Seattle Slew
Jockey: Jean Cruguet
Trainer: William H. Turner, Jr.
Owner: Mickey and Karen Taylor and Dr. Jim and Sally Hill
Career record: 17-14-2-0
Seattle Slew was the 10th Triple Crown Winner, he was also known as “The People’s Horse”. He was born on February 15, 1974, and foaled at Ben Castlemans White Horse Acres Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was sired by Bold Reasoning and his dam was My Charmer.
He was the legendary winner of the 1977 Triple Crown who became one of racing’s greatest sires. He achieved victory in 14 of 17 races and earned $1,208,726 during his racing career. He was also the only Triple Crown winner to be purchased at a public auction.
Seattle Slew started his racing career in a six-furlong maiden race on September 20, 1976, and won by five lengths. Seattle Slew only started twice more as a two-year-old, winning an allowance race on October 5, and the one-mile Champagne Stakes eleven days later by 9 ¾ lengths. Even though he had only raced three times he was named Champion Two Year Old of 1976.
Seattle Slew’s Triple Crown Journey
On the 1977 Kentucky Derby, he was ridden by Jean Cruget and won by 1 ¾ length. Two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes, he won by 1 ½ length. Then he won the Belmont Stakes by four lengths to become the tenth winner of the U.S Triple Crown and the first to finish the series in an undefeated record (9-0).
Then he was sent to race at the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack. He tired badly and ended up finishing fourth. Rest and physical problems sidelined him for almost a year. He was honored as champion three-year-old and the Eclipse Award for American horse of The Year.
In retirement, he sired nearly 1,000 colts earning fees well over $100,000 per mare. He died 25 years to the day of his Kentucky Derby victory. Seattle Slew was buried in a courtyard at Hill n’ Dale Farms near Lexington, Kentucky.
Race record
1976
- Champagne Stakes Winner (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1977
- Flamingo Stakes Winner (USA-G1, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Wood Memorial Stakes Winner (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Kentucky Derby Winner (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Preakness Stakes Winner (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Belmont Stakes Winner (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Also set a new track record of 1:20-3/5 for 7 furlongs at Hialeah in an allowance race.
1978
- Marlboro Cup Handicap Winner (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Woodward Stakes Winner (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont; new track record 2:00)
- Stuyvesant Handicap Winner (USA-G3, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Paterson Handicap (USA, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
Seattle Slew Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1981)
- American Horse of the Year (1977)
- American champion 2-year-old male (1976)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1977)
- American champion older male (1978)
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