Let’s get acquainted with the owner of one of the greatest racehorses to ever grace the American Turf, renowned veterinarian and thoroughbred horse breeder extraordinaire, Jim Hill.
A LOVE OF HORSES.
CLAIBORNE FARM.
AND VETERINARY SCHOOL.
Jim knew at an early age that horses would play a major role in his career plans. As a young teenager he bought his first horse for one hundred dollars. He was so enamored with thoroughbred racehorses that he wrote a letter to Arthur “Bull” Hancock, owner of Claiborne Farm, asking If he could get a summer job at the famed breeding center. To Jim’s delight Mr. Hancock accepted his request. He now was in a position to learn the business of breeding horses at the Manor of as Jim fondly describes him, “The Biggest Bull in Bluegrass Country.”
Auburn College Veterinary School was next up for Jim. It is there that he met his soon-to-be bride, Sally. After graduation, the now Dr. Jim Hill was offered an equine surgical internship at the prestigious New Bolton Center in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Around that time, he realized that he had a talent for choosing yearlings that had the potential to be successful on the racetrack. Jim Hill was on his way.
A KEEN EYE. A LUMBER FORTUNE.
AND THE SEEDS OF FAME.
As a supplement to his veterinary income, Jim was soon in the part-time business of choosing yearlings for prospective buyers. After a few of his selections performed well on the track, he was introduced to Mickey Taylor, a lumber business owner from Washington State. Taylor had recently entered the racing game.
They hit it off immediately. Mickey bought one of Jim’s selections for 15,000 dollars at a yearling sale. He asked him how much commission he was owed. “Nothing,” Jim answered. “We had a great time over the past couple of days, drank a lot of Jack Daniels... let’s leave it at that.” Mickey stated that after he recouped half the price he paid for the horse, Jim would be a full partner. At the time Jim didn’t pay much attention to the statement.
Six months later Jim was informed by Mickey’s trainer that he was, as promised, a full partner in the horse. They named him Lexington Laugh. He had his share of success on the track. Of more importance, the seeds of a business relationship that would rock the horse racing universe was about to be formed.
It was just a matter of time before Jim, Sally, Mickey and his wife Karen were full partners in a horse racing venture, appropriately named Tayhill Stable.
They began buying horses at yearling sales. One in particular caught Jim’s eye. He says that he felt something special about the yearling when he walked out of his barn at the horse sale. He loved certain things about him. He was strong and muscular, with legs like telephone posts. They bought him for 17,500 dollars, a bargain that would soon rival the sale of Manhattan Island to the Dutch as a purchase to remember.
When Jim turned the dark bay colt over to his trainer Billy Turner, he didn’t seem very impressed. He said “Jim what have you brought me. Well, if he can’t run, he can pull a plow.” That attitude would soon change when a colt with the name of Seattle Slew hit the racetrack.
Jim took notice when his colt breezed 38 seconds in a three-furlong workout. Soon after Slew made his debut at Belmont Park in the fall of 1976. He took a maiden race easily, then added an allowance. It was time to crack open the Dom Perignon when Slew took the important Champagne Stakes. He annihilated the opposition in a sparkling 1:34.2, the fastest time ever recorded by a two-year-old in a mile race. This is when it crystallized in Jim’s mind that he had a horse with the potential for greatness.
THE RUN TO IMMORTALITY
Slew was set to open his three-year-old campaign at Jim’s favorite racetrack, Hialeah Park. There was a slight problem. Management was hard pressed to find anyone willing to race against him. His friend and then Vice-President of the track, Tommy Roberts convinced Leroy Jolley and a few other trainers to fill the race. As expected, Slew won it in a cakewalk. Next up was the prestigious Flamingo Stakes. A seldom framed Racing Form comment from his past performances says it all. Slew had “speed in reserve.” Then it was on to New York for the Wood Memorial and a stroll in the park for the big guy.
After relatively easy wins in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Seattle Slew set his sights on the Belmont Stakes and immortality. He did just that taking “Test of Champions” and becoming only the ninth winner of the coveted Triple Crown. He had accomplished what no other racehorse had done before, not Secretariat, nor Citation or any of the rest. He had just become the first unbeaten winner of the Triple Crown.
YOU CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL
Elation filled the Slew Camp. Jim and his partners had reached dizzying heights. Now they made plans for the next phase of Slew’s career. The original plan was to prep their super horse for the Travers Stakes here at the Spa. Then the management team at Hollywood Park made an offer to sweeten the pot for the Swaps Stakes to 300,000 dollars if Slew would commit to the race. Jim stated the decision was made with everyone in the Slew Camp on board with the move to accept the offer. Independence Day weekend saw a record Crowd of 68,000 attend Hollywood Park for the race. Everyone expected an easy win for Slew. Unfortunately the race never materialized for the Champ. He ran the only bad race of his entire career, beaten sixteen lengths by the winner J.O.Tobin.
Jim explains the baffling defeat this way. Slew’s exercise rider Mike Kennedy had reported that Slew was a very tired horse after the Belmont Stakes. The information was kept from the Hills and Taylors before the California race took place. He states that he would never have given the go ahead to make the trip out west if he was aware of it. He doesn’t use that as an excuse. Jim puts it this way. “He didn’t run his race and got beat.”
After the Swaps Stakes Slew became ill. It was decided to take him out of training to recuperate. It would be nine long months before Slew would resume his career. He came back with a vengeance that spring with an easy win at Aqueduct, and then thrilled an August crowd here at the Spa with a dominating wire to wire score in a seven-furlong allowance race.
The Slew Crew had the Patterson Handicap at the Meadowlands penciled in next for the Champ. He got beat a neck by Dr. Patches, a horse that does not belong in the same conversation with Slew. Jim gives Angel Cordero Jr. credit for the upset. “He just outrode our jockey.”
Next up Slew was headed for the Marlboro Cup. It was billed as the first meeting of Triple Crown winners. Slew easily outdistanced Affirmed under his new rider, none other than Angel Cordero Jr. Then it was the Woodward Stakes and an easy score over a second best Exceller.
VICTORY IN DEFEAT
The Jockey Club Gold Cup was Slew’s next target. He would be up against Affirmed and Exceller in this one. The grueling mile and a half was about to test the Champ to his inner core.
Jim shared his thoughts on the race. Right out of the gate Cordero lost his irons. The mishap put him on Slew’s rump for the first five or so strides before he got back in the saddle. Then he was in a speed duel with Affirmed that produced a blistering time of 1:09.2 at the six-furlong mark. Exceller, 15 lengths out of it, made a tremendous move at the leaders. In the stretch Slew came out just enough for Exceller to sneak through on the rail. By the time Cordero realized what had happened, Exceller was a length and a half clear. Slew charged back, coming up a nose short of victory.
Except for a merciless finish line, Slew had conquered every obstacle come his way. In defeat the champ had shown through guts and determination just how brilliant of a racehorse he was.
There was one race left on Slew’s calendar. He was saddled with an imposing 134 pounds for his swan song, the nine-furlong Stuyvesant at Aqueduct. He would be the last American racehorse to carry that heavy of a load. It had zero effect on his performance. He led from start to finish. The tremendous career of one of the greatest racehorses this Country has ever known was over.
LIFE AFTER SLEW
Slew’s racing career was over. His celebrated career as a sire was about to begin. The Slew Crew syndicated the big horse, keeping half of the shares for themselves. It was the makings of a financial grand slam home run. The big horse soon became a champion in the breeding shed. How about A.P Indy, Swale, and Landaluce on his list of offspring.
Jim landed Slew O’ Gold from one of Slew’s crops. He says it is hard to compare them in the same sentence. Slew O’ Gold obviously was no Seattle Slew. He did join his daddy in the Hall of Fame here on Union Avenue. No easy accomplishment.
Jim’s in retirement now. His knowledge of horse racing takes a back seat to no one. He is a gentleman that came from an era that knew how to produce them. It was a distinct pleasure to discuss his life and the magnificent gift that Jim, his lovely wife Sally and the Taylors introduced to the racing world a half a century ago.
A FINAL REMARK
Many years ago, I was in a discussion with my late, great friend, Cole Rosen. For four decades he had been a morning workout clocker in the early hours of dawn at both New York and Florida racetracks. I asked him who was the greatest racehorse he ever saw. Without hesitation he answered back “Seattle Slew, kid. Nothing even close.” The immortal Seattle Slew.
