SpectraVET Classic Performance of the Week

In honor of Seattle Slew’s birthday, we’re taking a look back at his 1977 Triple Crown success!

Seattle Slew at Spendthrift Farm in 1981. Wikimedia Commons/Pawneese/CC

Seattle Slew has earned his place in the history book of American Thoroughbred racing — he conquered the 1977 Triple Crown as the only winner to come in with a perfect record. Typically a front-runner, Seattle Slew faced fresh rivals in each leg and blew them all away. He did suffer a loss at the end of his three-year-old season but was named Champion Three-Year-Old as well as Horse of the Year for 1977.

Early in his four-year-old season, Seattle Slew battled a life-threatening collapsed jugular vein and came back for another strong season, earning multiple stakes victories as well as the Champion Older Male Horse title. Seattle Slew went on to an outstanding career at stud, standing at Spendthrift Farm and Three Chimneys Farm. He was named Leading US Sire in North America in 1984 and the leading broodmare sire the following year. His legacy lives on best perhaps through his well-known son A.P. Indy.

Seattle Slew died in his sleep at the age of 28, exactly 25 years to the day after winning the Kentucky Derby.

Take a look at his Triple Crown victory:

The Kentucky Derby:

The Preakness Stakes:

The Belmont Stakes:

Happy birthday, Seattle Slew — may your memory live on!

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.