Retiree thought to be last of Slews to race

Council Member, a 6-year-old believed to have been the last offspring of the late Seattle Slew still racing, has been retired by owners Mickey and Karen Taylor, who co-owned Seattle Slew through his Hall of Fame career.

The announcement follows the retirement of Chestertown Slew, also from Seattle Slew's last crop, earlier this summer to a farm in Arizona.

Seattle Slew died on May 7, 2002, at the age of 28, and Council Member was part of his last crop. The Taylors purchased Council Member privately late last year from Darley Stable.

Council Member won several listed stakes in Europe and finished second in both the Group 2 July Stakes and Group 2 Coventry Stakes as a 2-year-old. His career record was five wins from 24 starts, with earnings of $347,306. He is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Zoe Montana. His last race was a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Tom Fool Handicap on July 4 at Belmont Park.

Mickey Taylor said on Thursday that stud plans have not been finalized, but that the couple is considering farms in California. The Taylors have mares in Oregon and Washington, Mickey Taylor said.