The brilliant Swale stamped himself as his father’s son with a terrific two-year-old campaign that included four stakes victories (two Grade 1s). He would continue to emulate his sire, the great Seattle Slew, at three. He captured the Kentucky Derby before roaring to victory in the Belmont Stakes. It was the third Belmont in a row for trainer Woody Stephens and jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr..
Final time: 2:27 1/5
Owner: Claiborne Farm
Trainer: Woody Stephens
Jockey: Laffit Pincay, Jr.
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Swale only came here for a short time n he leaves us all with great memories. RIP
Swale (April 21, 1981 – June 17, 1984) won 9 races, got 2 seconds and 2 thirds places in 14 starts, earning U.S $ 1,583,660. He posthumously received the 1984 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three Year-Old Male Horse. His death shock thoroughbred racing industry.
Greetings from Venezuela.
Tomorrow is The Swale stake race. Went back here for the great memories.
Who knows with that breeding just how great of a sire he would bave been. Very sad ending for this marvelous horse!
Imagine: Ruffian X Swale would have been the most gorgeous foal ever. Both gone at age 3, both so beautiful, the way TB's used to look, not like today.
"Pace is not fast…can't be in this heat." It was Ninety_nine DEGREES for this race. Terribly hot. I skipped outdoor graduation at Tavern On The Green that Monday because they wanted me to wear a Tux. Instead I bought a preppy blue blazer that I wore to work for years after that.
I had $100 to place on him and he paid $5.00 and 4.40 so I felt smart. Eight days later I'm at Belmont early and this race is being replayed on the monitor. I ask what's up and couldn't believe it. Most shocking death ever in that it wasn't during a race like Ruffian or Timely Writer, or even post-race like Eight Belles.
Swale LED from start to finish. What a horse ! With smooth long strides. Valiant, beautiful, a black stallion just like his father the great Seattle Slew !
Not bad for a horse that was found to have a cauliflower size cyst in his heart..
Swale was the horse that made me start watching racing when I was 13 years old. I remember crying like a baby when I found out he passed. Thanks for the memories Swale! I'm 43 now and love it more than ever!
I was saddened to read this beast passed away just 8 days after this very race… God Bless you boy.. and to think there's older thoroughbreds than Swale still alive today.. dat shit cray..
Slew's best son…..
AP Indy's times are indicative of his favorable speed as compared with his Grand Sire the unequaled Secretariat. Look at the Belmont and Breeder's Cup as the truest of indicators, of Speed and Distance which were the hallmarks of Secretariat. Nothing against Seattle Slew, was a great horse but nowhere in the class of Secretariat.
Remember that Gate Dancer set the Preakness record that year not taking anything away from Swale, but he ran a clunker that race. But only a champ leads wire to wire in the "Test of Champions." The Belmont has always been my favorite, the mile and a half, oh so many jockey mistakes and stirring victories, because after that mile and a quarter pole hitting the stretch, the great ones show themselves and Swale is definitely among them.
Had this brilliant horse not died suddenly 2 days after this race, HE would have been Seattle Slew's greatest son…not AP Indy. Swale was brilliant…absolutely BRILLIANT!!! And, I was very happy to see Pincay get his second Triple Crown race win.
A tragic loss, who knows how many Champions that he would have sired if he had lived to old age!!
An outstanding Thoroughbred!!
Swale ganó el Belmont Stakes 1984 practicamente de punta a punta ¡y sólo dos días después un infarto nos lo arrebató! Sólo Dios sabe hasta donde hubiera llegado en la pista y en la cría! ¡Los hípicos nunca lo olvidarémos!
One of my all-time favorite horses. I really thought this colt was going to win the triple crown and if not for the blistering move 2 days before the Preakness I am sure he would have. It was great to find this on here.
Check out the book: GRIT AND VALOR: THE STORY OF SWALE. It is a wonderfully written tribute to him.
life is unfair when the gods of racing frown its ugly face. he could have been a good one. but the loss came in the breeding shed.
Swale WIRE-TO-WIRE!
Greetings to everyone! My name is Timothy J. Thompson. I have published a book all about Swale's life and amazing career. the title is: Grit And Valor: The Story Of Swale. I researched, wrote and published this book as a tribute to Swale and all that he gave to the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. I also have my own website dedicated to Swale and his legendary father, the immortal SEATTLE SLEW.