Affectionately (USA)
April 26, 1960 – 1979
Swaps (USA) x Searching (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 1-x
April 26, 1960 – 1979
Swaps (USA) x Searching (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 1-x
Affectionately was known as the “Queen of Queens” to New York racing fans thanks to 13 stakes wins at Aqueduct (located in Queens, New York). She was more than an Aqueduct specialist, though. She had speed, class, weight-carrying ability and durability. She was a particular favorite of her co-breeder and trainer, Hirsch Jacobs, who considered her the best horse he ever trained. A three-time American champion, she produced only four foals but hit the jackpot with her first, 1970 co-Horse of the Year Personality.
Race record
52 starts, 28 wins, 8 seconds, 6 third, US$546,659
1962:
1963:
1964:
1965:
Honors
Assessments
Affectionately was rated #81 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 18th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Shared top weight for juvenile fillies of 115 pounds with co-champion Smart Deb and three other fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1962.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1964, 14 pounds below highweighted Ahoy.
Highweighted at 134 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1965, 1 pound above Tosmah.
As an individual
Described by artist Richard Stone Reeves as “a lovely little mare,” Affectionately stood 15.3-3/4 hands at maturity. She was correct and well balanced, essentially a larger, stronger version of her dam Searching. She had an exceptionally straight, strong hind leg and a long pelvis. She was intelligent with a sweet disposition, balanced by great determination in the track. She did not care for off tracks and tended to carry her head rather high. She did not really stay much beyond 7 furlongs and scored her lone stakes victory at a greater distance after getting loose on the lead over a speed-favoring track.
As a producer
Affectionately produced four named foals in a broodmare career marked by fertility problems. Her first was 1970 co-Horse of the Year Personality (by Hail to Reason). Of the other three, only one started or won. Affectionately's only daughter, Personality's full sister Our Beloved, died without issue.
Notable progeny
Personality (USA)
Connections
Affectionately was bred in Kentucky by Bieber-Jacobs Stable and was foaled at Dr. Charles Hagyard's Hagyard Farm. She was owned by Mrs. Ethel Jacobs and was trained by Hirsch Jacobs.
Pedigree notes
Affectionately is inbred 4x2 to War Admiral. She is a half sister to Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring (by Hail to Reason) and Frizette Stakes winner Priceless Gem (by Hail to Reason). Admiring, in turn, produced multiple Grade 2 winner and 1993 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute (by Graustark), dam of 1993 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Sea Hero (by Polish Navy) and six other stakes winners; she is also the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner and useful sire Magesterial (by Northern Dancer) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lite Light (by Majestic Light). Priceless Gem is also an important broodmare as the dam of multiple French champion Allez France (by Sea-Bird) and four-time New Zealand champion sire Noble Bijou (by Vaguely Noble) and the second dam of 1987 John Henry Handicap (USA-G1) winner Al Mamoon (by Believe It) and 1991 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (USA-G1) winner La Gueriere (by Lord At War).
Affectionately's dam Searching was a high-class race mare in her own right and is a full or half sister to four other stakes winners including 1946 champion 3-year-old filly Bridal Flower (by Challenger II). The next dam in Affectionately's tail-female line, Big Hurry (by Black Toney), won the 1939 Selima Stakes and is a full sister to two-time American champion Bimlelech and 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen. Also a half sister to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over), Big Hurry is one of several important broodmares produced from the great matron La Troienne.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 10, 2023
Race record
52 starts, 28 wins, 8 seconds, 6 third, US$546,659
1962:
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Sorority Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Astoria Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Fashion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Polly Drummond Stakes (USA, 5FD, Delaware)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Colleen Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
1963:
- Won Interborough Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
1964:
- Won Interborough Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Correction Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Vosburgh Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Sport Page Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Las Flores Handicap (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
1965:
- Won Vagrancy Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Correction Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Liberty Belle Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Distaff Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Sport Page Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Santa Maria Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Maskette Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Santa Monica Handicap (second division) (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Roseben Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1989)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1962; shared with Smart Deb)
- American champion sprinter (1965)
- American co-champion handicap female (1965; shared with Old Hat)
Assessments
Affectionately was rated #81 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 18th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Shared top weight for juvenile fillies of 115 pounds with co-champion Smart Deb and three other fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1962.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1964, 14 pounds below highweighted Ahoy.
Highweighted at 134 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1965, 1 pound above Tosmah.
As an individual
Described by artist Richard Stone Reeves as “a lovely little mare,” Affectionately stood 15.3-3/4 hands at maturity. She was correct and well balanced, essentially a larger, stronger version of her dam Searching. She had an exceptionally straight, strong hind leg and a long pelvis. She was intelligent with a sweet disposition, balanced by great determination in the track. She did not care for off tracks and tended to carry her head rather high. She did not really stay much beyond 7 furlongs and scored her lone stakes victory at a greater distance after getting loose on the lead over a speed-favoring track.
As a producer
Affectionately produced four named foals in a broodmare career marked by fertility problems. Her first was 1970 co-Horse of the Year Personality (by Hail to Reason). Of the other three, only one started or won. Affectionately's only daughter, Personality's full sister Our Beloved, died without issue.
Notable progeny
Personality (USA)
Connections
Affectionately was bred in Kentucky by Bieber-Jacobs Stable and was foaled at Dr. Charles Hagyard's Hagyard Farm. She was owned by Mrs. Ethel Jacobs and was trained by Hirsch Jacobs.
Pedigree notes
Affectionately is inbred 4x2 to War Admiral. She is a half sister to Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring (by Hail to Reason) and Frizette Stakes winner Priceless Gem (by Hail to Reason). Admiring, in turn, produced multiple Grade 2 winner and 1993 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute (by Graustark), dam of 1993 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Sea Hero (by Polish Navy) and six other stakes winners; she is also the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner and useful sire Magesterial (by Northern Dancer) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lite Light (by Majestic Light). Priceless Gem is also an important broodmare as the dam of multiple French champion Allez France (by Sea-Bird) and four-time New Zealand champion sire Noble Bijou (by Vaguely Noble) and the second dam of 1987 John Henry Handicap (USA-G1) winner Al Mamoon (by Believe It) and 1991 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (USA-G1) winner La Gueriere (by Lord At War).
Affectionately's dam Searching was a high-class race mare in her own right and is a full or half sister to four other stakes winners including 1946 champion 3-year-old filly Bridal Flower (by Challenger II). The next dam in Affectionately's tail-female line, Big Hurry (by Black Toney), won the 1939 Selima Stakes and is a full sister to two-time American champion Bimlelech and 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen. Also a half sister to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over), Big Hurry is one of several important broodmares produced from the great matron La Troienne.
Fun facts
- Affectionately was the second filly or mare to win more than US$500,000 during her career, following Cicada.
- Affectionately's victory in the 1965 Toboggan Stakes was the first by a filly or mare since Mary Davis in 1910.
- Affectionately is the only member of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame whose sire, dam and broodmare sire are all members.
- The Affectionately Handicap was inaugurated in 1975. Run through 2015, it was a listed stakes for fillies and mares aged 3 and up at 8½ furlongs on dirt at Aqueduct.
Last updated: August 10, 2023