It’s been quite a month for John Gunther of Langley and his daughter Tanya.
The Langley breeder witnessed his horse, Without Parole, take the 2018 St. James’s Palace Stakes — which take place at the famed Ascot race course in the U.K. — on June 19, just 10 days after Justify, a horse he and his daughter bred but sold, took the Triple Crown of U.S. racing.
It was the fourth victory in as many starts for the undefeated Without Parole, ridden by legendary jockey Frankie Dettori.
“It is the greatest day of my life,” John Gunther said online.
“It is beyond my wildest dreams.”’
Tanya Gunther, who runs the stables at where the family operated breeding program is located in Kentucky, said it was “thrilling beyond words” to watch their horse take the win.
“What more could a girl ask for?”
A tearful Tanya Gunther rewarded Without Parole with a kiss.
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“It’s a dream come true,” said , owner and breeder of G1 St. James’s Palace winner Without Parole. He’s been coming to for 20 years and won with his first starter.
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Without Parole
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The victory at Ascot comes after Justify became the 13th Triple Crown Winner by racing to victory at the Belmont Stakes on June 9, following back-to-back wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, making the Gunthers the first Canadian breeders to win all three.
Justify is only the second horse to win the Triple Crown with an undefeated record, following Seattle Slew.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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