1977 Triple Crown Winner
February 15th - Seattle Slew
You know there is tons of information about Seattle Slew, his racing career, going through the sale, Triple Crown winner (the first undefeated Triple Crown winner), and he went on to become the best sire of his generation. Most of his breeding career was spent at Three Chimneys Farm BUT as you know, when I tell a story I like to give the Bill Nack touch, you know, my twist and write myself in the narrative.
Yes, I saw Seattle Slew in person but how I got there is my story. In October of 1982, I had taken 30 pastel portraits to display at the Arabian Nationals at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. At the time I was living in Ocala, Florida on a small Arabian Farm. We were surrounded by thoroughbred farms and all my neighbors were pushing me to paint thoroughbreds. To my "Arabian eye", I couldn't see why I'd want to do that. I was 22 and had never been to a horse race (yet).
While in Kentucky, I did as my neighbors encouraged me to do. I made a trip over to the Lexington area to see the farms. I even called Claiborne Farm and talked with the manager John Sosby. He made it clear that they DID NOT show the horses to artists. Ok, I won't be going there, but my wife (at the time) made the drive over to Lexington and just rode around. Shortened version, we stumbled upon Claiborne Farm, and she convinced me to just go in and show Mr. Sosby my portfolio. Reluctantly, I did. Mr. Sosby was very polite and even browsed through my portfolio and kept going slower and slower through every photo of my artwork. Shortened story, "Show Mr. Clark the stallions” and within minutes I was shown the greatest parade of stallions anyone could imagine. It started with Secretariat, the 9th Triple Crown winner, and proceeded through a who's who of thoroughbred stallions.
When we were done taking pictures with a crappie cheap camera in the steady cold rain of Kentucky with horses in their 'winter coats', Mr. Sosby said, "There is another farm you need to go to." He even called and told them he was sending me there. He then sent us to Spendthrift Farm. It was there that I got to see two other very special horses: Affirmed, the 11th Triple Crown winner and Seattle Slew, the 10th Triple Crown winner. That was it. I saw Seattle Slew for all of 15 or 20 minutes but for this kid that blew into town with the cold wind, I was feeling sky high after personal one on one visits with the three living Triple Crown winners all on one beautiful day.
Seattle Slew stands as one of the greatest racehorses in American history, the only undefeated Triple Crown winner the sport has ever known. He was foaled in 1974, a son of the stallion Bold Reasoning out of the mare My Charmer. He was bred by Ben Castleman and sold as a yearling for the modest sum of $17,500 to Mickey and Karen Taylor along with Dr. Jim Hill and his wife Sally. The dark bay colt was placed with trainer Billy Turner Jr., and from his very first start he ran like a horse from another world.
Seattle Slew entered the 1977 Triple Crown trail unbeaten, and he stayed that way. With Jean Cruguet in the saddle, he rolled to victory in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, becoming just the tenth horse in history to sweep the three jewels. What set him apart was that he had won every race he ever started, nine in a row, going into the Belmont Stakes. The crowd at Belmont Park watched in awe as the dark colt powered home a champion. He was the first horse ever to take the Triple Crown while still undefeated.
His perfect record fell that summer when he traveled to Hollywood Park and finished a tired fourth behind J.O. Tobin in the Swaps Stakes. Seattle Slew missed the rest of his three year old year battling illness, and a change of trainer brought Doug Peterson into the picture for his older horse year. The colt came back as good as ever in 1978. He captured the inaugural Marlboro Cup, where he handed Triple Crown winner Affirmed his first ever defeat, and added a thrilling win in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park.
Seattle Slew retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm and later moved to Three Chimneys Farm, where he became one of the most influential stallions of the 20th century. He sired 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, Travers winner Swale, and many other top runners, and his sire line lives on through descendants like Tapit and Bernardini. Seattle Slew passed away on May 7, 2002, exactly 25 years to the day after his Kentucky Derby win. He is remembered as a perfect blend of speed, class, and heart, and as one of the very greatest horses ever to look through a bridle.
Sources: