Dr. G. L. Cooke de1ivered Dr. Brad Gunn born April 20, 1913 at his
mother's parents (George Rogers). Brad
says he was born with a love for horses. He
can't remember when he learned to ride a horse any more than when he learned to
walk. Brad's father Rod Gunn
homesteaded in the Paradise Valley area in 1907.
Dr. Gunn attended Normal School in Edmonton and taught off and on for
several years to pay his way through University.
His first school was "Golden Valley" southwest of Lloyd.
Brad is a graduate of the University of Alberta, and later graduated
Magna Cum; Laude from McGill University where he earned a Doctorate in Physical
Chemistry. Brad served his country in W.W. II and later worked with the National
Defense Research in Ottawa. He
retired from that phase of his life as Head of the Saskatchewan Research Council
in Saskatoon.
While attending McGill, Brad met a charming young lady named Agnes, who was to become his lifelong mate. The couple has one son Ken, who along with his wife Beth presented Agnes and Brad with three grandchildren.
While working in Saskatoon Brad purchased his first horse, thus started a
three-ring circus. Brad had his
regular work in Saskatoon; he raised horses at Lloydminster and drove in harness
races in Edmonton. Mrs. Gunn, a nurse was at one time President of the
Saskatchewan Nurses Association and she said they sometimes waved as they passed
in Saskatoon.
Dr. Gunn purchased Adios Pick at the 1960 Standardbred Select Sale in
Pennsylvania, and a dynasty was born. When
Adios Pick was mated with the Gunnholme-Vu cold-blooded mares the result was
astounding. In 1976 Gunns retired
to Gunnholme Farm to pursue the work they love, on a beautiful hill overlooking
the countryside where Brad grew up. Dr.
Gunn produced racehorses that won the Western Canada Pacing Derby eight times in
seventeen years, and the Black Gold in two of the three years it was offered.
(In 1979 Brad Gunn bred all but one of the seven horses competion in the Black
Gold.)
Adios Pick was 33 years old when he died on New Years Day 1987- some
age for a horse! He boasted total earnings among his $16 million.
Each foal was named Senga (Agnes backwards) in honor of Mrs. Gunn, a
loving helpmate to Brad. The walls of Gunn's living room are lined with pictures of
Adios Pick and his offspring. The
shelves are lined with trophies and awards, some for Brad, some for the horses.
Probably the award that Brad is the proudest of is his induction into
the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1981.
In 1989 he was joined by his beloved Adios Pick.
Brad was also the recipient of the Alberta Government's Achievement Award
presented to those Albertans who have been noted for exceptional contribution at
a national or international level.
Dr. Brad Gunn passed away in 2002, his wife Agnes in 2003.