There are certain qualities that separate a great horse from a good horse. To be great, you have to possess flaming speed, unyielding stamina, courage, determination, the unwavering desire to win, and above all, you need heart. But to be great, you can’t only carry those qualities along on occasion. To be great you have to deliver your best without relent each and every time. You must rise to every challenge with gusto and authority, never dodging the competition and never leaving the track with excuses. Not many horses can claim to have consistently delivered their best, and even fewer can claim to have delivered their best at the highest level of the sport. To take your place among the greats in this arduous sport is a feat that must be earned, and that is exactly what Gun Runner has done.
Most racing fans never could have imagined that Gun Runner would end his career the way he did. He started out as a tough, little horse that always tried, but often got overlooked or left behind. Early on, he was often compared to being less than his peers and seen as just a cut below the best. But Gun Runner wasn’t willing to settle for second best. In the end, it would be Gun Runner who would rise above them all with a breathtaking plot twist that took the racing world by surprise.
Photo by Eric Kalet
There have been many horses over the past few years whose names have been celebrated for their achievements. You had Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby winner, Exaggerator, the Preakness champ, and even Arrogate, the horse that many once considered to be unbeatable. Each one had moments of brilliancy, but unfortunately, they couldn’t carry their power throughout their entire career. But there was another horse from the same crop. A horse that would take his power all the way. It was a horse that was once left chasing the others, and that horse was Gun Runner. He was overlooked at the time, but looking back now, I don’t consider him to be just another “also ran” in those races. Instead, I see him as a horse who had greatness within him the whole time, but was still figuring out how to use it. I see a horse that refused to give up, no matter how difficult the challenge was. I see a gallant horse, who has been right there in the thick of it all along, and with perseverance, went on to become better than them all.
Gun Runner started out his career the same way he would end it: winning. The plucky, chestnut colt made his debut as a two-year-old, going one mile at Churchill Downs and won convincingly. From there, he traveled to Keeneland and continued his winning ways with a score in an allowance race. At this point, many of Gun Runner’s peers were gearing up for a try in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and were already making their names known. But Gun Runner was content to sit back and wait. Breeders’ Cup glory would be his one day.
Eric Kalet photo
At the end of November of 2015, Gun Runner entered his very first stakes race, the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Rain had left the track a mess, and for the first time in his young life, Gun Runner lost. He splashed home to be fourth, trying his hardest the entire way to the wire. Despite the fact that he finished fourth, it was clear that the horse had class. There was a high level of determination in Gun Runner that drove him to finish his race, even though he wasn’t able to keep up. Perhaps that was the first sign that there was more to this horse.
With his two-year-old season and first loss behind him, Gun Runner was ready to set his sights on something bigger. He was ready to embark on the road to the Kentucky Derby. He made his three-year-old debut in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Racecourse. A colt by the name of Candy My Boy led the way into the stretch, but his moment wouldn’t last. Gun Runner made a powerful rally around the last turn, steadily making his way to the front. With a swift and decisive kick, Gun Runner rolled past to take command. He began to pull away, but in the final strides, Forevamo made a furious closing bid to threaten his lead. But Gun Runner wasn’t having any of it. With determination and grit, Gun Runner dug in and powered home, fending off his rival and claiming victory.
One month later, Gun Runner was at it again. This time he was in the Louisiana Derby, his final prep before making a run for the roses. After tracking his rivals in third, he made his move and blew his foes away. Gun Runner cruised down the stretch and won going away, stamping himself as one to watch for the Kentucky Derby.
Gun Runner fired out of the gate in the Kentucky Derby and boldly ran close to a rapid pace. As the furlongs began to pass, many of the other front runners began to falter under the pressure. But Gun Runner was still there. With courage and tenacity, Gun Runner took the lead around the far turn. He boldly led the fray into the stretch, calling upon every last bit of stamina that he had. However, despite his herculean effort, it wouldn’t be enough. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Florida Derby winner, Nyquist, who was undefeated at the time, sprinted up to steal the show. Gun Runner couldn’t keep up, but he didn’t give up. He continued to run and finish. It looked like he might hold on for second, until Exaggerator came flying late to steal second. Gun Runner gallantly held on for third, managing to leave seventeen rivals behind him.
Gun Runner sat out the rest of the Triple Crown trail, leaving the fame and attention to his peers. Exaggerator stormed to glory in the Preakness, leaving a debate over who the best three-year-old really was. Was it Nyquist or Exaggerator? However, it would be a debate that would no longer matter in the end.
Gun Runner returned to the races in June and instantly found his way back to the winner’s circle, this time in the Matt Whinn Stakes. He was a quality horse, that was certain, but he didn’t inspire those around him like many of the others did. Ever the gallant horse, Gun Runner was ready to take the best on again and try to find his true place among them. So, he set off to the grade 1, Haskell Invitational.
Luck was not on Gun Runner’s side when the starting gates opened in the Haskell. He got ping-ponged around in the early stages of the race while he tried to establish position, and along with that, the track was a sea of mud. The wet conditions were less than ideal for most of the runners in the race, but one horse that loved the off going was Exaggerator, and he sailed to victory. Gun Runner could do no better than fifth that day. However, it would be the last time this young horse would ever finish off the board.
Gun Runner walked away from the Haskell beaten, but not broken. It seemed that no matter what happened, the young horse would always shake it off and come back for more, dauntless in his pursuit of glory. The colt was unflappable, and nothing could stop him from running his race.
Gun Runner daringly retuned to take on the best once again. He entered the grade 1, Travers Stakes, a highly important and historical race among his age group. A contentious group lined up to battle it out, each one determined to win. No one could have guessed that there was a horse in the field that was sitting on a freak performance that would rival history.
Arrogate ran his rivals off their feet in the Travers Stakes, romping away to win by nearly 14 lengths, and setting a new track record in a blazing final time of 1:59.36. While the big, gray beast disappeared out of sight, Gun Runner continued to run. It was clear that no one was stopping Arrogate, but Gun Runner didn’t care. He wasn’t about to throw in the towel just because things got difficult. Instead, he finished his race. Gun Runner held on to be third. Just like in the Kentucky Derby, Gun Runner didn’t win that day, but it didn’t break him. He was still there. He was still ready and willing to fight again. For Gun Runner, this wasn’t over yet. He would have his vengeance.
Gun Runner suffered a narrow defeat in the Pennsylvania Derby next, losing by a dramatic neck to the highly talented and regally bred, Connect. He may have lost to Connect, but Gun Runner did soundly defeat the likes of Nyquist and Exaggerator that day, who finished well behind him. After that, Gun Runner ran a strong second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, where he took on older horses for the first time. Gun Runner experienced a breakthrough after that, and finally claimed his first grade 1 victory in the Clark Handicap, where he easily took down a field of older, more experienced rivals.
Gun Runner with his valiant runner up effort in the Pennsylvania Derby, photo credit to Eric Kalet
Gun Runner had a strong end to his three-year-old season, but the championship honors went to Arrogate, who had ended his season with a dramatic score in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. A staggering amount of hype surrounded Arrogate as their four-year-old season came into view. Many experts were predicting that 2017 would be the year of Arrogate, but nobody told Gun Runner that.
Gun Runner was supposed to make his 2017 debut in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup. However, a track quarantine forced him to stay home, leaving the glory to Arrogate, who claimed the race as his own. Gun Runner had to make his debut in a less prestigious race, the Razorback Handicap, but that didn’t mean his performance would be any less glorious.
Gun Runner went right to the lead and never looked back when the starting gates opened. With brazen confidence and endless speed, he charged around the track, daring the other contenders to keep up, and none of them could. Turning for home, Gun Runner effortlessly opened up on the field, leaving the others in his dust as he romped home to win by nearly six lengths. His final time of 1:47.97 was only two-fifths of a second off of the track record, which is a scary thought considering the fact that Gun Runner wasn’t even trying. It became clear that Gun Runner was an entirely different horse than he was the year before.
As always, Gun Runner was a horse who was always willing to take on the best, so he traveled all the way to Dubai for the $10 million, Dubai World Cup. Gun Runner ran a tremendous race, separating himself from the field as he charged toward the wire. He looked home free, until a familiar foe came sneaking up from behind. It was Arrogate, and he was on a mission.
With long, powerful strides, Arrogate blasted to the lead in the final stages of the race. Gun Runner easily kept the rest of the field at bay, leaving daylight between him and the nearest competitor. He ran a winning race, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough to stop Arrogate.
When the big, gray Arrogate surged to glory and was hailed as the greatest horse in the world, Gun Runner was there. It wasn’t over for him. In fact, something changed in him that day. A spark was ignited inside him that could no longer be contained. The greatness that had always been there had finally emerged from Gun Runner. He was no longer the same horse, and now he knew exactly what to do with his newfound power. Arrogate had this battle won, but not the war. Gun Runner would get his due.
Photo by Eric Kalet, http://erickalet.zenfolio.com/
While the racing world celebrated Arrogate as the best there was, I wasn’t convinced. In fact, I took a stand against the crowd, believing that Gun Runner was actually the better of the two. I often refer to myself as one of Gun Runner’s “first fans”. I was fascinated by his pedigree when I came across it in an online sales catalog, and had followed him ever since to see what he would become. As someone who is lucky enough to have been a fan of Gun Runner from the start, I had followed him long enough that I could definitely see the changes taking place in the horse. The spark was there.
Many people scoffed at the idea of Gun Runner ending the year on top, but it didn’t matter. Gun Runner would go out and prove that for himself. He had been there all along, dancing every dance and running in all the major races. Gun Runner was a tough horse who wouldn’t back away from a challenge, no matter how hard things got. He had always given his all, but often watched his rivals walk away with the glory. But after what went down in the Dubai World Cup, it became clear that Gun Runner was never going to let himself come that far again only to lose. Gun Runner finally realized his true potential that had been there all along, and now that his greatness was found, the rest of the horses would be at his mercy.
When Gun Runner returned from Dubai, he set the track ablaze. No matter the race, distance, or competition, Gun Runner could not be stopped. In fact, no one could even get close to him. He wired the field in the Stephen Foster Handicap, setting a new record by winning the race by seven devastating lengths. After that, he traveled to Saratoga, the infamous “Graveyard of Champions”. But the old superstition wasn’t enough to cut the moment that Gun Runner carried to the track.
Gun Runner’s competition threw everything they could at him in the Whitney Stakes. A rabbit was entered in the race to try to exhaust him with a frenzied pace, and a stray horseshoe ended up being thrown into his tail during the race. But Gun Runner simply shrugged it off and kept on going, flaunting his speed and pulling away to win by 5 ¼ lengths. He stopped the clock in a sensational final time of 1:47.71, which made it the fastest running of the Whitney since Lawyer Ron in 2007.
A month later, Gun Runner stunned his rivals in the historical Woodward Stakes when he flew home by 10 ¼ crushing lengths. His blistering final time of 1:47.43 made his performance the fastest one ever out of the twelve editions of the Woodward that were run at Saratoga. It didn’t make sense for a horse to win such a major race with such ease, but Gun Runner did it. He somehow managed to turn a historical, grade 1, top level event into a one horse race, and he did it without even having to try. The speed and strength that Gun Runner possessed was both uncanny and beautiful, perfectly fitting the phrase, “poetry in motion”.
The startling ease in which Gun Runner dominated his competition began to raise the question over who the best horse really was. Upon returning from Dubai, all Gun Runner had done was win. The same couldn’t be said for the mighty Arrogate, who had not been to the winner’s circle since. But despite finishing a well beaten fourth in the San Diego Handicap, and second in the Pacific Classic, many people still favored Arrogate over Gun Runner. There was only one way to settle the debate. The two would have to meet each other once again, this time in the $6 million, Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Gun Runner at Del Mar, photo by Eric Kalet
Gun Runner had his doubters when he set off to the Breeders’ Cup. People doubted his ability to go the distance of 1 ¼ miles. They doubted his ability to beat the likes of Arrogate. They doubted that he really was the better of the two. But when the starting gates flew open, it would not be Gun Runner who would be left wanting.
Gun Runner charged out of the starting gate and marched right up to the front, fully prepared to take this field all the way around. Pacific Classic winner, Collected, wasted no time going after Gun Runner, pushing him through blistering fractions and breathing down his neck for each and every stride. But Gun Runner was not discouraged. It was as if he knew he was the best horse in the race, and feared absolutely no one.
Gun Runner confidently blazed over the track, repelling each and every challenge thrown at him. He swiftly shut down Collected in the stretch, pulling away with seemingly endless speed and stamina. No matter how hard the others tried, they just couldn’t close the gap. Gun Runner proved in front of the whole world, on racing’s biggest stage, that he was indeed the best there was.
Gun Runner blazing home in the Breeders' Cup Classic, photo by Eric Kalet
Not only did Gun Runner soundly defeat one of the greatest Breeders’ Cup Classic fields ever established, but he did it against a track bias that had plagued front-runners the entire weekend. The quirky way in which the track was playing had made it incredibly difficult for horses running on or near the lead to win, but Gun Runner was simply too talented to fall victim to the track. In fact, he was the only horse the entire weekend to succeed in wiring a race, and he did it with Collected pouring the pressure on him the entire way around. The fact that Gun Runner had so much going against him but still pulled away to win convincingly only makes his triumph appear even greater than it already was. The horse seemed to go against all the odds, because it appeared that there truly was not a force in this world that could stop him. Gun Runner was the real deal.
Gun Runner after his score in the Breeders' Cup Classic, photo by Eric Kalet
After proving just how rare and amazing of an athlete that he was, Gun Runner had nothing left to answer. His career was coming to its end. He had run in all the major races, and repelled even the most formidable of challengers. The horse was a freak of nature, it was as simple as that. With a well-earned retirement waiting in the horizon, Gun Runner had one final race that would turn his story into that of a fairytale.
Gun Runner entered the richest race in the world, the $16 million, grade 1, Pegasus World Cup. It was to be his swan song, and just like in his races before, Gun Runner would show up with his best.
A highly competitive field lined up to try to spoil Gun Runner’s final race. Collected, the runner up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was back for revenge. West Coast, a highly talented, multiple grade 1 winner took a spot in the gate. You also had horses like Stellar Wind, a six time Grade 1 winner, and Sharp Azteca, a multiple graded stakes winner, gifted with blazing speed. The field was far more talented than the year before in its inaugural running, and it wasn’t just the competition that would test Gun Runner. He drew the dreaded post ten at a track where outside posts are notorious for having a very low win percentage. But like always, Gun Runner was not afraid. He showed up to the race as calm, confident, and collected as ever, ready to rise to glory, one last time.
Gun Runner heading to post for a final time, Coglianese Photography
Perhaps an outside post position would be detrimental to your average racehorse. But Gun Runner was not your average racehorse. He was a great racehorse, and there was no way he was going to let something as minor as a post position stop him when he had already overcome so much more before. When the starting gates flung open in the Pegasus, Gun Runner shot out of his post with such an overwhelming acceleration that it gave him the jump on all of his rivals. Gun Runner bolted right to the front, and it was all over from there.
Collected raced to the front to take the early lead, and Gun Runner was content to sit back and wait, never letting him out of his sight. Gun Runner was so sure of himself, and so confident in his ability, that he knew Collected wouldn’t be able to stay in front for long. It was only a matter of when Gun Runner felt like taking over.
As the field approached the far turn, Gun Runner could no longer hold back. With breathtaking speed he rolled up to pass Collected without any resistance at all. Gun Runner uncoiled his stride and went faster and faster, storming into the stretch for the last time. With Collected fading, West Coast seized the moment to try to dethrone Gun Runner. With a bold and determined move, West Coast unleashed his attack, sneaking up to try to steal the show. However, Gun Runner was never threatened. He took one look at West Coast and kicked away, somehow finding more speed than was already on display.
Gun Runner furiously led the way down the stretch, breathing fire as he went. West Coast was in hot pursuit as his efforts intensified. The tenacious pair turned it into a two-horse race, streaking down the stretch and leaving the rest of the field far behind. But the two-horse race quickly became a one-horse race because no matter what West Coast threw at his rival, Gun Runner threw back harder. He had an answer for every shot fired at him, and made it clear that regardless of West Coast’s efforts, they would never be enough to get by him. As the finish line loomed ahead, Gun Runner found another gear, shooting forward with a phenomenal burst of speed that kept a solid gap between himself and West Coast.
Gun Runner surged over the finish line 2 ½ lengths ahead of West Coast, and well over ten lengths back to Gunnevera in third. Gun Runner had completely destroyed a group of highly accomplished horses, making a good field look average.
Gun Runner going out with a bang! Credit to Coglianese Photography
Gun Runner is a horse that had an undeniable passion for running. He understood the sport, and knew exactly what to do. His determination and competitive drive is what ultimately separated him from the others, because in the beginning, when he was getting beat, he didn’t throw in the towel or accept defeat. Instead he found a way to become better than anyone, and once he made it to the top, he stayed there.
It wasn’t just the way that Gun Runner made short work of his competition that eluded to his brilliancy. It was the way that he made sure that no matter what, nothing could stop him. Gun Runner overcame a lot of adversity and challenge, and in doing so, found a way to not only beat his competition, but break their hearts. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that Collected was never the same after what Gun Runner did to him in the Breeders’ Cup. Gun Runner was so brilliant that he made good horses crumble under his pressure, and that is an ability that few horses know how to use.
In the end, Gun Runner had absolutely nothing left to prove. From the very beginning he ran with the best, and in the end, he became the best. It is incredibly rare for any horse to be able to compete at the highest, most competitive level of the sport for his entire career. But to deliver countless victories at that level without relent puts Gun Runner in a class of his own. Throughout his career, Gun Runner showed that he was different from the others. He was swift enough to wire a field it he chose to, or tactical enough to track behind the leaders. He was confident enough to overcome any post position, and bold enough to take on even the mightiest of rivals. He was a fearless athlete who was always ready and willing to take on anyone. There isn’t a lot that people can depend on in today’s world, but the one thing that you could depend on was Gun Runner, because he always showed up, and always ran his race.
With twelve wins in nineteen career starts, six grade 1 victories, and Eclipse Award honors as Champion Older Dirt Male and Horse of the Year, Gun Runner went above and beyond what anyone could have dreamed of. He won at seven different tracks throughout his career, at distances ranging from one mile to 1 ¼ miles, and collected a staggering $15,988, 500.00 in career earnings. He competed at the top level of the sport his entire career, and carried a level of consistency and dominance that became the envy of his peers.
In the end, Gun Runner went on to achieve greater heights than his foes that he once chased. From Nyquist, to Exaggerator, to Arrogate, Gun Runner came back to dethrone every rival that had once bested him, rising to become greater than them all. Looking back, it’s amazing to think that a horse this great was there all along, watching as the others were hailed for victory, and plotting for his own moment the entire time.
Gun Runner accomplished so much in his career. He took down so many major races, defeated the toughest horses the sport had to offer, and never faltered when his best was called upon. In the end, he turned away every foe that dared to challenge, and maintained a sublime level of authority that left little doubt over who the best horse really was. When all was said and done, Gun Runner left the track with no excuses and no unanswered questions. He left the track with nothing but undeniable glory that led him to his place among the elite.
Horses like Gun Runner are few and far between. He was a truly unbreakable horse who refused to accept defeat. His determination and consistency set him in a league of his own, as we may very well never again see one horse take down major races like the Stephan Foster Handicap, Whitney Stakes, the Woodward Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Pegasus World Cup, all in consecutive order. What Gun Runner achieved in his career was nothing short of incredible, and as a result, he has engraved his name into history. Now that it has all been said and done, people can no longer deny the truth. Gun Runner isn’t just a good horse. He’s a great horse.
Gun Runner's grand finale in the Pegasus World Cup, credit to Coglianese Photography
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