Seattle Slew's Run for the Crown - 1977

[@TypeSly]

My favourite horse of all time!

[@louissmith4218]

Watching Seattle slew then and classic footage now brings so much joy to my Heart ♥️ everyone has there own favorite ,slew is mine. A great time in history…memories😊

[@louissmith4218]

Watching footage of Seattle slew run again brings me such joy again.

[@1JamesMayToGoPlease]

He was the ultimate badass, and that's that.

[@indychoate8350]

Although I can’t define greatness completely, It is Seattle Slew! Your description is as good as any!

[@1JamesMayToGoPlease]

@@indychoate8350 Thanks! :)

[@TheJonRW]

He was totally dominant in his Run for Crown in 1977!!! The Champagne Stakes in the 70's was equal to today's Breeder's Cup Championship race for two-year old colts. Slew won easily by 10 lengths running...at that time...the fastest mile on dirt ever run by a two-year old colt.....1:34 2/5's. His first race as a three-year old set a track record at Hialeah for 7 furlongs, beating Mr. Prospector's previous record at the track. In the Flamingos Stakes Slew glided away from the competition as they approached the final turn by at least 12 lengths.....before being geared down in the stretch so he would not run too fast. He could easily have made it by 20+ lengths had he been asked. Despite that he still almost set a track record anyway for 1 1/8 miles. He was taught to gear down once he had a race won. He was totally dominant in each of the Triple Crown races despite being hard used in the Derby, after a disastrous start, and engaging For The Moment...Honest Pleasure's full brother... in a speed duel for the first mile in very fast fractions, and running very fast early fractions again while engaging the classy Cormorant in a speed duel before pulling away in the Preakness. He easily won the Belmont while running in the slop for the first time. His dominance was never in doubt in the run for the Triple Crown, nor in those races either. (After that, his connections botched the Swaps Stakes when he was coming down with a virus that knocked him out for the remainder of the year...and almost killed him.)

[@lenordbrazil9580]

One of the best ever

[@marilynshively670]

If you look at American Phaoah's Belmont and Slews, they look amazingly similar. Both horses wired the field, allowing other horses to get close, but they could never pass him and then in the stretch they both pull away from the field. I love Slew, always have, and always will. A truly great horse.

[@agustindejesus7398]

Marilyn, Pharoahs would have never beat Searle Slew.

[@kevinpantera4429]

This pharaoh horse was a nothing. Slew would have eaten him for breakfast! Only undefeated triple crown winner. Enough said.

[@indychoate8350]

Seattle Slew would have beaten American Pharoah in the Tripple Crown races. His times prove that.

[@orcashadow8989]

Slew was/is the best of the best. You can't change my mind.

[@mikewarren1401]

I love Slew too but no horse comes even remotely close to Secretariat’s triple crown but I would put slew up against any other horse for sure.

[@YoniNadi]

I’m more impressed by the performance of the champions of the twentieth century up to Woody Stephens’s five Belmont stakes winners than any of the champions of the twenty-first century!

[@VivianArchuleta-dv4xl]

Slew was out of a Dam sired by Secretariat. Slew did his Grandpa prowed!!!

[@indychoate8350]

Absolutely Orca! Although we cannot completely define “real greatness”, we know it when we see it and experience it! Seattle Slew was one of the greatest of all time! His racing career and his breeding career are absolute proof of that!

[@courtneybrummet4280]

I never noticed how he was pressed early in the Derby or the Preakness. He had some guts to keep on going even with pressure like that. Also, people glorify AP Indy and the sensational sire he has become, but often forget that without Seattle Slew, there would be no AP Indy, and therefore there would be no Pulpit, Tapit, Bernardini, Mineshaft, Flatter, and many other really nice sires (and broodmares) across the years.

[@indychoate8350]

Courtney, dear, that is how the genetics are passed on. I agree with you, but the bloodline has to be carried on. Autopolis Indianapolis was a great sire just his Daddy. And Mineshaft, how we loved him!

[@sherylejeffers5484]

Don't care what anyone says....Seattle Slew was the greatest horse that ever ran...!!! and i am not dogging anyone...his record speaks for itself and as a sire he was the best...!

[@osleadygarlobo9481]

Secretariat is laughing at u rn

[@TheJonRW]

I agree. Only he could have won that 1977 Derby with that kind of start.

[@mikewarren1401]

AP is not better than slew. Slew has the record for 6 furlongs as a 2 year old at 1:08. There is no all time list where AP is ranked above Slew. Check out horse racing nation. Slew is ranked 12th AP is ranked in the 30d

[@jameskeeney2032]

He was my personal favorite and his race in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup is only surpassed by Secretariat Belmont. However if all things were equal weight fitness and no rabbit's Dr. Fager from seven eighths to a mile and a quarter was the fastest horse to ever run. James Keeney

[@kevinpantera4429]

@@jameskeeney2032 Damascus kicked his ass too!

[@lenordbrazil9580]

I grew up in Seattle in the 70s and Seattle Slew was such sensation in seattle he was big I had a seattle slew T shirt and one of his horseshoes I had connections I wish I still had it

[@Caroni100]

"I ride like I live.... no regrets" Jean Cruguet (March 8, 1939 - ) Retired jockey. Greetings from Venezuela. "Yo monto como vivo.... sin lamentos" Jean Cruguet (8 de Marzo 1939 - ) Jinete retirado. Saludos desde Venezuela.

[@kevinpantera4429]

One of the very best turf riders ever to be legged up on a horse. Very tuff on the grass at Saratoga. Check his riding record at the Spa on the lawn. Best ever! I know I used to bet the guy on anything he rode!

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

A true champion.

[@tubeyhamster]

1:03 hadn’t been dominant in his victories? Have you watched his Champagne Stakes?

[@sherylejeffers5484]

and the Marlboro where he beat Affirmed.....

[@robbybonfire9944]

Asinine decision to race Seattle Slew in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 3rd, just weeks after the long Triple Crown grind was ended. J.O. Tobin waltz home that day, it was a shocker to those who were there, and I was among them.

[@sl7293]

That is a lame excuse. Secretariat, Citation, Nashua, and Native Dancer all ran races "just" three weeks after the Triple Crown "grind" was ended. Damascus ran his next race 2 weeks after the Belmont. The Travers, in the middle of August was Damascus's 5th race race after the Belmont Stakes and he kept right on going -- 2 races a month for 7 consecutive months. It seems that Slew lacked the combination of toughness, durability, and talent required to keep relentlessly cranking out wins in major stakes races that a number of other great horses possessed. He only won 14 races in a 3 year career. Hell, Citation won many more races than that as a 3 year old. It also worth noting that J.O. Tobin delivered a stunning performance in the Swaps. It is possible that no horse could have defeated him on that day.

[@bishlap]

@@sl7293 If a horse isn't right he's gonna lose, not a knock on the horse, the fault here was the human factor, they screwed up royally. Didn't Sec. throw in 3 clunkers and lose his maiden too - doesn't take away from his greatness. Northern Dancer was a GREAT champion and warrior, yet a bad ride did him in (Belmont). Damascus needed help to beat Fager, could not touch the good Dr head to head, and Damascus was the best horse in the Ky Derby, yet he freaked out for some reason from the minute he landed in Kentucky and ran a terrible race.

[@TheJonRW]

@jesusisnotallright s That is just disgusting. Penny Chenery was perfect? She couldn't bother to go see her horse during his final weeks when she knew what his fate was. Slew died with his head in Karen Taylor's lap. She and Mickey never left his side during his final days or years. Secretariat was led onto a trailer, administered a fatal dose and crashed to the floor and driven to his grave. Don't go saying disgusting things about Karen Taylor. She didn't sleep with his trainer. The marvelous, much praised and highly revered Ms. Chenery was in Secretariat'd trainer's bed nightly. She used her horse to get famous and rich and then was done with him.

[@TheJonRW]

Slew was tranquilized several times after the Belmont to make Xerox commercials and again to fly west. That dulled him completely. And he was coming down with a virus that knocked him out for the remainder of the year. He coughed several times the night before the Swaps. Ask Dave Hoffman. Slew was in one of his stalls. Slew should never have been forced to run. His connections lost the race for him.

[@brgilbert2]

[jesusisnotallright] YOU are being reported!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kooltime8597]

i was lucky enough to actually see seattle slew race 2x saw her very 1st race of that season bet 10 bucks to win and never looked back i parlay my 10 bucks to win on that horse the entire season and ended with over 300k all placed to win tickets entire season 1 horse. from 10 bucks and in 1977 thats a ton. the instant i saw that horse my head spun to her no horse ive ever seen in person was just jaw dropping cant explain it in pictures what i just saw walk past me that 1st race day of season. i knew greatness and ran with my pops to the poll and begged him for 10 bucks to place a win ticket for me, which luckily he did. i was not old enough to actually bet back then but my pops did for me

[@Caroni100]

According to The Bloodhorse Magazine "Top U.S. Racehorses of the 20th. Century" Seattle Slew is ranked in 9th. place. 17 starts: 12 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds and U.S. $ 1.208.726,00 earned. 1976 U.S Champion 2 year-old, 1977 U.S. Champion 3 year-old, 1977 American Horse of the Year, 1977 Triple Crown winner and 1978 U.S. Champion Older Male Horse ☺ Regards from a venezuelan citizen who emigrated to Chile searching a better way of life ☺

[@TheJonRW]

Slew won 14 of the 17 races, with 2 very very close seconds. The Hollywood debacle was the fault of his connections, not him. Great great horse.

[@kevinpantera4429]

So much for blood horse magazine. No clue about The Slew

[@Caroni100]

@@TheJonRW Seattle Slew (February 15, 1974 - May 7, 2002) * Sire: Bold Reasoning * Grandsire: Boldnesian * Dam: My Charmer * Damsire: Poker * Sex: Stallion * Breeder: Ben S. Castleman * Owners: Mickey and Karen L. Taylor; Table Stable; Jim Hill et all. Black shirt with yellow yoke; yellow hoops on sleeves, yellow cap with black pompom * Trainers: William H. Turner Jr. (9 for 10 / R.I.P.) Douglas R. Peterson (5 for 7) * Jockeys: Jean Cruguet (11 for 13) Angel Cordero Jr. (3 for 4) * 17 Starts * 14 Wins * 2 Seconds * 0 Third * 1 Fourth * $ 1,208,726 earned (Curretn $ 5,446,591) * 10th. United States Triple Crown Winner 🏇 * 1976 United States Champion 2 Year-Old-Colt 🏇 * 1977 United States Champion 3 Year-Old-colt 🏇 * 1977 United States Horse of the Year 🏇 * 1978 United States Champion Older Male Horse 🏇 * 1984 Leading Sire in North America 🏇 * 1995 & 1996 North America Leading Broodmare Sire 🏇 * Number 9 in The Bloodhorse Magazine "Top 100 United States Racehorses of the 20th. Century List" 🏇 * 2002 NTRA "Moment of the Year" 🏇 * Inducted to The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1981 🏇 * Rest In Peace, Champion! We will always remember you! * Best regards from Venezuela

[@jjs490]

​@@Caroni100Thank you for all that information all the statistics I was going through a very tough time in 1977 and 78 what's Seattle Slew with all his races and almost dying and then coming back beating affirmed twice head-to-head and that fantastic race with exceler really raise my spirits, I get emotional about The Slew and the great moments he gave the world !

[@foots-qt4pk]

Im a Secretariat devotee, but Im SO impressed by Slew. You have to wonder if the idiot who let him go for $17,500 is regretting his entire existence! lol! The breeding is as impeccable as Reds, with more than a few commonalities. But still, there are a lot of gorses with impeccable breeding that just don't have "IT", and there is no fixing that. Slew had IT for sure.

[@VivianArchuleta-dv4xl]

Slew was out of a Dam sired by Secretariat! .Slew did his grandpa prowed!!!

[@sherylejeffers5484]

Also Seattle Slew went on and beat Affirmed TWICE.....now tell me he wasn't the best. !!

[@mikewarren1401]

I love Slew but best for what. Please tell me you don’t think he is better than secretariat.

[@barbaralovenvirth8726]

OK. He was great... but not the best

[@lenordbrazil9580]

Seattle Slew kicked ass

[@tubeyhamster]

Also he was not chestnut. Who put this together?

[@sherylejeffers5484]

That's right Slew was a big beautiful Black Stallion....!!!! love you Slew and I always will..there will never be another one like Slew he was all boy 24/7..!

[@terriholliday8038]

Dark Bay or Brown

[@SoaringSpirit1111]

Dark bay or brown, but always The Black Stallion

[@indychoate8350]

Perfect genetic copy of Nearco. Extremely intelligent. Just magnificent!

[@barbaralovenvirth8726]

Sheer, raw

[@MsLinjohn]

love the horse the superhorse the owners are supercringe ugh

[@indychoate8350]

In his blood flowed the genes of Bold Ruler,Nasrullah, Nearco, Princequillo, War Admiral, and Man O’War! The Fire in his blood is astonishing! And he carried on the Bold Ruler Line.

[@frankwilson-e6o]

Actually he did not carry on the Bold Ruler line as he was very sound and Bold Ruler threw unsound horses; Ruffian and Lamb Chop as examples. Slew's dam was sired by Poker a son of one of the soundest and greatest racehorses, Round Table. Another daughter of Poker produced Silver Charm who should of won the 1997 Triple Crown.

[@indychoate8350]

@@frankwilson-e6o As you know very well, Bold Reasoning was his sire, Boldnesian was his grandsire and Bold Ruler was his great grandsire. Poker was his maternal grandsire, Roundtable was his maternal great grandsire, and Princequillo was his great, great grandsire. Now, as far as unsound horses…Secretariat; how unsound was he, Frank?

[@lired70]

Please don't dog Secretariat! Slew was great, but Secretariat was greater! When Secretariat lost a race it was because he was sick, and his blood virus's and a huge abscess in his mouth prevented him from taking the bit! If it was not for human foibles, Secretariat would have won all of his races and in record time! I believe he came in 3rd in one of his races and when the race was over, only then was his temperature discovered at 103 degrees! The day before the Kentucky Derby, he lost the race. That is when they discovered his mouth abscess. Hot packs were placed on his mouth all night. The day of the Derby the abscess broke and he ran it in record time!

[@NYCYankInTexas]

Why mention Big Red here? What does that have to do with anything? Is this the Secretariat Excuse thread? Your comment makes no sense. BTW- Lucien Laurin retired from racing in 1976- but at the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame- his quote is on the wall- He was there the day Seattle Slew ran the fastest mile ever by a two year old at Belmont- watching the race- Slew wasn't even all out- he could have done it faster- Laurin said no two year old he'd ever seen would have beat Slew in that race. In regards to the Belmont- Secretariat would have beaten Slew. Slew also only lost to champions- Dr. Patches- who he gave a ton of weight- and JO Tobin- in a race he never should have run in- as well as the famous nose to Exceller. They were two of the greatest- Big Red and Slew.

[@TheJonRW]

Every horse has a reason when they happen to lose. Slew had his as well. If Slew and Secretariat met on the racetrack, both in pergect health, my $$ would be on Slew. He was faster out of the gate than Secrrtariat. Secretariat would have had to kill Slew to ever get past him. He was a fighter. Secretariat was not.

[@darrenporsch]

This horse was great but Secretariat was the best and trying to say he was not a fighter is crazy. Secretariat used to literally toy with the other horses purposely going to the back of the pack in the beginning cuz he enjoyed running by everyone

[@nathanielkirksey1661]

Dr Fager was better than Big Red and Slew.He carried more weight and ran faster.He was better.

[@brgilbert2]

[Patty Healy] Give me a break Miss Healy!!! Have you ever been to a race track??? Do you have any knowledge about the racing industry??? Are you aware that there are rules governing horse racing aimed at the welfare of those equine stars??? Where ever there is a race at any track in the country there is a veterinarian present at the starting gate to check those equine stars before they enter and break from the starting gate. Every race that Secretariat ran and lost was NOT due to illness. I am glad you like thoroughbreds and love Secretariat but every horse,with few exceptions, lose races.

[@bobascani6761]

just saw this......NOT DOMINENT???!!!!!!! This man doesn't know what he's talking about.

[@indychoate8350]

Relax Bob. We are talking and commenting about more than one characteristic and talents and other gifts this animal had. So easy does man!

[@indychoate8350]

I love Charlie’s vocabulary! Excellent command of the English Language! And she was beautiful as well.