| In the short list of triple crown winners, this horse | | | | talking about whether or not he would be the |
| had to be one of the biggest bargains in racing | | | | next triple crown winner in just 4 years since |
| history. We're referring to the puzzle of a | | | | Secretariat in 1973.Again, once Seattle Slew hit |
| wonder, Seattle Slew.The story of this horse is | | | | three years of age, his trainer took things slow |
| just another reminder of how weird the sport of | | | | with him, not starting him in his first race as a |
| horse racing can be and how unpredictable it can | | | | three year old until March 9, 1977. That race was |
| also be. All over the racing industry millionaires | | | | in Hialeah where he won by nine lengths. On March |
| were spending small fortunes trying to breed the | | | | 26 he then won again at the Flamingo Stakes by |
| best horses they could in the hopes of coming | | | | four lengths. Finally, he won the Wood Memorial |
| away with a winner. While this mad spending was | | | | Stakes on April 23 by 3 and 1/4 lengths.By the |
| going on a few friends got together and spent | | | | time the Kentucky Derby came around on May 7, |
| $17,500 to buy Seattle Slew when he was just | | | | because of his past performances, Seattle Slew |
| one year old. You wouldn't think that kind of | | | | was the overwhelming favorite to win going off |
| money would get you much of anything. But | | | | at 1 to 2. Ironically, the race was nearly a disaster |
| these friends saw their investment go on to | | | | for Slew when he swerved and was sharply |
| become a triple crown winner and also go on to | | | | taken by the jockey. He was allowed to take an |
| be one of the greatest horses in the 20th | | | | early lead because of this but that resulted in him |
| century.Seattle Slew was the son of Bold | | | | tiring down the stretch that became a 3 horse |
| Reasoning and My Charmer. The horse was | | | | race. Slew did manage to hang on and win by 1 |
| brought along very slowly in his career by a | | | | and 3/4 lengths.At the Preakness, two weeks |
| young trainer named William H. Turner. He was | | | | later, things were very similar to the Derby as |
| the oldest horse in history to make his two year | | | | Slew was involved in a real horse race but |
| old maiden race which was on September 20, | | | | managed to hang on to win by 1 and 1/2 lengths. |
| 1976 at Belmont Park. Out of twelve horses in | | | | At this time people were starting to worry that |
| the field, he went off as a 2.6 to 1 favorite. He | | | | he would fall short in the Belmont. But Slew didn't |
| took the lead quickly and won the race by five | | | | disappoint. The Belmont was a completely |
| lengths.Oddly, Seattle Slew started just two more | | | | different story and Slew went on to win by four |
| races as a two year old. He won an allowance | | | | lengths.The victory made him not only the 10th |
| race on October 5 and then won the Champagne | | | | triple crown winner but the first undefeated triple |
| Stakes eleven days later by a whopping 9 and 3 | | | | crown winner. Slew finally retired at the end of |
| 4 lengths. After that race people were already | | | | the 1978 season. |