For most racehorse owners, celebrating a winner is an unforgettable experience. To reach 100 victories with the same syndicator is an achievement of extraordinary longevity, loyalty and success.
Long-time Triple Crown owners John Williams and Judy Gibson recently reached that remarkable milestone when Freddie Bassett powered to victory at Warwick Farm, becoming their 100th winner in the famous red and white Triple Crown colours.
And they did not have to wait long to begin their second century, with Firm Agreement subsequently taking their tally to 101.
John and Judy’s journey with Triple Crown began in 2009, when they took a share in their first horse, Mossenta. While he was not able to provide them with their first victory, it did not take long for the winners to begin flowing.
“Our first horse was Mossenta when we started out with Triple Crown back in 2009, but he wasn’t the fastest of horses,” John recalled.
“We didn’t win a race until our second horse, Tabliope. We shared ownership in her with Darren King and his mum Marjorie who were some of the first owners we met, and we are still in horses with them today.”
That enduring friendship is one of the central themes of John and Judy’s ownership experience. During almost two decades with Triple Crown, they have shared horses with countless fellow owners, travelled to racetracks around Australia and created lifelong memories with people who share their passion for thoroughbred racing.
A Special Century at Warwick Farm
Although John and Judy knew the milestone was approaching, anticipation began to build as they moved through the nineties.
Freddie Bassett ultimately delivered the century in style, breaking through in a $100,000 Super Maiden over 1600 metres at Warwick Farm.
“Freddie’s win was special because, although we knew it was coming, it took a little while to crack the nineties,” John said.
“We had a great group of owners there to enjoy the occasion, which made it even better.”
The celebrations continued away from the racetrack. John marked the occasion with an occasional favourite, a Maker’s Mark bourbon, before he and Judy enjoyed dinner at Hiro, their favourite Japanese restaurant in Beverly Hills.
“Judy does not drink at all, but we enjoyed a celebratory dinner together,” John said.
Flying Snitzel Delivers a Group Breakthrough
Among their 100 winners have been victories at metropolitan, country and Group level, but few remain more vivid than their first Group race winner, Flying Snitzel, who really got their hearts pumping. Flying Snitzel, won the Group 3 Baillieu Stakes at Rosehill in just her fifth career start but it was the manner in which she brought up her second Group race win in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington that really sticks in the memory bank for John and Judy.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and ridden by Craig Williams, Flying Snitzel faced a high-class field headed by raging favourite Norzita.
“Our first Group winner came with Flying Snitzel in the 2013 Kewney Stakes,” John said.
“Craig Williams had already ridden three winners on the day, but I was not too optimistic because she was up against Norzita.
“She was last at the home bend and then received a solid bump, so I thought that was it. But she produced an unbelievable finish and ran away with the race by a length and a quarter.”
It was a thrilling performance and one that established Flying Snitzel as a special horse for John, Judy and her ownership group.
Remarkably, a decade later, John and Judy celebrated another victory in the same race when their outstanding mare Revolutionary Miss won the 2023 Kewney Stakes.
A Revolutionary Journey
Revolutionary Miss holds a particularly special place in John and Judy’s hearts, having taken them to racing’s biggest stages and provided some of their most memorable moments as owners.
“Naturally, one of my favourites is Revolutionary Miss,” John said.
“Without a doubt, she was our best-performed horse. She won seven races, six at Group level, including our second Kewney Stakes win, 10 years after Flying Snitzel won the same race.”
Revolutionary Miss also finished runner-up in two Group 1 races, most memorably when narrowly beaten a nose by Daumier in the 2022 Blue Diamond Stakes after winning the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude.
She was beaten by the smallest of margins on one of Australian racing’s biggest days, but the experience remains among John and Judy’s most treasured.
“It is difficult to name our most exciting day at the races, but I probably cannot go past the 2022 Blue Diamond and Revolutionary Miss subsequently gaining a start in the Golden Slipper,” John said.
“That is an experience not many owners get to enjoy, and we absolutely lapped it up.”
The Horses That Capture Your Heart
While racetrack success is an important part of ownership, a horse does not need to win a Group race to leave a lasting impression.
For John, Flash of Innocence remains a favourite because of the immediate bond they shared.
“Flash of Innocence was a horse with a beautiful nature,” he said.
“The first time I saw her at Muskoka Farm, she walked up to me and put her head on my shoulder. That was it – I was done.
“We never saw the best of Flash. She won a race she probably had no right to win, but unfortunately things did not go right for her after that.”
Other notable performers have included Diablo Bolt who has notched up 8 career wins and Courtza King, Big Bad Bruce and El Sasso who each recorded six wins to their name.
John and Judy have also enjoyed success with many other talented horses including Moss Trip, Miss Hellfire and Hellenic Belle, whose victory in the prestigious Wellington Boot earlier this year provided a huge thrill with them both celebrating trackside.
“The Wellington Boot win with Hellenic Belle was a real highlight,” John said. “It is one of the great feature races on the country racing calendar.”
Their enthusiasm remains as strong as ever, with John and Judy holding high hopes for their horses in the year ahead, including the likes of Venetian Queen, Hellenic Belle and their century-maker, Freddie Bassett.
More Than Just Winning
John and Judy share their passion for horses, but it is the people, friendships and experiences surrounding racing that have sustained their passion for ownership.
“Judy and I have both had a lifelong love of horses,” John said.
“To be able to indulge that passion and experience racing in the company of like-minded people makes it even more enjoyable.”
Their dedication to their horses is reflected in the effort they make to attend races, trials and stable visits wherever possible.
Triple Crown Director Chris Ward said John and Judy had embraced every aspect of ownership since joining the team in 2009.
“John and Judy along with their family, are wonderful people and tremendous fun to race horses with,” Ward said.
“When they purchased their first share with us, I doubt they could have imagined they would go on to celebrate 100 winners. In fact, the tally is already 101 following Firm Agreement’s latest victory.
“They are great travellers and make the effort to attend as many races and trials as possible. Racing has become a wonderful hobby for them and their family, and they have formed genuine, lasting friendships with ourselves and many other Triple Crown owners.
“They have experienced the complete spectrum of ownership, from horses who were limited right through to elite Group race winners, but their overall record has been exceptional.
“Collectively, their horses have effectively paid for themselves. John and Judy have enjoyed the experience of a lifetime for almost 17 years now, with their horses essentially picking up the tab.
“It is a remarkable achievement, and they deserve every bit of their success. We could not be more thrilled for them.”
The Triple Crown Experience
John and Judy’s relationship with Triple Crown extends well beyond raceday results.
They have remained close to owners from previous syndicates and continue to enjoy the regular communication, stable visits and social experiences that come with being part of the Triple Crown team.
“With Triple Crown, we have made many new friends and enjoy their company, as well as the company of Chris, Sam and their families, who all genuinely love their racing,” John said.
“We still enjoy catching up with friends who were involved in horses such as Flying Snitzel, Moss Trip, Miss Hellfire and Revolutionary Miss.
“Triple Crown goes the extra mile to make sure owners receive the best possible experience. Their expertise is focused on providing owners with genuine value and giving them the best possible bang for their buck. We always look forward to the weekly, and sometimes daily, updates on our horses, and the stable visits are a real feature.”
For anyone considering becoming involved in racehorse ownership, John believes joining an established and professional syndicator provides the most accessible introduction.
“If you have ever thought about becoming a racehorse owner, joining a top-quality syndicate such as Triple Crown is the most realistic and economical way to dip your toe in the water,” he said. “It gives you the best possible chance of enjoying a positive experience, with the added bonus of meeting new people.”
John’s reflection of Triple Crown perfectly captured a partnership that has now spanned 17 years, more than 100 victories and countless unforgettable experiences together.
“Triple Crown is an industry leader and has been for many years,” he said.
“Their proven approach to selecting horses and trainers provides owners with the best possible racing experience.
“Most importantly, Triple Crown shares our philosophy that winning is wonderful, but the welfare of the horse must always come first.”
Congratulations to John Williams and Judy Gibson on an extraordinary achievement. Their loyalty, enthusiasm and commitment to their horses embody everything that is special about racehorse ownership, and everyone at Triple Crown looks forward to sharing many more winners and memorable moments with them in the years ahead.