Billy Turner, trained Seattle Slew, dead at 81

Jan 01, 2022 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Billy Turner, who trained Seattle Slew to a win the Kentucky Derby
(G1) and to a Triple Crown sweep in 1977, died on Dec. 31 in his Reddick,
Florida, home at the age of 81.

Turner, who had suffered from prostate cancer for several years, had entered
hospice care three days earlier.

Seattle Slew was the first undefeated horse ever to sweep the Triple Crown, a
feat replicated only by Justify in 2018. However, a devastating loss in the
Swaps (G1) at Hollywood Park in his first start after the Triple Crown proved
the beginning of the end for Turner as his trainer.

Opposed to running Seattle Slew in the Swaps, Turner was overruled by owners
Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill. Turner was later dismissed by
the ownership team and Seattle Slew was trained by the late Doug Peterson as a four-year-old.

Seattle Slew was an emphatic winner of all three starts as a two-year-old,
including his lone stakes appearance in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park. He
was voted champion two-year-old colt of 1976.

Seattle Slew started as the 3-2 favorite in the 1977 Kentucky Derby following
prep wins in the Flamingo (G1) and Wood Memorial (G1). Bulling his way through
the field passing the stands after a tardy start, Seattle Slew led most of the
way to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Seattle Slew completed the classics sweep with a 1 1/2-length score in the
Preakness (G1) and a four-length decision in the Belmont S. (G1), becoming the
second of three Triple Crown winners in that decade. He was beaten 16 lengths
into fourth by J.O. Tobin in the Swaps and did not race again that year.

Seattle Slew was voted champion three-year-old colt and narrowly edged
champion older male Forego in Horse of the Year balloting. Under Peterson,
Seattle Slew was voted champion older male himself in 1978 and compiled a career
record of 17-14-2-0, $1,208,726.

A native of Rochester, New York, Turner was a protégé of Hall of Fame trainer
Burley Cocks, who specialized in steeplechasers. In addition to Seattle Slew,
Turner's other leading runners included Grade 1 winners Czaravich and Gaviola,
and the multiple Grade 2-winning sprinter Punch Line. 

Turner retired in 2016. According to Equibase, Turner accumulated 533 wins and stable earnings of more than $17.5 million from 1976.

Turner is survived by his wife, Pat.