Swale (horse)
Encyclopedia
Swale was an American
thoroughbred
racehorse. He is best known for winning the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1984. He died shortly after his win in the latter race.
winner Seattle Slew
, Swale was trained by Woody Stephens
and ridden by Laffit Pincay, Jr.
, both now members of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
. Swale's dam, the stakes winning, Tuerta, was born with one eye. Her name means "one-eyed" in Spanish
.
and in the muddy going at Saratoga Race Course
, won the race with jockey Eddie Maple
. After finishing third in the Hopeful Stakes at Sarartoga, Swale went undefeated the remainder of his two year-old campaign. The Belmont Futurity Stakes, Breeders' Futurity Stakes, and Young America Stakes
were all won in game, gutsy efforts.
at Gulfstream Park
by seven lengths first out. After displacing his palate in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
where he finished third, Swale came right back and won the Florida Derby
with new rider Laffit Pincay, Jr.
, running the mile and one-eighth in 1:47 3/5 drawing away from favored Dr. Carter at the end. After being upset in the sloppy going at Keeneland Race Course in the Lexington Stakes when second, Swale won the Kentucky Derby
at historic Churchill Downs
.
The day before departing for Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes
, Swale worked seven furlongs in 1:24, galloping out the mile in 1:37 1/5 at Churchill Downs
, then shipped to Baltimore on Monday and worked a half-mile in a swift :46, galloping out five furlongs in :59 3/5 two days before the big race. That Saturday he ran an uncharacteristic seventh in the Preakness Stakes
. Recovering from that debacle, Swale came back to win the longest and most gruelling of the U.S. Triple Crown
races, the Belmont Stakes
.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. He is best known for winning the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1984. He died shortly after his win in the latter race.
Background
A son of the 1977 Triple CrownTriple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
winner Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977, the tenth of eleven horses to accomplish the feat. He remains the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S...
, Swale was trained by Woody Stephens
Woody Stephens
Woody Stephens was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer.Born Woodford Cefis Stephens in Stanton, Kentucky, his younger brother William Ward Stephens also became a successful trainer. Woody Stephens first started in racing as a jockey at age 16 but within a few years switched...
and ridden by Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...
, both now members of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
. Swale's dam, the stakes winning, Tuerta, was born with one eye. Her name means "one-eyed" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
1983: two-year-old season
At 2, Swale broke his maiden at Belmont Park on July 21, 1983. Next out Swale was entered in the Saratoga Special StakesSaratoga Special Stakes
The Saratoga Special Stakes is an American grade II thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for two-year-olds willing to race six and a half furlongs on the dirt....
and in the muddy going at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
, won the race with jockey Eddie Maple
Eddie Maple
Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...
. After finishing third in the Hopeful Stakes at Sarartoga, Swale went undefeated the remainder of his two year-old campaign. The Belmont Futurity Stakes, Breeders' Futurity Stakes, and Young America Stakes
Young America Stakes
The Young America Stakes is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race that was run annually at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey....
were all won in game, gutsy efforts.
1984: three-year-old season
At 3, Swale won the Hutcheson StakesHutcheson Stakes
The Hutcheson Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Grade II event raced on dirt, it is open to three-year-old horses. Run over a distance of seven and a half furlongs, it currently offers a purse of $150,000.Inaugurated on...
at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
by seven lengths first out. After displacing his palate in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Fountain of Youth Stakes
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $400,000...
where he finished third, Swale came right back and won the Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
with new rider Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...
, running the mile and one-eighth in 1:47 3/5 drawing away from favored Dr. Carter at the end. After being upset in the sloppy going at Keeneland Race Course in the Lexington Stakes when second, Swale won the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
at historic Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
.
The day before departing for Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, Swale worked seven furlongs in 1:24, galloping out the mile in 1:37 1/5 at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
, then shipped to Baltimore on Monday and worked a half-mile in a swift :46, galloping out five furlongs in :59 3/5 two days before the big race. That Saturday he ran an uncharacteristic seventh in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
. Recovering from that debacle, Swale came back to win the longest and most gruelling of the U.S. Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
races, the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
.
Death
On June 17, 1984, eight days after the Belmont Stakes, Swale collapsed and died enroute to his stall following a bath. He was buried at Claiborne FarmClaiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
.
Honours and Awards
Swale posthumously received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Male Horse for 1984. He earned $1,583,660 during his terrific two-year racing career.
The Swale StakesSwale StakesThe Swale Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Grade II sprint race for three-year-olds, it is run on dirt over a distance of 7 furlongs...
, an annual Grade II stakes raceGraded stakes raceA graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
for three-year-olds at Gulfstream ParkGulfstream ParkGulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
in Hallandale, Florida, was named in his honor.