February 12, 2026 
Afleet Alex, winner of both the 2005 Preakness Stake (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) after finishing third in that year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) on the First Saturday in May, has passed. He was reported euthanized at age 24 on Feb. 6 at his home, Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky “from the infirmities of old age.”
Afleet Alex won the Sanford Stakes (G2) and Hopeful Stakes (G1), and was runnerup in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a 2-year-old in 2004.
As a 3-year-old, he romped to an eight-length victory in the Arkansas Derby (G2) to punch his ticket to that year’s Kentucky Derby (G1), where he would finish third.
But the son of Northern Afleet (out of Maggy Hawk by Hawkster) is best remembered by racing fans for recovering from a near-calamitous stumble near the top of the Pimlico stretch under jockey Jeremy Rose after scraping heels with rival Scrappy T, then recovering nearly from his knees to win the 2005 Preakness by 4 3/4 lengths.
He followed that win with a seven-length victory in the Belmont Stakes (G1). His impressive 3-year-old campaign earned him that year’s Eclipse Award in the 3-year-old male dirt division.
Retired to stud in 2006 at Gainesway, he would go on to sire 50 stakes winners in 15 seasons who earned over $54 million.
Among them were three Travers Stakes (G1) runners, including 2010 winner Afleet Express. He also sired two Breeders’ Cup winners: Texas Red in the 2014 Juvenile (G1) and Afleet Again in the 2011 Marathon, as well as Canadian Champion Skywire and four other Grade One winners.
His most lasting contribution, however, may be off the racetrack. Afleet Alex was partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars and promoted national awareness of childhood cancer research in memory of Alexandra Scott. That Foundation continues to support child cancer patients and their families.
“Afleet Alex was truly the horse of a lifetime,” recalled owner Charles Zacney. “He defined class and pure athleticism. Off the track, his affiliation with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was transformative. His was a special era. He will be deeply missed.”
Afleet Alex will be put to rest at Gainesway, where he has been pensioned since 2022.
