Turf Talk Newsletter – 31 July, 2026

Note To Self beats Wish List in the annual Champions Season highlight, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Picture: Race Coast)

The curtain has fallen on another outstanding KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season; one that showcased world-class racing, exceptional equine talent and reaffirmed the strength and momentum of South African racing. As the 2026/27 racing season officially begins on 1 August, attention now turns to the highly anticipated Cape Summer Festival of Racing, where an exciting new chapter will unfold from 1 November.

Building on the success of the past season, Race Coast is pleased to announce a significant increased investment across both the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal through enhanced stakes that will benefit participants throughout the industry.

Unlike previous years, the end of Champions Season will not see a reverting back to “out-of-season” purses. The current stakes structure and Race Coast Incentive Scheme (RCIS) will remain in place until 31 October 2026 and a new stakes structure will take effect on 1 November 2026, coinciding with the start of the Cape Summer Festival of Racing. RCIS will fall away on the same date; however, it is important to note that every Rand has been redirected to the stakes pot.

Race Coast has approved a substantial increase in annual stakes across both regions, taking the combined stakes investment to R270 million, an increase of 20% on the past year.

Grooms will now get a 100% increase in their share of the stakes, in recognition of the invaluable contribution they make to the care, preparation and success of South Africa’s racehorses. The stakes earnings for grooms will increase from 1% to 2%, effectively doubling their reward. This decision reflects the commitment of Hollywoodbets and Race Coast to meaningful investment in the people whose every day dedication underpins the success of the sport.

In breaking down the new funding, KwaZulu-Natal stakes will increase from R129 million to R156 million, while Western Cape stakes will increase from R96 million to R114 million, providing increased returns and opportunities across the racing programme.

One of the most meaningful enhancements comes at the grassroots level of the sport. Minor race stakes will increase by an average of 20% during the off-season and 22% during the respective seasons, significantly improving earning opportunities for owners, trainers and racing connections throughout the year.

The minimum stake for all minor races increases from R80 000 to R100 000 during the off-season, while no in-season minor race will carry a stake of less than R110 000.

Feature Race stakes have also been reviewed and standardised across the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with Grade 1 races receiving the largest increases to further strengthen South Africa’s premier racing programme. The new Feature Race stakes will be released timeously before the respective Cape and KwaZulu-Natal seasons.

To align with the enhanced stakes structure, Entry and Declaration Fees will increase by 20% from 1 November 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the Race Coast companies, Head Of Racing Operations WC, Kurt Felix, commented, “These enhancements represent an important investment in the future of racing and reflect our commitment to growing the industry in a sustainable way. Increasing stakes strengthens the racing programme at every level, while the doubling of the stakes earnings for grooms recognises the vital role they play in the success of every horse and every stable. We believe these changes will provide greater opportunities across the industry and continue to build confidence in racing as we look ahead to an exciting Cape Summer Festival of Racing and the seasons beyond.”

With renewed investment, increased opportunities and the excitement of another Cape Summer Festival of Racing on the horizon, the 2026/27 season promises to build on the momentum of a successful KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season and continue the positive trajectory of South African racing.

That is not the end of the good news. Race Coast is currently in discussions with 4Racing concerning the proposed structure, including meaningful rewards, for the National Championships for both trainers and jockeys for the 2026-27 season. An announcement in that regard will follow shortly.

Race Coast Stakes Investment – Effective 1 November 2026

Night time is the right time at Hollywoodbets Greyville (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Race Coast is set to transform Hollywoodbets Greyville into Durban’s newest Friday night destination when Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing launches on Friday, 7 August, combining thrilling horse racing with the vibrant sights, sounds and flavours of South Korea.

The evening marks the return of Friday night racing and celebrates the visit of a Korean racing delegation, creating a unique fusion of Korean culture and South African hospitality. Guests can look forward to an unforgettable social experience that extends far beyond the racetrack.

From the moment racegoers arrive, they will be immersed in a lively Korean-inspired atmosphere featuring themed décor, traditional entertainment, K-Pop performances, live music, roaming entertainers and a vibrant night market feel.

Food lovers will be spoilt for choice with an exciting range of Korean street food favourites, including Korean Fried Chicken, Korean BBQ, Corn Dogs, Bubble Tea, Bingsu and a variety of authentic desserts, while families can enjoy a dedicated Kids Zone packed with entertainment throughout the evening.

For those looking to elevate their evening, the popular Durban View will offer a relaxed hospitality experience at R325 per person, featuring racecourse views, betting facilities, a Korean-inspired menu and the ever-popular Sip & Paint experience.

While the racing remains the hero of the evening, Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing is designed to showcase that a night at Hollywoodbets Greyville is about so much more than the action on the track.

Whether you’re a racing enthusiast, foodie, family looking for a fun evening out, or simply searching for something different to do after work, Friday Night Racing offers the perfect mix of sport, entertainment and culture.

The launch forms part of Race Coast’s ongoing commitment to creating vibrant race day experiences that appeal to new audiences while celebrating the international connections that continue to strengthen South African racing.

Racegoers are encouraged to embrace the Korean theme, enjoy the entertainment, experience the flavours of Seoul and soak up the electric atmosphere under the lights at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing
Date: Friday, 7 August 2026
Venue: Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse
Hospitality: Durban View – R325 per person, booking details: 031 314 1736

General Entry: FREE

Experience includes:

• Friday Night Racing under lights
• Korean-inspired food market
• K-Pop and live entertainment
• Lucky Fish activations and giveaways
• Sip & Paint experience
• Kids Zone
• Family-friendly entertainment

Mission To Mars will be out to prove he can target races like the Betway Summer Cup (JC Photos)

The eight race meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday is highlighted by a MR96 Handicap over 2000m and it could well see the impressive Sea The Stars colt Mission To Mars proving himself an exciting prospect.

The Stuart Pettigrew-trained Irish-bred import will be having only his third career start as a six-year-old gelding, hardly credentials to get anybody excited, but he has been eyecatching in both career starts. On debut over 1500m he came from a hopeless position with a telling finish to be beaten just 0,60 lengths into second. Second time out he sat in the box seat and pulled clear under the hands to win by 10,50 lengths. He was accorded an 86 merit rating and if he is as good as he visually appeared to be then he should be a short-priced favourite to win this race. A good draw of two will aid his cause.

The topweight The Playboy Bomber had had three starts over 2000m for two wins and a second and with a 2,5kg claimer up he could make his presence felt if able to overcome a wide draw.

Coup De Grace six-year-old gelding Prince Of Kildare had generally been kept to races of a mile and shorter until being stepped up to 2000m last time and, as he stayed on well and only just failed, middle distances could now be his game, so he could be the chief threat.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Mrs Stormiatrix turned the corner in the second half of the 2025/2026 season when kept to 1000m, winning three and finishing second in five starts over that trip. She has a nice middle draw and regular rider Calvin Habib stays aboard. Lonely As A Cloud sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and comes off a good run over this trip. Pivotal Role had shown promise before a four month layoff and over this trip can get away with a bit of ring rustiness.

In the next race over 1000m Mount Pinatubo is 7,5kg better off with African Pride for a two length beating in June and looks the one to beat. African Pride can bounce back from his disappointing run on Gold Cup day in which he might not have enjoyed being under the lights for the first time. He came out a hundred percent sound and the fast ground will suit him. Karate Kid is in fine form but is perhaps drawn on the wrong side. However, he is able to come from off them so might be dropped out.

In the fifth race over 2000m Dual Prohpecy bounced back to form last time and being 2kg better off with Guerilla Warfare for a 1,75 length beating he could be the one to side with. Guerilla Warfare could easily follow up as that was his first attempt at the trip and he came through it with flying colours. Those two should fight it out.

In the seventh over 1600m Harun Al Rashid looks to be off a competitive mark and can win over a suitable trip from a fair draw. Sky Pilot beat him by 0,90 lengths last time and is now 2kg worse off but there is a reversal of draw fortunes in his favour so there shouldn’t be much in it. Winding Power has come into her own and should be right there frrom a fair draw.

In the eighth over 1400m Rising Eagle looks to be a sort who can progress off an 87 rating, but he does have to overcome a wide draw in this suitable step up in trip. Spirit Of Gabz has some fair form and has proved he enjoys this trip, so he should be right there from a decent draw. Southampton has a form chance and with Gavin Lerena up might be able to overcome a tricky draw.

In the second race over 1160m Trompe L’Oeil caught the eye on debut and could beat Geostorm who is capable of better than last time and is drawn on the right side by trends.

In the first over 1160m Purple Rain and Jack’s Legacy have the form to fight it out.

Rising Eagle has been tipped to win the last race (JC Photos)

Turffontein Standside Saturday 1 August 2026 – Comments by Brendan Gaillard

RACE 1
JACK’S LEGACY would have benefitted from the experience of her encouraging debut 2nd, albeit in a Work Riders’ race, so should be competitive with that run under the belt. PURPLE RAIN outran market expectations when 2nd over 1450m last time and need only confirm that improvement to play a role. WITHOUT REMORSE and NORTHERN EUROPEAN have the form and experience to make their presence felt. BELLFLOWER ran against winners last time and will pose more of a threat back in a maiden. Watch the betting on newcomers GREENHILLSOFJAMAICA, TOTHEPLACEIBELONG and LADY AARYA.

RACE 2
GEOSTORM was fancied to run well in a similar contest over track and trip last week but returned with legitimate excuses. His quick reappearance suggests those issues have been ironed out so he’s worth another chance. ONE TIGER, runner-up over course and distance recently, also remains competitive off an unchanged mark. SAKURA HANAMI fits a similar profile and will give cheek to her male opposition. Newly turned 3yo’s SHERLOCK HOLMES (gelded) and debut winner TROMPE L’OEIL are open to any amount of improvement so have to respected.

RACE 3
MRS STORMIATRIX made a winning reappearance in same-sex company at a higher level last time and is open to further progress with that comeback run under the belt. She has a 6-point penalty to carry against male opposition but should play a leading role. Returning PIVOTAL ROLE is respected after a layoff, especially as he appears the pick of the Van Vuuren-trained runners on riding bookings. LONELY AS A CLOUD is holding form and cannot be discounted under a light weight.

RACE 4
MOUNT PINATUBO finished ahead of WHISTLE THE TUNE and ALMOND SEA in a course-and-distance Grade 1 last season and is 2.5kg better off with that pair. AFRICAN PRIDE fluffed his lines on a recent trip to KZN but is capable of a lot better so is best kept safe on his Highveld return. Last-start winner KARATE KID is at the top of his game and remains competitive off a career-high rating. ESPINOZA and YAMADORI could earn minor money.

RACE 5
CULTURATI didn’t go unnoticed when finishing 6th of 10 over 1800m on his handicap debut last time. He races off a reduced rating over a more suitable trip and remains open to improvement, so it could pay to follow his progress. Consistent hard-knocker DARK SILVER is competitive off his current mark and distance suited so should be competitive with the benefit of his rider’s 2.5kg apprentice claim. GUERILLA WARFARE won when trying this trip for the first time recently and could have more to offer but DUAL PROPHECY is 2kg better off that rival, so there shouldn’t be much separating the pair.

RACE 6
Well-bred MISSION TO MARS cruised to a wide-margin maiden victory over 1600m recently and being out of a 2500m Grade 2 winner, this extended trip should be even more to his liking. He’s lightly raced and open to any amount of improvement. He will be tested, though, by several hard-knockers. PRINCE OF KILDARE, runner-up last time in his first start over this trip, APACHE SON, ROYAL EDITION and THE PLAYBOY BOMBER all have the means to trouble the selection.

RACE 7
Recent course-and-distance winner SKY PILOT is progressive so a 3-point penalty is unlikely to halt his momentum. Runner-up HARUN AL RASHID is weighted to pose more of a threat on these terms, as is veteran AFTER HOURS. However, with the benefit of his rider’s 2.5kg apprentice allowance, the biggest challenge could come from consistent class-dropper ORANGE COUNTY. Hat-trick seeking WINDING POWER and maturing KNOWMORE have earning potential too.

RACE 8
Well-bred RISING EAGLE confirmed the promise of his 2yo debut against older horses by winning well over 1160m last time. He is unexposed and open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip so it could pay to follow his progress. SPIRIT OF GABZ, another newly turned 3yo, showed enough promise as a juvenile to also acquit himself competitively on handicap debut. Class-dropper SUNSET WARRIOR and last-start winner LONGSWORD can trouble the 3yo principals. Hard-knocking 5yo mare SOUTHAMPTON, veteran stablemate COMING IN HOT and NARETOI have the means to make their presence felt too.

Buddy Boy has been tipped to win the fifth race (Picture: Anneke Kitching-Akal)

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday formguides and selections

RACE 1

Open maiden. 3 FORTHEGOODTIMES was not friendless in the market on debut and finished a close-up third over course and distance. She should come on from that showing. 7 PINK SKIES has improved with every outing and has taken on colts at her last two and not far behind. Back to a sprint she should feature prominently. 6 SWEET CHERRY found some market support on debut and was not far behind the Snaith runner Sweet Green. She should come on from that with a claiming apprentice aboard. 13 ICEBERG ROSE has been a beaten favourite at her last two and narrowly beaten on this course last run. She should be competitive.

(Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-13)

RACE 2

3 GIMME THE POWER is seldom far back and surprisingly still a maiden. She is back to a sprint with Keagan de Melo staying aboard and she should crack the ice. 10 FLORAL KINGDOM is lightly raced but has shown up well in recent outings. She was a beaten favourite last run and the switch back to turf could be in her favour. 7 RUSTIGE KRACHT was a distant fourth on debut and can improve. 9 UMOYAWOKUBAMBELELA is an Australian import making her debut and should be one to watch

(Andrew Harrison: 3-10-9-7)

RACE 3

Tricky Open Maiden. 3 FUTURE PROSPECT is a lightly raced five-year-old. Never too far back she caught the eye on this course last run when a close-up third. 4 AFTER THE FIRE has improved in blinkers and stepping up in trip. This is not a strong field and she should feature prominently. 2 GUILD THE LILY improved last run over a sprint and now jumps in trip that on pedigree should suit. 8 JENNY DARLING showed some improvement when stepped up in trip last run on the poly. She could surprise.

(Andrew Harrison: 3-4-2-8)

RACE 4

Glen Kotzen could hold the keys to this race. 7 GOLDEN ANGEL played second fiddle to stable companion 3 SESAME last time out. However, Golden Angel is 6.5 kg better off and should easily turn the tables. 4 HURRICANE FLIGHT has been coming to hand slowly. She found some market support last run and has another handy weight. 2 OUR LADY FATE has made some recent improvement in blinkers and must be factored in.

(Andrew Harrison: 7-4-2-3)

RACE 5

4 BUDDY BOY was run out of it late over course and distance last time out. He has improved in blinkers and should put in a bold claim. 3 DOUBLE CAUSEWAY is the dark horse but obviously has issues. He has had a lengthy break but started favourite against stronger first time out of the maidens finishing with only one behind. He is still a colt but obviously has shown something on the home gallops. 1 SONG TO THE MOON has had one outing since arriving for the winter season. He has a fair weight but also the best of the draw. 10 BLIZZARD BOY has been placed in all three start since shedding his maiden. He has a fair weight but should be competitive.

(Andrew Harrison: 4-3-1-10)

RACE 6

Wide open handicap. 3 CAPTAIN’S PRIDE was not far back from a wide draw on the poly last time out. This trip suits and from a favourable draw she should be competitive. 5 IZIBULO showed some improvement in blinkers last run over shorter and should prefer the extra. 7 ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED has had two outings since arriving from the Cape. She was much improved without a tongue-tie last start and must have a strong chance. 2 BLUE POPPY is seldom far back and course and distance suited.

(Andrew Harrison: 3-5-7-2)

RACE 7

Open handicap. 3 CAPPELLINO has been knocking on the door for some time now but all recent form has been on the poly which is a concern. He is 2.5kg better off with veteran 1 TRAFALGAR SQUARE who has also been consistent and should put in another forward showing. 2 BLESS ME FRED is over his best course and distance and is the pick of the stable rider Rachel Venniker although stable runner 8 FUTANO only has 49kg to shoulder and could surprise. 4 CHAMPANGE MAC showed up well first run for his new stable and although struggling for his second win, he has been consistent over the trip.

(Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-4)

RACE 8

No easy race to round off the card. 10 BILLY COOL was a comfortable winner on the poly last time out but had some fair Cape form prior to that. He did get a punishing six-point raise in the handicap which is a concern. 6 CARIBBEAN GOLD takes on males but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out with a first time tongue-tie. 11 BLAZING FURY is holding form well but does have a big weight. He could prove to be the pick of the Louis Goosen runners. 7 CAVALRY COMMANDER was a beaten favourite last run but goes well on this course which is always a plus.

(Andrew Harrison: 10-6-11-7)

Jockey Craig Zackey is the Champion Jockey with 286 wins, 61 wins clear of  Richard Fourie. He ended the season on a high with a four-timer on the Fairview Poly on the last day of the season (Picture: Candiese Lenferna) 

Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein successfully defended the champion breeder title, securing it at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday with their progeny Holding Thumbs and Mocha Blend respectively winning the World Pool Gold Cup and the Bet With The World Gold Bracelet.

The two stud farms represent the mother and daughter combination of Mary Slack and Jessica Jell and before Friday’s Fairview poly meeting they had total stake earnings of R34,565,643 with Varsfontein Stud next best on R32,122,173.

Varsfontein led the stakes race statistics with 17 individual stakes winners of 21 races.

Drakenstein Stud, Maine Chance Farms and Ridgemont Highlands finished third, fourth and fifth on the breeders’ log.

Craig Zackey is the Champion Jockey on 286 wins with Richard Fourie next best on 225, Keagan de Melo on 158, Muzi Yeni on 148, Calvin Habin on 133, Callan Murray on 117, Serino Moodley on 100, Sean Veale on 94, Gavin Lerena on 93 and Rachel Venniker on 83.

Zackey had set himself a target of 275 for the season and such has been his form that his prediction turned out to be conservative.

The champion apprentice is Blaine Marx-Jacobson on 43 wins with Mxolisi Mbuto on 32 and Damyan Pillay on 31.

 Justin Snaith ran away with the trainer championship, his fourth national title in succession and seventh overall, accumulating stakes earnings (up until Friday morning) of R39,526,908, which were more than double the earnings of perennial rival Sean Tarry, whose charges earned R17,897,882.

Tony Peter (R15,419,938), Mike and Mathew de Kock (R15,316,968), Alan Greeff (R13,116,264), James Crawford (R11,990,085), Candice Bass (R11,706,375), Dean Kannemeyer (R9,759,044), Vaughan Marshall (R9,543,629) and Glen Kotzen (R8,866,332). completed the top ten with the figures correct up until Friday morning before the season’s last meeting.

Hollywood Racing were champion owners for the second year in a row with earnings of R22,299,217 (up until Friday morning).

They had set themselves a target of 180 wins for the season and failed by one to reach it, with two second place finishes being their best results at the season’s final meeting on Friday on the Fairview poly.

KwaZulu-Natal’s owner extraordinaire Nick Jonsson edged out Sabine Plattner for second place with their respective earnings being R8,061,436 and R7,101,330 respectively.

Maine Chance Farms-based phenomenon Vercingetorix claimed his second Sires title and before Friday his progeny had earned R40,743,855, way clear of second-placed Gimmethegreenlight on R23,756,988.

Querari, Master Of My Fate and Rafeef made up the top five and were followed by Futura, What A Winter, Erupt, One World and The United States.

Five of the top ten stallions are SA-breds.

The Champion Freshman Stallion was Malmoos with stakes earnings of R1,800,896. He had nine individual winners of 14 races.

Note To Self was the highest earning horse of the season on R6,382,850, followed by See It Again, Mocha Blend (3,948,275, Wish List (R3,749,363) and Questioning (R2,933,125).

Seattle Slew exploded from humble beginnings

By Lisette Hilton
Special to ESPN.com

“[In the Kentucky Derby], here was Seattle Slew right next to me. I said, ‘Wow, this horse came in quick.’ And I look and there he was like this, looking at me. And I never noticed that on a horse. Seattle Slew passed me and took every other challenge from behind. And I said to myself, the horse is a champion,” says jockey Angel Cordero on ESPN Classic’s SportsCentury series.

From humble beginnings, Seattle Slew exploded into the forefront. Four years after the awesome Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, Seattle Slew duplicated the feat in 1977. And he did Secretariat one better, by becoming the only undefeated Triple Crown champion.

In an era when it was common to see owners spend hundreds of thousands — even millions — on horses that they believed would reach Triple Crown status, Seattle Slew was purchased for a mere $17,500. As a colt, Slew didn’t look like the typical champion. But looks, it turns out, didn’t matter.

Two couples, the Taylors (Karen and Mickey) and Hills (Jim and Sally), bought him on July 19, 1975 at the Fasig-Tipton of Kentucky yearling sale in Lexington. Pointing to a horse with a big body and tiny tail, Hill, a veterinarian, said buy that one. Mickey, a fourth-generation logger, and Karen, a former stewardess, heeded the advice and the group went $2,500 over budget to purchase the horse — out of My Charmer by Bold Reasoning — that was born on Feb. 15, 1974 at Ben Castleman’s White Horse Acres in Lexington, Ky.

The new owners named their horse Seattle Slew because the Taylors lived near Seattle, Wash., and Hill came from Florida, a swampy, or “slewy” place.

One reason the horse was such a bargain was he was born with a right front foot that curved outward. He naturally swayed to the outside when he ran. Slew’s new owners turned the horse over to trainer Billy Turner, who found him so clumsy that he nicknamed him Baby Huey.

Turner changed his tune in the summer of 1976, when he took Seattle Slew to Saratoga to work out and discovered the horse once named after a clumsy duck cartoon character could run like the wind.

In his first race, a maiden at Belmont in September, Seattle Slew won by five lengths in 1:10 1/5. After winning an allowance race, his triumph in the Champagne States by 9¾ lengths earned him the Eclipse award as the top two-year-old colt.

Slew won his first three races in 1977 — two at Hialeah and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct — before arriving in Churchill Downs as the first undefeated horse in the Kentucky Derby since Majestic Prince, who lost the Run for the Roses in 1969.

The fourth horse into the Derby gate, Slew was jittery before the start. When the gate shot up, a startled Slew lunged, stumbled and jerked his head sideways, cutting his mouth. It bled the entire race. The 13 other starters took off ahead of him.

Jockey Jean Cruguet steadied Seattle Slew and guided him strategically through the field. When Cruguet loosened his hold, the 1-2 favorite took off to win in 2:02 1/5, cruising home 1¾ lengths ahead of Run Dusty Run.

Seattle Slew’s next stop: Pimlico. A 2-5 favorite in the Preakness, he contended in an early duel with multiple stakes winner Cormorant before pulling away to win by 1½ lengths. His time for the one and three-sixteenths mile race was 1:54 2/5, only two-fifths of a second slower than Canonero II’s Preakness record.

Slew returned to New York for the Belmont Stakes. While nine other horses had won the Triple Crown, none had accomplished the feat without a loss. Seattle Slew quieted his naysayers and, just as in the Preakness, broke away from the start and stayed ahead. A 2-5 favorite again, Slew scored by four lengths over Run Dusty Run in 2:29 3/5.

The offers poured in for the first auction-bought horse to win the Triple Crown. Commercials for companies, including Xerox, featured Seattle Slew, as did T-shirts and other premium items. Some investors made offers as high as $14 million to buy the horse and racetracks enticed the owners with huge purses.

Fame began to unravel what had become known as the Slew Crew: the Taylors and Hills, Turner and Cruguet. Turner thought Seattle Slew needed rest and stood by his opinion. But three weeks after winning the Triple Crown, Slew raced again, as his owners were tempted by the $300,000 purse at the Swaps Stakes in Hollywood Park. Turner proved to be right. Slew wasn’t ready, and he suffered his first loss, finishing a disappointing fourth, 16 lengths behind winner J.O. Tobin.

Though Seattle Slew developed a bad cough and missed that year’s fall races, he was voted Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old male. He had won six of his seven starts and earned $641,370, tops in the country.

Despite the colt’s success, the Taylors and Hills were unhappy with Turner, who they thought was drinking too much, and they fired him several weeks before Christmas. Doug Peterson became Slew’s trainer.

The horse, who had recovered from his cough, took a turn for the worse in January 1978 in Florida. He stopped eating and sometimes broke into sweats, which lasted for hours. At times, he fell when he tried to stand. Hill diagnosed a viral infection and feared Slew might die.

But the horse recovered. Though weak, there was no question he would live and in February the Taylors and Hills sold a half-interest in him for $6 million, with George Layman Jr. being the principal investor.

In May, Seattle Slew competed for the first time in 10 months, winning an allowance race at Aqueduct. His owners soon set their sights on racing him against Affirmed, who that year won the Triple Crown. Never before had two Triple Crown winners met.

In September, Affirmed entered the Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park, a mile and an eighth race. Cruguet said Slew, who lost a tuneup race (the Paterson Handicap at the Meadowlands in New Jersey) to Dr. Patches, wasn’t ready for such a matchup. As a result, another of the original “crew” was ousted when the owners fired Cruguet and replaced him with Angel Cordero.

The 1-2 favorite, Affirmed had lost only once in nine starts. Seattle Slew, a 2-1 choice, broke first and stayed there into the homestretch. Affirmed came upon him for a moment before Slew poured it on to beat him by three lengths in 1:45 4/5.

Two weeks later, Slew won the Woodward Stakes over Exceller. Then in October, Slew and Affirmed met again, at the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Both horses took off at a torrid pace, before Affirmed backed off when his saddle slipped. Meanwhile, Excellor blew by Slew to win by a nose.

Seattle Slew’s last race was an easy victory in the Stuyvesant Handicap in November at Aqueduct. He retired with 14 wins in 17 races and earnings of $1,208,726.

After Slew was voted the Eclipse for the Older Male Horse of the Year for 1978, he began life as a stud the next year at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. His first crop included the outstanding two-year-old Landaluce and Grade I winners Adored, Slewpy and Slew o’ Gold. Later offspring included Swale, who won the 1984 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and A.P. Indy, who went for $2.9 million, the highest paid for a yearling in 1990.

Elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in 1981, Slew was at Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky from 1986 until going to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm near Lexington in 2002. He sired 102 stakes winners.

In 1992, the original owners had a disagreement, and the Taylors bought out the Hills’ 25 percent share.

In April 2000, Seattle Slew was suffering from a neurological problem when he underwent surgery to fuse the joint between two vertebrae in his neck. Slew, who couldn’t walk before the operation, once again stood tall and he was returned to the breeding shed at Three Chimneys Farm in 2001.

But on May 7, 2002 — exactly 25 years to the day he won the Kentucky Derby — Seattle Slew died in his stall at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm. He was 28.