Swale (USA)
April 21, 1981 – June 17, 1984
Seattle Slew (USA) x Tuerta (USA), by Forli (ARG)
Family 1-n
April 21, 1981 – June 17, 1984
Seattle Slew (USA) x Tuerta (USA), by Forli (ARG)
Family 1-n
On his off days, Swale was a frustration to trainer Woody Stephens and fans alike. On his best days, he exhibited talent worthy of his sire, the great Seattle Slew. And on his last day, he left a mystery behind. Dying suddenly of unexplained causes just eight days after his final triumph in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), he is one of the great “what might have beens” of the American turf, a horse who could have been one of the greats as a racer and sire but died too soon.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,583,660
1983:
1984:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1983, 5 pounds below champion Devil's Bag but second overall.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1984, 3 pounds above Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gate Dancer.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Swale was tall and rawboned as a juvenile but filled out into a magnificent-looking 3-year-old who never showed a hint of illness or injury until the day of his death. While some observers felt that Swale was of somewhat delicate constitution, making it difficult for him to put two top efforts back to back, it was pointed out by others that a displaced palate accounted for his defeat in the 1984 Fountain of Youth Stakes and that two too-fast works in between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes may have contributed to his defeat in the latter race. He failed to handle a sloppy, gooey track at Keeneland in the Lexington Stakes but won the Saratoga Special (USA-G2) in the mud the previous year. His regular exercise rider, Ron McKenzie, characterized him as “kind and willing.” He was known as a youngster for his liking for taking naps whenever and wherever he could.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Swale was bred by Claiborne Farm and was owned by a partnership consisting of Claiborne Farm (represented by farm president Seth Hancock; his mother, Waddell Walker Hancock; and his sister, Dell Hancock), William Haggin Perry, Peter Brant, and Edward Cox. He raced in the colors of Claiborne and was trained by Woody Stephens. He was ridden by Eddie Maple in his first nine races and was piloted by Laffit Pincay Jr. for the final five races of his career. Swale was buried at Claiborne and was only the third horse to be buried in his entirety in the main horse cemetery at the farm, following Nasrullah and Princequillo; later, Round Table and Secretariat were accorded the same honor
Pedigree notes
Swale is inbred 5x5x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also a champion sire in England. He is a half brother to Look (by Spectacular Bid), dam of multiple stakes winner Fickle Fate (by Majestic Light); second dam of 2009 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Varenar, French Group 2 winner Visindar, and French Group 3 winner Visorama; and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Vazirabad (a six-time highweight over 14+ furlongs in France and the United Arab Emirates) and French Group 3 winner Visionario.
Swale's dam Tuerta (whose name means "one-eyed" in Spanish, alluding to the fact that she was born with only one eye) was a multiple Grade 3 winner on the track. A daughter of the great Argentine champion Forli, she is a half sister to 1977 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Yamanin (by Herbager) and stakes winners Perpetual (by Herbager), List (by Herbager), and File (by Tom Rolfe). The last-named mare is the dam of 1987 American champion 2-year-old male and successful sire Forty Niner (by Mr. Prospector); of Abrade (by Mr. Prospector), dam of listed stakes winner Forty Nine Deeds (by Alydeed); and of Scrape (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Sobre Action. Tuerta is also a half sister to Continuance (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner Dr. Neale (by Herbager), and to Plane, second dam of four stakes winners. In addition, File is a half sister to Chain (by Herbager), dam of 1981 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Chain Bracelet (by Lyphard) and listed stakes winner Dancing Slippers (by Nijinsky II); to Continuation (by Forli), second dam of 1985 General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Shadeed; and to Furling (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of 1993 Whitney Handicap (USA-G1) winner Brunswick.
Continue, the dam of File, won five of her seven starts but did not gain any black type. A daughter of 1946 American co-champion 2-year-old male and four-time American champion broodmare sire Double Jay, she is a full sister to Duplex, dam of 1974 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Molly Ballantine (by Pretense). She is also a half sister to 1969 Charles H. Strub Stakes winner Dignitas, 1964 Choice Stakes winner Knightly Manner, and 1965 Santa Ynez Stakes winner Respected (all by Round Table). Respected is the dam of Grade 2 winner Forage (by Herbager), Grade 3 winner Kulak (by Herbager), and 1981 Carolina Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Romeo Lima (by Buckpasser) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Infamous Deed.
Returning to Continue, she is also a half sister to Respectful (by Dr, Fager), dam of Grade 2 winner Borzoi (by Round Table); to Makeacurtsey (by Herbager), dam of English Group 3 winner Piney Ridge (by Native Prince); to Overton (by Bagdad), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Truely Molly (by Jungle Blade); and to Makeyourmanners (by Herbager), second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Ornisham. Continue and her siblings were in turn produced from the Claiborne matriarch Courtesy (by Nasrullah).
Books and media
Swale is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: April 22, 2022
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,583,660
1983:
- Won Young America Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, The Meadowlands)
- Won Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won Saratoga Special Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1984:
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Hutcheson Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Lexington Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, KEE)
- 3rd Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1985)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1984)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1983, 5 pounds below champion Devil's Bag but second overall.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1984, 3 pounds above Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gate Dancer.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Swale was tall and rawboned as a juvenile but filled out into a magnificent-looking 3-year-old who never showed a hint of illness or injury until the day of his death. While some observers felt that Swale was of somewhat delicate constitution, making it difficult for him to put two top efforts back to back, it was pointed out by others that a displaced palate accounted for his defeat in the 1984 Fountain of Youth Stakes and that two too-fast works in between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes may have contributed to his defeat in the latter race. He failed to handle a sloppy, gooey track at Keeneland in the Lexington Stakes but won the Saratoga Special (USA-G2) in the mud the previous year. His regular exercise rider, Ron McKenzie, characterized him as “kind and willing.” He was known as a youngster for his liking for taking naps whenever and wherever he could.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Swale was bred by Claiborne Farm and was owned by a partnership consisting of Claiborne Farm (represented by farm president Seth Hancock; his mother, Waddell Walker Hancock; and his sister, Dell Hancock), William Haggin Perry, Peter Brant, and Edward Cox. He raced in the colors of Claiborne and was trained by Woody Stephens. He was ridden by Eddie Maple in his first nine races and was piloted by Laffit Pincay Jr. for the final five races of his career. Swale was buried at Claiborne and was only the third horse to be buried in his entirety in the main horse cemetery at the farm, following Nasrullah and Princequillo; later, Round Table and Secretariat were accorded the same honor
Pedigree notes
Swale is inbred 5x5x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also a champion sire in England. He is a half brother to Look (by Spectacular Bid), dam of multiple stakes winner Fickle Fate (by Majestic Light); second dam of 2009 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Varenar, French Group 2 winner Visindar, and French Group 3 winner Visorama; and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Vazirabad (a six-time highweight over 14+ furlongs in France and the United Arab Emirates) and French Group 3 winner Visionario.
Swale's dam Tuerta (whose name means "one-eyed" in Spanish, alluding to the fact that she was born with only one eye) was a multiple Grade 3 winner on the track. A daughter of the great Argentine champion Forli, she is a half sister to 1977 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Yamanin (by Herbager) and stakes winners Perpetual (by Herbager), List (by Herbager), and File (by Tom Rolfe). The last-named mare is the dam of 1987 American champion 2-year-old male and successful sire Forty Niner (by Mr. Prospector); of Abrade (by Mr. Prospector), dam of listed stakes winner Forty Nine Deeds (by Alydeed); and of Scrape (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Sobre Action. Tuerta is also a half sister to Continuance (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner Dr. Neale (by Herbager), and to Plane, second dam of four stakes winners. In addition, File is a half sister to Chain (by Herbager), dam of 1981 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Chain Bracelet (by Lyphard) and listed stakes winner Dancing Slippers (by Nijinsky II); to Continuation (by Forli), second dam of 1985 General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Shadeed; and to Furling (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of 1993 Whitney Handicap (USA-G1) winner Brunswick.
Continue, the dam of File, won five of her seven starts but did not gain any black type. A daughter of 1946 American co-champion 2-year-old male and four-time American champion broodmare sire Double Jay, she is a full sister to Duplex, dam of 1974 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Molly Ballantine (by Pretense). She is also a half sister to 1969 Charles H. Strub Stakes winner Dignitas, 1964 Choice Stakes winner Knightly Manner, and 1965 Santa Ynez Stakes winner Respected (all by Round Table). Respected is the dam of Grade 2 winner Forage (by Herbager), Grade 3 winner Kulak (by Herbager), and 1981 Carolina Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Romeo Lima (by Buckpasser) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Infamous Deed.
Returning to Continue, she is also a half sister to Respectful (by Dr, Fager), dam of Grade 2 winner Borzoi (by Round Table); to Makeacurtsey (by Herbager), dam of English Group 3 winner Piney Ridge (by Native Prince); to Overton (by Bagdad), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Truely Molly (by Jungle Blade); and to Makeyourmanners (by Herbager), second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Ornisham. Continue and her siblings were in turn produced from the Claiborne matriarch Courtesy (by Nasrullah).
Books and media
Swale is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- A “swale” is a low or hollow place in the ground. The name was reportedly given to the colt after he seemingly disappeared from his paddock, only to be found sleeping soundly in such a dip.
- Mike Griffin of Claiborne Farm actually handled most of Swale's final pre-Derby preparation due to Woody Stephens' having been hospitalized with pneumonia. The veteran trainer was not released from the hospital until Derby Eve.
- Immediately following his Belmont Stakes win, bloodstock experts estimated that Swale might be valued as high as US$40 million as a stallion prospect.
- Swale had been alert and playful on the morning of his death right up to the moment that he collapsed. After he went down, immediate veterinary examination revealed a normal body temperature, but the colt's tongue and gums had gone white. A postmortem exam and extensive laboratory analyses of brain and tissue samples failed to uncover a specific cause for Swale's heart failure. Eventually, reexamination revealed small lesions in Swale's heart tissue which could have caused a fatal arrhythmia. Why he should have had such lesions is still unknown.
- Swale was the third of five consecutive Belmont Stakes winners for trainer Woody Stephens, who also won the “Test of the Champion” with Conquistador Cielo (1982), Caveat (1983), Creme Fraiche (1985) and Danzig Connection (1986).
- Swale is honored by the annual running of the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. As of 2020, it is a Grade 3 race over seven furlongs on the main track for 3-year-olds.
Last updated: April 22, 2022