Who was Seattle Slew?

Seattle Slew was a thoroughbred racehorse that became an icon of American horse racing after winning the Triple Crown in 1977. He was bred by Ben S. Castleman and owned by Karen L. Taylor and Mickey Taylor. Seattle Slew was known for his strength, speed, and endurance, and he was considered one of the greatest horses in the history of horse racing.

The rise of a thoroughbred icon

Seattle Slew was born on February 15, 1974, at the Ben Castleman’s White Horse Acres Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was a chestnut colt with a white blaze down the center of his face and a white sock on his left hind leg. He was sired by Bold Reasoning, who won the Grade I Futurity Stakes and the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes, and his dam was My Charmer, who was the daughter of Poker, a Hall of Fame racehorse. Seattle Slew was sold for $17,500 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton summer sale in Kentucky.

The early days of Seattle Slew

Seattle Slew was sent to trainer Billy Turner’s barn in New York for his racing debut. He made his first start on September 20, 1976, at Belmont Park, winning by five lengths. He won his next two starts, both at Belmont Park, by a combined 11 lengths. He then won the Champagne Stakes by three lengths, which made him the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

The road to the Triple Crown

Seattle Slew started his three-year-old campaign with a win in the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah Park in Florida. He then won the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. He was unbeaten in his seven starts leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

Seattle Slew’s Triple Crown victory

Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby on May 7, 1977, by one and three-quarter lengths, becoming the tenth horse to win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won the Preakness Stakes two weeks later by three-quarters of a length and the Belmont Stakes on June 11 by four lengths.

Life after the Triple Crown

Seattle Slew continued to race after winning the Triple Crown. He won three more races that year and was named Horse of the Year. He retired from racing at the end of the 1978 season with a record of 14 wins in 17 starts and earnings of $1,208,726.

Seattle Slew’s legacy in horse racing

Seattle Slew was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1981. He was ranked as the ninth greatest racehorse of the 20th century by Blood-Horse magazine in 1999. He was also the subject of a biography, "Seattle Slew: The Saga of a Great Champion," written by Dan Mearns.

The impact of Seattle Slew’s bloodline

Seattle Slew was not only a great racehorse but also a successful sire. He sired more than 100 stakes winners, including Swale, A.P. Indy, and Slew o’ Gold. His influence on the breeding industry can still be seen today, as many of his descendants continue to race and win at the highest level.

Seattle Slew’s final years

Seattle Slew lived out his retirement at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky, where he stood at stud. He died on May 7, 2002, at the age of 28, due to complications from surgery to repair a colon problem.

Remembering Seattle Slew’s greatness

Seattle Slew will always be remembered as one of the greatest racehorses of all time. His incredible strength, speed, and endurance made him a true icon of American horse racing. His legacy lives on through his descendants and the many people who were inspired by his greatness.