Seattle Slew - 1978 Woodward Stakes

[all66books]

As far as Ruffian against the great male horses, remember that we never saw her race further than the middle of her third year. Picture her remaining sound, coming back as a 4YO, and THEN think about her facing Affirmed, Slew, or Forego. Something to think about.

[BE109]

I pay some attention to guys like Andrew Beyer,but there is SO MUCH more to racing. Paper numbers by themselves can get you into trouble at the windows. Yeah they are useful,but they are not the only thing. I've seen horses run insane beyers and when they meet a higher class field lose in a slower time. Thats called class,meaning a horse will defer to a horse he feels is more dominant,no matter if he probably could outrun him. Its a hierarchy,and if you've been around them,you see it the field.

[jhordanian]

Seattle Slew was so good as a 4 year old. Andrew Beyer really wasnt sold on Slew after the Triple Crown because his speed figures were average.But Beyer forgets Slew ran the fastest (up to then) mile for a two year old in the Champagne and that in the Flamingo and Wood Slew could have won by 12 had Cruget not put a strangle hold on him. Even in the Preakness Cruget didnt ask Slew to really run and was standing up on Slew at the Belmont. But I do agree w/ Beyer that Slew was better at 4

[ebbets1965]

Chic and Tom Durkin are my two favourite race callers. I remember Chic's comment in the 73 Preakness: "Turcotte has his whip put away and Secretariat has him [Sham] put away..." or his brilliant commentary in The Belmont that year. It takes skill to do justice to an other-worldly performance and he accomplished it. Re Slew: I sometimes imagine him running at 5 against Affirmed and Bid.

[drfager01]

there is no doubt, ruffian would be competitive against top males,but she still holds the distinction of probably bieng the greatest filly of all time

[rhynes2]

What about Ruffian? She could have beat most of the great males. Just look at her track records and physical make up. Be for real/

[gfn02]

No.

[thelongshot99]

If you think Ruffian could have beaten horses like 'Slew, Forego, Affirmed, you are insane. The 1970's produced MANY of the greatest male horses of ALL TIME. If Ruffian ran against Big Brown at 1 1/8 I think she would win.

[BE109]

No offense,but I do think that Ruffian would have given them all they wanted,you can tell by the way she ran,not just how fast she was. She had a ton of heart and desire.

[drfager01]

My top 15 THOROUGHBREDS OF ALL TIME![#1 DR.FAGER][#2SECRETARIAT][#3MAN O WAR][#4SWAPS][#5CITATION][#6NA­TIVE DANCER][#7SPECTACULAR BID][#8SEATTLE SLEW],[#9RIBOT][#10COUNT FLEET][#11KELSO][#12FOREGO][#1­3TOM FOOL][#14AFFIRMED][#15ACK ACK]. THESE COMPUTATIONS ARE BASED ON A THOROUGHLY TESTED SCIENTIFIC FORMULA IN WHICH CONSISTENCY OF TIMES,WHICH IS RELATED TO A HORSES ABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE SUPERIOR TIMES RESULTING IN A TRACK,OR MORE IMPORTANTLY,A WORLD RECORD STAMPING HIS APEX ABILITY.

[ALYSHEBANDTHEBID]

Swaps was a beast as well, never run with 100% legs yet set records with ease, Eddie A; knew and said Nashua would never have beaten a healthy Swaps: Native Dancer was tallented too, probably the most dangerous stretch runner; running a derby with these 15 would be sick; who would dare to challenge DrF on the lead, the big late runners Forego n the dancer; those who make their own trip ManOWar n secretariat; you should add Phar L., citation, Ruffian and the Biscuit.....

[drfager01]

Seatle slew without major challenges got sick after his 3 year old season and nearly died. he had major heart to comeback from that, to do what he did was more than amazing ,when a lesser horse would have never won again this was the personal words to me from the late doug peterson.

[Machbragal]

"Shortly after Exceller came to me last year, the owner called and told me to kill the horse because he couldn't pay for him. He told me to bring the horse to the slaughterhouse, and that's what I had to do. I walked him over myself. I made an appointment because I wanted to get it over with quick, but they were very busy when we got there and we had to wait. Exceller knew what was going on; he didn't want to be there.  Standing with him like that . . . . it made me feel like Judas."

[BE109]

Two top class horses Seattle Slew and Exceller, It surprised me that shoemaker went right at slew. Seattle Slew was the perfect front runner who could win with honest(also blazing)fractions. Not many frontrunners can do that. Exceller was better laying back and coming with his freight train move. Loved seeing those two greats go at it !

[thegrouper1]

exceller very nice !! only horse ever to beat 2 triple crown winners in same race. such a sad ending !! people can be so cruel.

[SWALE1984]

GREAT VIDEO cf1970! You are pure class as well! Joe Hirsch said that SEATTLE SLEW won this race so easily, that "He never took a deep breath once during the entire race!" Had he run like this during the opening fractions of the JCGC, he would probably won by 4 lengths in 2:26 4/5. Thanks for posting such a wonderful video!

[cf1970]

Wow, I am humbled by YOUR class and kindness.

Thank you for your continued support.

Hearing those comments Hirsch made about Slew magnifies his legend all the more.

What a horse he was, and still is to all of us.

God bless and have a great day.

[proveout]

I remember Exceller and Seattle Slew in the Jockey Club Gold Cup as well. What a race. Slew I believe hooked up with Affirmed (although I could be wrong) in a speed duel and then got caught by Exceller who looked like he was going to win it easilly, but then Slew incredibly came back and fought it out to the end losing by a nose. Both horses were winners that day. Sadly Exceller the only horse ever to beat two triple crown winner ended up in a slaughter house. How sad :(

[cf1970]

Exceller was a wonderful horse, it's horrible how they did away with him so callously.

Take care.

[JohnFPorcaro]

CF, to quote Chic Anderson again: "but they still got Seattle Slew to catch"

[cf1970]

John, you're bang on with that quote. Man, that Slew...when he was on, I think he belongs in the top 3 or 4 of all time. The more I see him in his prime, the more I believe it. Take care.

[XxemoxqueenxX]

Nice, The Slew literally in my opinion had the god of the wind blowing him to victory, that horse doesn't run he flies ^^

[cf1970]

Well said. Slew was in a class of his own here. Effortless. Take care.

[gfn02]

Chic Anderson . . . all class. Seattle Slew easily!

[cf1970]

Yep, Chic was terrific. Slew ran a heck of a race as usual.