Until
May 7, 2002, the last living
horse to win the
Triple Crown (the
Kentucky Derby,
Preakness and
Belmont stakes). Owned by
Mickey Taylor and trained by
Billy Turner, the
thoroughbred raced from 1976-1978, winning the Triple Crown in 1977. (
Affirmed was the last horse to win the Triple Crown, doing it the next year) He died on the
25th anniversary of his victory in the Kentucky Derby at
Churchhill Downs.
Slew won 14 of 17 starts during his career, and won in excess of $1.2M in purses.
In his retirement, Seattle Slew reportedly commanded over $200M in sire fees. Slew's offspring include 102 stakes winners, who have won purses totalling over $75M.
Although it's open to debate, a friend of mine, upon hearing the news of Slew's death, remarked that he had always been her Platonic ideal of the horse.
Some information adapted from: CNNSI.com