Seattle Slew Dead (1 Viewer)

[Michael*K]

The last living Triple Crown winner died today. Ironically, it is also the 25th anniversary of his win in the Kentucky Derby. I don't follow horse racing much, but I remember when I was a kid that this horse captured the imagination of much of the country. Sad to see a great athlete go, even if it is a horse.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Didn't Affirmed win the Triple Crown after Seattle Slew? Or has Affirmed passed away, too?

 

[Michael*K]

According to the linked article, Affirmed died in January, 2001.

 

[Kirk Gunn]

Sad days for horse lovers. Here's a remembrance link to another one of the greatest:
http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Secretariat.html

 

[Paul_Fisher]

Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, one year after Seattle Slew won (1977). I'm from Louisville and have had the opportunity to go to the Derby 4 or 5 times in the past 8 years. My parents have a box and sometimes they let me use their tickets. The Kentucky Derby is an event that EVERYONE must go to at least ONCE in their lifetime. It is so much fun I can not describe it. Plus you get to walk around with the rich and famous too (unless you go to the infield). Please, everyone go once in their life, you won't regret it!!!

 

[Henry Gale]

Seattle Slew was 28 and I got to see a feature on the champ on a network show just last week.

 

[Chris Lock]

How long do horses typically live?

 

[Mary M S]

Chris, I have never heard what the average would be.

Seattle Slew would not have made it to 28, if it had not been for his value. To do these major surgery's on horses, back/legs is very problematic and expensive.

Many industries (racing) place great stresses on these animals, and like the retired Quarterback, they can have frequent problems arise with age.

Extreme Laminitis is the cause I have most frequently seen older horses mercifully 'put down' for.

Colic is the unexpected 'sudden' killer at any age. My trainer lost a yearling to this recently, I lost a gelding (8) to colic.

And a very great mare, I co-owned we had to put down, (need to check) between 28 to 31. In her case she had a nice retirement, but the last 3 yrs were spent using quite a few medications to control the Laminitis. The week we made the decision, I had walked out to her pasture to hand her carrots (big favorite) she had her rump toward me as I came and when I saw she wasn't even willing to take the few steps needed to turn to me, just nickered and waited for me to come around to her head, - I knew it was time. My partner saw her the same week leaning on steel fencing to sleep, (she would'nt lay down, I think she knew she might not be able to ever get back up again).

Slews 28 yrs were a long full life for an athlete.

To throw out a wild estimate, from what I've experienced, I would guess the # might land around 14 - 18 as an average, factoring the sudden death (colic) and geriatric disabilities.

 

[PatrickM]

This was one fabulous horse. I remember watching all three races in the triple crown in '77. That was one hell of a horse. Its offspring have been very successful too so the legacy will continue like Northern Dancer before him.

Pat

 

[Michael Warner]

Seattle Slew winning the Triple Crown is one of my earliest sports memories. I'm sure his 900+ children are all in mourning.

 

[RobertR]

Great thoroughbred. Very competitive personality. He was the only horse to win the Triple Crown undefeated.