Former Seattle Slew trainer dies

By: Sports Network

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Doug Peterson, who trained Seattle Slew

one year after the horse won the 1977 Triple Crown, was found dead in his

 hotel room over the weekend. He was 53-years-old.

Peterson died Sunday evening at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Hollywood Park

 and an autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted Wednesday.

One of Southern California's top claiming trainers, Peterson took over the

training of Seattle Slew in 1978 after the horse's owners, Karen and

Mickey Taylor, fired trainer Billy Turner.

Peterson then led the horse to several major victories, including the

Marlboro Cup, Woodward Stakes and Stuyvesant Handicap. Seattle Slew earned

 an Eclipse Award as champion older male of 1978 and retired soon after

that achievement. He won 14 of 17 career races and earned more than $1.2

million, but died in May 2002 at age 28.

Peterson was also known for training multiple stakes winners Sigfreto and

Apalachee Ridge, who set a six furlong track record at Hollywood Park in 1997.