It’s been thirty years since one of the last Triple Crown winners, Seattle Slew, ran in the Kentucky Derby. Yep; Slew won the Triple Crown in 1977. Slew had the misfortune of being something of a follow up act to the Greatest Animal of All Time, Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973. But being a horse, I’m sure Slew didn’t care.
I’ve been trying since last night to post YouTube videos of Secretariat’s and Seattle Slew’s Derby runs, but they aren’t coming up. (Sometime next week six Seattle Slew videos will probably appear and clog up the site.) You’ll have to go to YouTube — Here’s the Secretariat run, and here’s Seattle Slew. You can see a Triple Crown race today, no matter what happens in Kentucky.
The favorite today is a horse named Street Sense. Hmm — Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Street Sense. SS, anyone? [Update: Street Sense wins.]
We were thoroughly spoiled by the time Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. Will there ever be another?
Related: A half-brother to Secretariat saved from the slaughterhouse.
Update: Let’s try this —
Update: Here’s a trivia question — who is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner? Bonus question: What does this horse have in common with only two other winners?
It breaks my heart to say it, but Barbaro was a very special horse. I believe he could have been a triple crown winner. I had forgotten that Secretariat came from dead last to win. Interestingly, Street Sense was second from last for most of the race today. If you watch the last quarter mile you have to admire Street Sense just blasting past every other horse on the track. I jumped out of my chair when he won.
Yeah, that was a nice race. Very impressive.
All of Secretariat’s Triple Crown races are on YouTube, and it’s interesting to watch them all in a row. He ran last early in the Preakness, also, but since it’s a shorter race he moved up faster. But then in the long race, the Belmont, he moved up to near the front at the beginning and then opened up that famous zillion-length lead. Amazing.
The oldest living Derby winner is Spectacular Bid.*
*It isn’t my racing knowledge that provided that answer..it’s my googling prowess.
Oh my..Spectactular Bid passed away in 2003. Genuine Risk is now the oldest living Derby winner..I think?
I’ll get on it right away, chief
What does this horse have in common with only two other winners?
I think the common denominator is a horse called Bold Ruler that is in their pedigree.
Did I earn the bonus point?
I have been at the office and taped the Derby while gone. Guess I don’t need to watch it now. Secretariat was a big beautiful horse and thrilling to watch. I am from Seattle and am very fond of Seattle Slew. But, I don’t think I will every see another horse like Secretariat.
I’m pretty sure Genuine Risk is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. Genuine Risk (1980) has something unusual in common with two other winners, Regret (1915) and Winning Colors (1988).
This should be easy.
a filly !
Just one symbolic S for me. ” His stirring match race victory over Triple Crown winner War Admiral, on November 1, 1938, was one of the great sporting events of its day and made Seabiscuit a popular hero.”
Love the horse racing so much better than pols – more soul.