Sylmar Farm

12/28/2024

12/20/2024

SEATTLE SLEW .
After Seattle Slew won the 1977 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, his trainer, William H. “Billy” Turner, Jr., believed that the dark bay c**t with the modest pedigree would capture the coveted and elusive third jewel in the Triple Crown.

“People probably won’t believe Seattle Slew is a heck of a horse,” he said at the time. “I don’t think he has run his best race yet.”

Turner proved to be prophetic because he was a heck of a horseman. On June 11, 1977, exactly 45 years ago to the day of Saturday’s 154th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, Seattle Slew won the “Test of the Champion” by four lengths in 2:29.60 on a muddy track with Jean Cruguet aboard.

The triumph was his ninth straight win in as many outings and his sixth Grade 1 score, and with it, Seattle Slew became only the 10th Triple Crown champion and would remain the only undefeated one for another 41 years. At that time, Turner became just the ninth man to achieve racing immortality because James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons had trained two Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox in 1930 and that horse’s son, Omaha, in 1935.

10/26/2024

10/23/2024

Yearlings in their natural habitat 🐴

10/18/2024

Training under the full moon on this beautiful Fall day 🍁

10/10/2024

08/01/2024

☀️

03/22/2024

It’s that time of year again 🦄❤️