March 29, 2024

John Gunther – 2018 Outstanding Breeder

Justify stands in the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner's circle at Churchill Downs on Saturday May 5, 2018, surrounded by his numerous connections (c) Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com

John Gunther’s Glennwood Farm enjoyed a banner year, highlighted by Triple Crown winner Justify, and Gunther has been recognized with the Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder.

Glennwood doesn’t produce the numbers of big breeding operations but the Versailles, Kentucky, farm made quite the impact in 2018. Justify, who was foaled on March 28, 2015, is out of the Gunther homebred mare Stage Magic and the son of Scat Daddy became only the 13th Triple Crown winner in more than 150 years of American Thoroughbred racing. He also famously snapped the “Curse of Apollo,” becoming the first unraced two-year-old to win the Kentucky Derby since 1882.

Other notable offspring bred by Glennwood in 2018 include Without Parole, winner of the St James’s Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot; Wood Memorial (G2) victor Vino Rosso, who competed against Justify in a pair of Triple Crown races; and American Oaks (G1) winner Competitionofideas.

BREEDER   FIRST-PLACE VOTES
     
JOHN GUNTHER   102
WinStar Farm   68
Mike Abraham   21
Calumet Farm   14
Fred Hertrich III & John D. Fielding   13
Juddmonte Farms   8
Summer Wind Equine   3
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey   3
Brereton C. Jones   2
Besilu Stables   1
FPF LLC & Highfield Ranch   1
Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings   1
Spendthrift Farm   1
Voter Abstentions   9