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Triple Crown Winner Seattle Slew Dies
Triple Crown Winner Seattle Slew Dies
Tue May 7, 1:22 PM ET
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Reuters) - Seattle Slew, a clumsy colt auctioned for a paltry $17,500 who became the 1977 Triple Crown Winner and earned millions in purses stud fees, died on Tuesday, exactly 25 years after capturing racing's crown jewel, his owners said.
The last living horse to win racing's Triple Crown -- awarded to the winner of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes -- the dark bay stallion died at the relatively ripe age of 28, a quarter-century after winning the Derby at age 3.
Seattle Slew underwent two back operations and was bothered by neurological problems, according to John Cooney, a spokesman for The Blood Horse, an industry record-keeper.
"He had a presence, a knowingness that he was a star in everything he did," said Margaret Layton of Three Chimneys Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where the stallion stood stud for 17 years through February.
"What is amazing are his accomplishments across the board: the success of his sons at stud, the success of his sons on the racetrack, and his accomplishments on the racetrack," she said.
Layton said Seattle Slew's death meant for the first time since 1919 there was not a living Triple Crown winner.
The son of Bold Reasoning, Seattle Slew sired 1984 Kentucky Derby winner Swale and several other thoroughbred champions, commanding stud fees as high as $750,000 for a live foal.
After covering nine mares through February, four of whom are in foal, he was moved last month to the quieter Hill 'N' Dale Farm near Lexington. A spokesman said he died peacefully.
Born Feb. 15, 1974, the colt whose curved right foreleg caused him to sway to the outside at a gallop was auctioned as a yearling for just $17,500 at the famed Keeneland sale. His name came from his two sets of owners -- one from Seattle and the other from a rural Florida swamp sometimes called a "slew."
The only undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown, the horse whose clumsy gait led his owners to dub him "Baby Huey" became known as the "People's Horse." He finished with 14 victories in 17 starts, earning $1,208,726 in purses.
In the May 7, 1977, Kentucky Derby, Slew had an inauspicious start, banging his head on the gate but recovering to capture racing's crown jewel.
"He broke slowly. He was shut off immediately. He had to overcome adversity. And then he went on to do what he was supposed to do. That's the sign of a racehorse," trainer Billy Turner said at the time.
After surviving a near-fatal virus, Slew beat 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup, then was sold for $12 million in 1979 to stand stud at Spendthrift Farm.
Tue May 7, 1:22 PM ET
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Reuters) - Seattle Slew, a clumsy colt auctioned for a paltry $17,500 who became the 1977 Triple Crown Winner and earned millions in purses stud fees, died on Tuesday, exactly 25 years after capturing racing's crown jewel, his owners said.
The last living horse to win racing's Triple Crown -- awarded to the winner of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes -- the dark bay stallion died at the relatively ripe age of 28, a quarter-century after winning the Derby at age 3.
Seattle Slew underwent two back operations and was bothered by neurological problems, according to John Cooney, a spokesman for The Blood Horse, an industry record-keeper.
"He had a presence, a knowingness that he was a star in everything he did," said Margaret Layton of Three Chimneys Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where the stallion stood stud for 17 years through February.
"What is amazing are his accomplishments across the board: the success of his sons at stud, the success of his sons on the racetrack, and his accomplishments on the racetrack," she said.
Layton said Seattle Slew's death meant for the first time since 1919 there was not a living Triple Crown winner.
The son of Bold Reasoning, Seattle Slew sired 1984 Kentucky Derby winner Swale and several other thoroughbred champions, commanding stud fees as high as $750,000 for a live foal.
After covering nine mares through February, four of whom are in foal, he was moved last month to the quieter Hill 'N' Dale Farm near Lexington. A spokesman said he died peacefully.
Born Feb. 15, 1974, the colt whose curved right foreleg caused him to sway to the outside at a gallop was auctioned as a yearling for just $17,500 at the famed Keeneland sale. His name came from his two sets of owners -- one from Seattle and the other from a rural Florida swamp sometimes called a "slew."
The only undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown, the horse whose clumsy gait led his owners to dub him "Baby Huey" became known as the "People's Horse." He finished with 14 victories in 17 starts, earning $1,208,726 in purses.
In the May 7, 1977, Kentucky Derby, Slew had an inauspicious start, banging his head on the gate but recovering to capture racing's crown jewel.
"He broke slowly. He was shut off immediately. He had to overcome adversity. And then he went on to do what he was supposed to do. That's the sign of a racehorse," trainer Billy Turner said at the time.
After surviving a near-fatal virus, Slew beat 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup, then was sold for $12 million in 1979 to stand stud at Spendthrift Farm.