The industry was once again saddened on February 11, 2020, as the word of another great champion passing was heard.
“Our hearts were broken on February 11 with the news that our beloved Border Run had passed due to complications of colic. He was a beautiful, strong willed champion stallion. Nick and I are forever grateful to the Callaway’s and their staff for taking such great care of him, but above all to John Allan who loved him as much as we did,” said owner Gayle Holcomb.
By José José and out of Pusher’s Midnight Maiden, Border Run was foaled May 14, 2010. The stunning black stallion was a fireball full of energy and talent.
In the summer of 2012, Border Run caught the attention of Bud and Suzanne Moore. He was placed in training with Knox Blackburn. With Blackburn retiring from training in 2013, the decision was made for Border Run to make his new home at Callaway Stables.
John Allan Callaway and Border Run teamed up and together they earned their first world championship that year, followed by a reserve world grand championship the next year. In 2015 they entered the aged ranks and captured the world championship in the b division qualifier.
Through this time Border Run was gaining more and more fans, including Gayle Holcomb and Nick Masters. They proudly purchased Border Run at the end of 2015 and placed him in training with Chad Williams.
During the summer of 2016, Masters and Holcomb decided to send Border Run back to his forever home at Callaway Stables where he was back with John Allan. Saddle time aboard Border Run was shared between Holcomb and John Allan.
It’s been a winning trio from there with John Allan and Border Run earning their third world championship in 2016, Holcomb earning a reserve world championship in 2017 and John Allan winning another world championship in 2018. This past year it was decided to make another run at the coveted world grand championship title. John Allan and Border Run once again found themselves in victory lane earning the b division split of the aged stallion qualifier at the Celebration. The Tunica Fall Classic closed out their year being the last team to exit the ring with the roses as the Tunica Fall Classic Grand Champions.
“Words cannot express the loss. I will never train another horse like him. I always believed in him,” expressed John Allan.