Mike Kennedy - Seattle Slew

[judehaz]

Seattle Slew exercise rider Mike Kennedy just told a great story during a NYRA feature on the track feed.

In addition to his duties as an exercise rider, Kennedy was a mutual clerk in the afternoons. The week leading up to the Belmont Stakes, there was a strike among the clerks, and Kennedy wasn't allowed onto the track to ride, lest he cross the picket line of his fellow clerks.

Meanwhile, nobody could handle Seattle Slew - he was out of control during training. The trainer said they had to get Kennedy onto the track, one way or another.

Kennedy says he went to the house of another trainer whose yard backed up to the Belmont training track. Slew's trainer met him at the gate of the trainer's yard and Kennedy went in the guy's trunk so he could be driven to the barn unseen.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Love these old horse racing stories!

[classhandicapper]

I can't remember which race it was, but Seattle Slew came onto the track and he was in what could best be described as "beast mode". I've seen almost all the great horses since the 70s. I haven't that too often. He was so loaded he looked like he was going explode.