Derby Future Pool 5 Tampa Bay Derby Santa Anita Hcp Day Gotham Stakes Day Kentucky Derby Contenders |
|
John Henry at the Kentucky Horse Park in January 2006 Photos of his grave and memorials left at his stall and paddock |
Bred in Kentucky by Golden Chance Farm, John Henry was foaled March 9, 1975, and was a son of Old Bob Bowers out of the Double Jay mare Once Double. For most of racing career, he was owned by Sam and Dorothy Rubin's Dotsam Stable, trained by Ron McAnally, and ridden by Chris McCarron.
In his career he won 39 of 83 races, 16 of those wins in Grade 1 competition, earning almost $6.6 million in purse money. He is best remembered as the winner of the inaugural Arlington Million in 1981 in a thrilling photo finish over The Bart, and then came back to win it again as a 9-year-old in 1984, and he is still the only 2-time winner of the world's first million dollar horse race. His seven Eclipse Awards include Horse of the year in 1981 and 1984, turf male in 1980, 1981, 1983, and 1984, and older male in 1981. After winning his last four races, closing out his career in the Ballantine Handicap at the Meadowlands, he was retired and sent to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Many fans came from around the world to see him at the Hall of Champions, and he was regularly visited by McAnally, McCarron, and exercise rider Lewis Cenicola. He was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 1990.
John Henry at the Kentucky Horse Park in January 2006 |
Jockey Chris McCarron said, "What can I say about the legendary John Henry that has not already been said? John meant the world to my family and me. Everywhere he raced, his presence doubled the size of a normal race track crowd. He did so much for racing, even after he retired, that he will be impossible to replace. He will be sorely missed but forever in our hearts."
John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, said, "The mighty heart of the great John Henry has, at long last, yielded to time. The racing industry has lost a legend, but more significantly, many people have lost a personal hero. John Henry's true legacy was written in people's hearts far more indelibly than his superlative racing career could ever reflect. John Henry was a testament to the fact that a horse's value is far greater than the sum of his pedigree, conformation, sales price, and race record. Winston Churchill said that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man, but I would add that horses like John Henry prove that the inside of a horse is even better for the inside of a man. The next few days will be terribly difficult for his fans, but especially for the people here at the park who have worked with him and loved him for so long. It was our unparalleled privilege to have John Henry here living at the Kentucky Horse Park for the past 22 years."
"Against All Odds", the statue of John Henry beating The Bart in the first Arlington Million. |
John Henry will be buried among the other legends, near his paddock at the Hall of Champions. The Kentucky Horse Park will hold a public memorial service on Friday, October 19.
More about John Henry:
If any of his fans have a favorite photo of him that they would like to have added to this, please email it to me and I will be glad to include it. It must be your own photo though so there are no copyright violations. Thanks!
John Henry taunts Pleasant Colony in 2000 |
John Henry (right) and Pleasant Colony at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2000 |
Back to Horse-Races.Net main page
Want to keep up with what's new on this site? Sign up for my weekly newsletter here. |
On the Forum:
Search Horse-Races.Net: |