[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4060-S4061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SEATTLE SLEW: TRIBUTE TO A TRUE CHAMPION

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I proudly rise today among my 
colleagues to pay tribute to one of the greatest thoroughbreds that 
horse racing has ever known: Seattle Slew. Yesterday morning, 25 years 
to the day after his victory in the 1977 Kentucky Derby, Seattle Slew 
died peacefully in his sleep in his stall at the Hill 'n Dale Farm near 
Lexington, KY. He was the last living winner of the Triple Crown and 
truly a great champion.
  On July 19, 1975, Dr. James Hill, a New York veterinarian, and his 
wife helped Karen and Mickey Taylor pick out a yearling at the Fasig-
Tipton's sale. The horse they bought that day for a mere $17,500, a 
near-black beauty, was the ideal confluence of strength, grace, and 
class. In the 1940s, the American thoroughbred industry began importing 
European stallions in a concentrated effort to produce the greatest 
species of thoroughbreds in the world. One such stallion, Nasrullah, 
had begotten Bold Ruler and this genealogical line led to an amazing 
eight Kentucky Derby Winners in the 1970s, including Seattle Slew.
  During the 1970s, the sport of horse racing was at its ultimate peak. 
There were great speed horses such as Mr. Prospector, Danzig and 
Ruffian. And how can anyone forget such classic winners as Secretariat, 
Affirmed, Alydar and Spectacular Bid? Although these horses were great 
champions in their own right, none were able to combine amazing raw 
speed with distance-running capability like Seattle Slew. As owner 
Mickey Taylor stated, ``He was the most complete thoroughbred the 
industry has seen.''
  From the very beginning of his racing career, Seattle Slew was 
destined for greatness. He won his first three starts as a 2 year-old, 
including the prestigious Champagne Stakes, which he won by nearly 10 
lengths, running a mile in an astounding 1 minute 34\2/5\ seconds and 
smashing the record set in 1942 by the great Count Fleet. After these 
three victories, he was named champion 2 year-old colt. In 1977, 
Seattle Slew became one of only 11 horses in history to win the coveted 
and elusive Triple Crown. On May 7 after breaking slowly from the gate 
and swerving to the outside, Slew won the Kentucky Derby in a heated 
and intense battle with For the Moment by just 1\3/4\ lengths. Two 
weeks later, he won the Preakness by an impressive 1\1/2\ lengths with 
the second fastest time, 1:54\2/5\, ever in that race. In June of '77, 
he captured the Triple Crown with a 4-length win at the Belmont Stakes 
and become the first horse to win the illustrious Triple Crown while 
still undefeated. As a 4-year-old, Seattle Slew continued to build on 
his reputation for greatness. In two epic battles of Triple Crown 
winners, Seattle Slew outsped Affirmed at the Marlboro Cup and easily 
defeated him in a race at Belmont Park. In 1979, Seattle Slew retired 
to stud at Spendthrift Farm having won 14 of his 17 career races. 
Although his racing career was now over, Seattle Slew's impact on the 
industry was just beginning. Overall, Seattle Slew sired 102 stakes 
winners including the great horses Swale and A.P. Indy. As of last 
year, there were 1.066 Slew foals around the world. In 1984 when Swale 
won the Kentucky Derby for Clairborne Farm, Slew became the first 
Kentucky Derby winner in more than

[[Page S4061]]

20 years to sire a Derby winner. In 1985 after 7 years at Spendthrift 
Farm, Seattle Slew was moved to Three Chimneys Farm in Woodford County. 
After surgeries in April of 2000 and March of 2002, Slew was moved to 
Hill 'n Dale Farm in April of 2002. At the age of 28, with his loving 
owners by his side, Seattle Slew passed away.
  I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in honoring Seattle Slew. He 
was a great champion. The racing industry has lost one of its ultimate 
treasures.

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