Slew o' Gold (USA)
April 19, 1980 – October 15, 2007
Seattle Slew (USA) x Alluvial (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 9-f
April 19, 1980 – October 15, 2007
Seattle Slew (USA) x Alluvial (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 9-f
©2006 by Avalyn Hunter
A high-class stayer, Slew o' Gold failed to capture any of the American Triple Crown events of 1983 but was named 3-year-old champion on the basis of his consistency and two late-season victories over top older males. He was back for more in 1984 and just missed Horse of the Year honors after being narrowly defeated in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I). Retired to stud at Three Chimneys Farm, he got off to an excellent start but tailed off afterward and has been a disappointment as a broodmare sire as well.
Race record
21 starts, 12 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$3,533,534
1983:
1984:
Honors
Assessments
Slew o' Gold was rated #58 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1983.
As an individual
A handsome, long-backed bay horse with a good shoulder and strong quarters, Slew o' Gold stood 16.2¾ hands. He had a history of hoof cracks that caused him problems during his racing career. He was so crooked as a foal that his knees underwent a veterinary procedure called stapling to straighten them out. Unfortunately, he tended to pass his physical problems on to his progeny.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Slew o' Gold sired 281 winners (48.4%) and 28 stakes winners (4.8%) from 581 named foals. His progeny were generally best at 3 and beyond and preferred routes.
Notable progeny
Awe Inspiring (USA), Dr. Root (USA), Dramatic Gold (USA), Golden Opinion (USA), Gorgeous (USA), Passinetti (USA), Tactile (USA), Thirty Six Red (USA)
Connections
Slew o' Gold was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm. He was owned by Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Susan Hill, who raced as Equusequity Stable. He was trained at 2 and 3 by Sid Watters and by John Henler at 4. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1985 at Three Chimneys Farm. He was pensioned in August 2002 due to multiple health issues and was humanely destroyed October 15, 2007, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Slew o' Gold is inbred 5x4 to Princequllo. He is a half brother to 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-I) winner Coastal (by Majestic Prince) and to Dokki (by Northern Dancer), dam of 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-I) winner Sleep Easy (by Seattle Slew) and multiple Grade I winner Aptitude (by A.P. Indy) and third dam of 2015 Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (USA-IT) winner Slumber. Slew o' Gold is also a half brother to Dancing Detente (by Nijinsky II), second dam of Grade II winner State of Play and third dam of South African Group III winner Addictive, and to Northabout (by Northern Dancer), second dam of three-time Peruvian champion grass horse Tunelero and Grade II winner Lattice and third dam of multiple Grade I winner Real Solution and Grade II winners Sign and Vexed.
Slew o' Gold's dam Alluvial is a half sister to the good stakes mare Batteur (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1977 Illinois Derby (USA-III) winner Flag Officer (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-IT) winner Anifa. Alluvial is also a half sister to Slew (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-I) winner Slew's Exceller (by Exceller); to Bayou Blue (by Bold Ruler), second dam of Grade III winner Country Light; and to Pampas Miss, second dam of multiple Grade II winner Sixieme Sens and Spanish Group III winner Mdudu. Slew o' Gold's second dam is 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou (by Hill Prince), a full or half sister to four other stakes winners including Kentucky Broodmares of the Year Delta (1968) and Levee (1970).
Fun facts
Race record
21 starts, 12 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$3,533,534
1983:
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Handicap (USA-I, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-I, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (second division) (USA-I, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Peter Pan Stakes (USA-II, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Marlboro Cup Handicap (USA-I, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA-I, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA-I, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Budweiser-Tampa Bay Derby (USA-L, 8.5FD, Tampa Bay)
- 3rd Sam F. Davis Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Tampa Bay)
1984:
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-I, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-I, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-I, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Whitney Handicap (USA-I, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes (USA-I, 10FD, Hollywood; from third by disqualification)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1992)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1983)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1984)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American Horse of the Year (1984)
Assessments
Slew o' Gold was rated #58 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1983.
As an individual
A handsome, long-backed bay horse with a good shoulder and strong quarters, Slew o' Gold stood 16.2¾ hands. He had a history of hoof cracks that caused him problems during his racing career. He was so crooked as a foal that his knees underwent a veterinary procedure called stapling to straighten them out. Unfortunately, he tended to pass his physical problems on to his progeny.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Slew o' Gold sired 281 winners (48.4%) and 28 stakes winners (4.8%) from 581 named foals. His progeny were generally best at 3 and beyond and preferred routes.
Notable progeny
Awe Inspiring (USA), Dr. Root (USA), Dramatic Gold (USA), Golden Opinion (USA), Gorgeous (USA), Passinetti (USA), Tactile (USA), Thirty Six Red (USA)
Connections
Slew o' Gold was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm. He was owned by Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Susan Hill, who raced as Equusequity Stable. He was trained at 2 and 3 by Sid Watters and by John Henler at 4. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1985 at Three Chimneys Farm. He was pensioned in August 2002 due to multiple health issues and was humanely destroyed October 15, 2007, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Slew o' Gold is inbred 5x4 to Princequllo. He is a half brother to 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-I) winner Coastal (by Majestic Prince) and to Dokki (by Northern Dancer), dam of 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-I) winner Sleep Easy (by Seattle Slew) and multiple Grade I winner Aptitude (by A.P. Indy) and third dam of 2015 Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (USA-IT) winner Slumber. Slew o' Gold is also a half brother to Dancing Detente (by Nijinsky II), second dam of Grade II winner State of Play and third dam of South African Group III winner Addictive, and to Northabout (by Northern Dancer), second dam of three-time Peruvian champion grass horse Tunelero and Grade II winner Lattice and third dam of multiple Grade I winner Real Solution and Grade II winners Sign and Vexed.
Slew o' Gold's dam Alluvial is a half sister to the good stakes mare Batteur (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1977 Illinois Derby (USA-III) winner Flag Officer (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-IT) winner Anifa. Alluvial is also a half sister to Slew (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-I) winner Slew's Exceller (by Exceller); to Bayou Blue (by Bold Ruler), second dam of Grade III winner Country Light; and to Pampas Miss, second dam of multiple Grade II winner Sixieme Sens and Spanish Group III winner Mdudu. Slew o' Gold's second dam is 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou (by Hill Prince), a full or half sister to four other stakes winners including Kentucky Broodmares of the Year Delta (1968) and Levee (1970).
Fun facts
- The voting between John Henry and Slew o' Gold for 1984 Horse of the Year was the closest ever since the institution of the Eclipse Awards in 1971, as John Henry won by a single vote. Slew o' Gold was third in Horse of the Year voting in 1983.
- Slew o' Gold's 1984 earnings of US$2,627,944 set a record for single-season earnings by a Thoroughbred.
- The Slew o' Gold Stakes was a listed stakes for 3-year-olds and up over 9 furlongs on dirt at Aqueduct. It was last run in 2013.
