Hi everyone - I hardly ever post but I thought this interview with Billy Turner was so wonderful. If every trainer had his compassion and horse sense the sport woudn’t be in the circumstance it is in.
[QUOTE=NStephensUCD;6358250]
Hi everyone - I hardly ever post but I thought this interview with Billy Turner was so wonderful. If every trainer had his compassion and horse sense the sport woudn’t be in the circumstance it is in.
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/8009022/last-horseman[/QUOTE]
Thanks for posting…nice article.
What a wonderful story, although kind of sad in alot of ways, thanks for the share. That end sure brought a tear to my eye! I agree with Billy 100%.
nice! I always loved Slew…
Amen.
I think after the last few articles this week on Bill, and other articles exploring the reasons the TC is so tough, it has dawned on me that so many lauded trainers are REALLY not trainers anymore, but stable managers.
The term trainer should be for someone who really, truly knows his horses, and not just the important ones.
Paula Turner
Hi All,
I wish the article emphasized a bit more of the role Paula Turner played in the creation of Seattle Slew. Because he was so big and got in his own way, she used dressage to teach him to use his body in a better way. If it wasn’t for Paula, there would not be the legend that is Seattle Slew.
I have so much respect and admiration for Paula! She is just a wonderful person who I feel lucky to know.
Hallie
“Hi All,
I wish the article emphasized a bit more of the role Paula Turner played in the creation of Seattle Slew. Because he was so big and got in his own way, she used dressage to teach him to use his body in a better way. If it wasn’t for Paula, there would not be the legend that is Seattle Slew.”
I would love to hear more of this aspect of the horses training.
I was lucky enough to see Seattle slew in person, in the flesh, close up and personal while his groom gave him a bath back in 1985 at Spendthrift. I now have a wonderful granddaughter of his who looks very much like him, warts and all, who loves pushing cows and other horses around.
SS conformation was a lesson to me, that is isnt just the individual parts that make up a horse, because he certainly had a few conformation faults if you wanted to pick him apart but, it is the SUM of the parts and how they all fit together plus the personality of the horse that makes them great. (of course its having the right people around him too)
Nice article on Billy. I had the pleasure of knowing him and Paula when they were stabled at Laurel many moons ago. Billy still had Slews Shur-win hanging in the tackroom (at least that’s what he told me).
Hoping for a TC winner this year! 
I always thought the Turners were great back then. Both of them seemed to really love both the sport and the horse. And of course the horse was great. Slew’s dam was by the same sire as was my Callie. I love that tb line.
I don’t think the dressage training was mentioned way back when Slew was running. That’s very interesting to learn.
Beautiful article - thank you so much for posting! I’ve always admired Billy Turner. Don’t know him personally, but in interviews he always shows such great tact and perspective. His statements about Lasix for example. He doesn’t sound degrading to those who choose to use it, but recognizes the fallacy of deeming a bleeder breeding worthy. I hope the racing industry has the pleasure of his knowledge and experience for a long time to come.
I also have a granddaughter! Shes awesome (SS>A.P.Indy)
sweet, giving, personable – sooo easy to ride.
and I also have a grandson(SS>Doneraile Court)… who has the biggest heart of any horse Ive ever met. He_makes_ you love him, like a guy who wont take NO. He has the sprung knees,legs like tree trunks; tho still sound after racing 3yrs on turf mile-70’s!
There are a lot of slew-kins on the backside – all with those wonderful temperments – you can almost pick them out of a crowd. 
Oh, Seattle Slew has his own FB page too ![QUOTE=haligator;6359409]
Hi All,
I wish the article emphasized a bit more of the role Paula Turner played in the creation of Seattle Slew. Because he was so big and got in his own way, she used dressage to teach him to use his body in a better way. If it wasn’t for Paula, there would not be the legend that is Seattle Slew.
I have so much respect and admiration for Paula! She is just a wonderful person who I feel lucky to know.
Hallie[/QUOTE]
I too, am lucky to know Paula. She is unfortunately overlooked many times in the legendary story of Seattle Slew, but without her, he may not have ever accomplished what he did. She is an incredible horsewoman, and can start a horse and instill a foundation in them better than anyone I have ever met. I learned more riding with her in one hour than I did in 10 years with other trainers. A truly wonderful person in every way.
Some interesting articles from Paula’s point of view:
Slew of Memories (Published by The Blood Horse in 2003)
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/15586/slew-of-memories
Trainer Looks Back On Memories of Seattle Slew (The Pilot, 2011)
http://www.thepilot.com/news/2011/jun/19/trainer-looks-back-memories-seattle-slew/
Training A Champion (radio interview, 2011)
http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_050611_full_show.mp3/view
And from the article the OP posted, this is probably the most brilliant fact and one I have wondered about all along:
"Turner believes indiscriminate Lasix use has dramatically weakened the breed. “In the past, owners bred to run,” Turner said. “You’d never put anything back into the gene pool that had basic infirmities. You’d never think of breeding a mare that bled. Or a sire that bled. Forget about it. You’d [geld] him.” "
Loved the story. It’s amazing… I really enjoyed the pic. I have a Slew grandson, by Slew Dancer and he is the spitting image of his grand daddy.
I’d like to add that he retired sound after 75 starts, is now 18 years old and competing in eventing. They certainly don’t make them like they used to.
Wow, that is totally movie worthy stuff! I never knew any of this. I always say dressage can help any horse in any discipline What a cool story about Slew and his start with Mrs. Turner, she was a major influence in his training… I had a SS grand daughter in my barn for a while, tough as nails but always a trier. I do believe she is a “cow pony” now off somewhere at a western barn, must run in the bloodlines
