Post by Bret Walker on May 8, 2002 9:11:57 GMT -5
I was 8 years old in 1977 when Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby. It was May 7, a beautiful day for horseracing, although I could personally care less. My father was watching the race with some interest, and I was sitting watching, bored with all the pageantry and festivities that go on before one of the triple crown races. <br>
And then the race started. And Seattle Slew ran his ass off for the entire mile and a half. I mean he ran like a horse posessed. From start to finish he ran with everything he had, and he led the race from the gate to the post, and won easily. I have never been so impressed with a single athletic performance as I was that day watching Seattle Slew.
Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of Slew's legendary Kentucky Derby, the first win in what would be a Triple Crown win, making him the last living Triple Crown winner. And yesterday morning, Seattle Slew died peacefully in his stall. He was 28 years old.
What does it mean that he was the last living Triple Crown winner? To win the Triple Crown, you must be a three year old foal, and you must win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Bellmont Stakes. It's only been done eleven times since 1919. 1978 is the last time it was done, by Affirmed. But it was never done as decisively as by Seattle Slew in 1977. His racing style was balls-to-the-wall flat out running with every ounce of strength and speed he had. He didn't have a strong kick at the end, or a tactical run in another horse's draft, or a smart jockey that could keep the other horses behind him. Slew's strength in racing was that he could run a mile and a half in a flat out sprint.
Seattle Slew made a huge impression on me as a child, and I never forgot his name. He will be missed, but having sired over 100 thoroughbreds, many of them champions themselves, he will never be forgotten.
And then the race started. And Seattle Slew ran his ass off for the entire mile and a half. I mean he ran like a horse posessed. From start to finish he ran with everything he had, and he led the race from the gate to the post, and won easily. I have never been so impressed with a single athletic performance as I was that day watching Seattle Slew.
Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of Slew's legendary Kentucky Derby, the first win in what would be a Triple Crown win, making him the last living Triple Crown winner. And yesterday morning, Seattle Slew died peacefully in his stall. He was 28 years old.
What does it mean that he was the last living Triple Crown winner? To win the Triple Crown, you must be a three year old foal, and you must win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Bellmont Stakes. It's only been done eleven times since 1919. 1978 is the last time it was done, by Affirmed. But it was never done as decisively as by Seattle Slew in 1977. His racing style was balls-to-the-wall flat out running with every ounce of strength and speed he had. He didn't have a strong kick at the end, or a tactical run in another horse's draft, or a smart jockey that could keep the other horses behind him. Slew's strength in racing was that he could run a mile and a half in a flat out sprint.
Seattle Slew made a huge impression on me as a child, and I never forgot his name. He will be missed, but having sired over 100 thoroughbreds, many of them champions themselves, he will never be forgotten.
