Seattle Slew 1977 Belmont Stakes #417

This is a gorgeous photograph of Jean Cruguet piloting Seattle Slew to Triple Crown glory in the 1977 Belmont Stakes at historic Belmont Park. In the “Test of the Champion”, Seattle Slew became the first race horse to win the Triple Crown as an undefeated race horse, an extraordinary horse racing feat. He would go on to even greater horse racing glory by defeating 1978 Triple Crown champion Affirmed in the 1978 Marlboro Cup Invitational at Belmont Park. This was the first time in horse racing history that two Triple Crown winners met in a race. After retirement from horse racing, Seattle Slew went into a stud career. He was a $17,500 yearling sales purchase, a figure that even in the mid 1970’s wasn’t a lot of money for a top class race horse. However as a stallion, Seattle Slew went on to command the highest stud fee in the world for many years. A true example of how life can make anything possible.