"Seattle Slew," U.S. horse racing's Triple Crown winner in 1977, has died in his stall Tuesday, leaving thoroughbred horse racing with no living triple crown champion.
A statement from Hill-n-Dale farm in Kentucky said Seattle Slew died in his sleep. His death came exactly 25 years after he won the Kentucky Derby on May seventh, 1977.
The 28-year-old horse won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes with Jean Cruguet aboard. He went on to become one of thoroughbred horse racing's top studs.
Irwin Cohen, senior editor of the Daily Racing Form, told VOA Sports it's a sad day for those who follow the sport. He said, "Seattle Slew's probably, without equal, the most influential thoroughbred horse in both terms of racing and breeding possibly in the history of horse racing. The only one who might come close is Northern Dancer, but Seattle's Slew's record on the race track and his influence on the breed almost can't be calculated."
Seattle Slew's death leaves the thoroughbred horse-racing world without a living Triple Crown champion for the first time since 1919. The last Triple Crown winner, "Affirmed", died last year.