Wednesday, January 12, 2022

A season to 2021’s leading freshman sire Gun Runner, donated by his owners Ron Winchell and the Torrealba family’s Three Chimneys Farm, brought $130,000 on Tuesday during the first session of the 2022 Keeneland January sale.

Peter Penny, acting as agent for Bill Layni, submitted the winning bid.

All proceeds from the sale will go to victims of the tornados that struck southwestern Kentucky in December.

“Everyone in Kentucky at every level wanted to do the right thing for those hit by the disaster,” said Three Chimneys Farm’s Doug Cauthen. “This plus another $50,000 from Kentucky Downs and $50,000 from Three Chimneys is a step in the right direction. The Torrealba family and Ron Winchell just wanted to do their part. It was a good way to do it with the sale being here. There are no more Gun Runner seasons around, so we thought it would bring a good number.”

“I thought it was a wonderful gesture by Ron Winchell and Three Chimneys, going to an amazing cause,” added Tony Lacy of Keeneland, which waived their commission on the sale, ensuring 100% of the proceeds go to disaster relief.

Gun Runner’s fee for 2022 is $125,000 following his record-setting year as the leading First-Crop Sire of 2021.