Week of February 15th Through February 21st

February 15th, 1974 - 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew was born. The horse was born with a right front hoof that curved outward and didn’t look like a champion, so he was purchased for a
mere $17,500 by Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill. Seattle Slew was clumsy and as he ran he swayed to the outside, earning him the name of Baby Huey. Looks can be deceiving, though, and Seattle Slew won all three races of the 1977 Triple Crown. Offers up to $14 million were made to buy the now-famous racehorse. Seattle Slew was inducted to the Racing Hall of Fame in 1981, and he
went on to sire 102 stakes winners. On May 7, 2002, 25 years to the day since he won the Kentucky Derby in 1977, Seattle Slew died at the age of 28.

Information and photo courtesy of: Seattle Slew exploded from humble beginnings

February 16th, 1891 - The Board of Control was formed. The Board of Control governed Thoroughbred racing until the formation of the Jockey Club in 1894. The Board was made up of seven representatives and oversaw aspects of Thoroughbred racing such as licensing, scheduling racing dates, and regulating the race purses.

Information courtesy of: NTRA THOROUGHBRED NOTEBOOK

Photo courtesy of: Horse racing drug Furosemide under scrutiny

February 19th, 2008 - Arabian stallion Baske Afire sold at auction for $2.8 million, becoming the world’s highest selling Arabian horse at a public auction. The nine year old stallion was sold at Cedar Ridge Farms in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was purchased by Barbara Chur. Baske Afire has already sired champion performance and halter horses. Before his purchase, the record highest price for a horse selling at auction was $2.4 million, set in the 1980's.

Information courtesy of: Baske Afire

Photo courtesy of: Leading sire U.S. National Championship Baske Afire