Trainer Doug Peterson dies

[cj]

I can't find a story anywhere to link, but he trained Seattle Slew as a 4yo. Died at a fairly young age, maybe SoCalFan can fill us in more.

[BillW]

No mention on the TB times hourly update (5:52 EST)

[Suff]

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http://www.drf.com/news/article/60990.html
Hollywood Park _
Doug Peterson found dead in hotel
By STEVE ANDERSEN
Doug Peterson, who trained Seattle Slew during his 4-year-old season in 1978 and more recently operated a public stable in Southern California, was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday evening, according to a spokesman in the Los Angeles coroner's office. Peterson was 53.

An investigation into the cause of death is under way, according to the coroner's office. Peterson had lived at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, near Hollywood Park, in recent years.

Peterson was a 26-year-old assistant to Bob Dunham when he took over the training of Seattle Slew in 1978 after previous trainer William Turner Jr. was fired by Karen and Mickey Taylor and Sally and Jim Hill, who owned Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown winner.

Under Peterson's direction, Seattle Slew won 5 of 7 starts, including the Marlboro Cup and Woodward Stakes. Seattle Slew finished second by a nose to Exceller in a thrilling running of the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Seattle Slew was named champion older male of 1978, the only champion Peterson trained.

Peterson began training in New Mexico in 1969. The following year, at age 18, he became the youngest trainer to win a $100,000 stakes when Texas Sky won the Land of Enchantment Futurity at La Mesa Park.

In recent years, Peterson's stable often had at least one horse of stakes-caliber, but consisted mostly of claiming horses. Peterson won a division of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar in 2001 with Sigfreto, who won the Phil Shepherd Stakes at Fairplex Park the following year.

Peterson is survived by a son, Da

[JustRalph]

Peterson's Death Called Apparent Accidental Drug Overdose
by Margaret Ransom

Doug Peterson, best known for training 1977 Triple Crown hero Seattle Slew to an Eclipse Award as the country's top older horse in 1978, was found dead of an apparent accidental drug overdose in a hotel room the evening of Nov. 21. He was 53.
According to Los Angeles Police Department homicide coordinator Mike DiPasquale, Peterson checked into the Crowne Plaza hotel near Hollywood Park the previous morning and wasn't seen or heard from again by the hotel staff. Because repeated attempts to get Peterson to answer the door failed, the police were called and after they gained access to the room at about 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21, found Peterson dead on the floor.

"(Because of the evidence) we're considering the death an accidental overdose; right now we're not calling it a suicide," DePasquale said. "It will take the coroner between 60 and 90 days to do a full toxicology and until then we won't know what or how much (drugs) was in his system."

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County coroner's office said their investigation will be complete in "about a week" and that Peterson's body was still being held at their office.

Peterson took over the training of Seattle Slew in 1978 from Billy Turner, who was fired by owners Karen and Mickey Taylor and Sally and Jim Hill. In Peterson's care, Seattle Slew won the Marlboro Cup (gr. I), Woodward Stakes (gr. I), and Stuyvesant Handicap (gr. III), and also finished second by a nose to Exceller in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I). That year, Seattle Slew won five of seven starts overall and earned $473,006.

In addition to Seattle Slew, Peterson also trained multiple stakes winner Sigfreto and Apalachee Ridge, who set the six furlong track record of 1:07 2/5 at Hollywood Park in 1997. He was also well known as one of the Southern California circuit's top claiming trainers.

Peterson is survived by one son, David. Funeral arrangements are pending.