trained by Laz Barrera.