John Henry

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John Henry

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(The following article was published shortly after John Henry's death on 10/08/07.)

THE GREAT JOHN HENRY IS GONE

The Kentucky Horse Park continues to mourn the passing of our great champion, John Henry, who went to his celestial paddock on October 8 at 7pm. He was 32 years-old. He lived at the park for 22 of those years and left an indelible impression on countless individuals during his life. He was hugely significant to the park and we owe a great deal of our success to him.

Many beautiful eulogies have been written about John Henry since October. Thousands of people have paid their respects through their tears, prayers, entries in guest books, videos, cards, letters, phone calls, flowers, blogs, email, newspaper and magazine articles, attendance at the memorial service and gifts to the permanent memorial statue fund. We appreciate each one.

We are inexpressibly grateful for the blessing of John Henry and for the people who loved him, honored him and attended to his needs.

On this page you will find links to a number items relating to his life, death, legacy, and future projects.

Biography

HORSERACING TV PRODUCES SPECIAL JOHN HENRY DVD

All Proceeds Donated to John Henry Memorial at the Hall of Champions
Columnist Joe Hirsch writes..."He was not the best race horse. He was not the fastest or the busiest," retired Daily Racing Form columnist Joe Hirsch said. "He wasn't the greatest weight carrier, and certainly not the handsomest or the most personable. But he was the most remarkable horse who ever raced -- anywhere."HorseRacing TV (TM) (HRTV) has produced a special DVD chronicling the public memorial service for the legendary gelding John Henry, as well as footage of his brilliant career, which will be available to racing fans beginning this Friday, November 16.

Those interested in this unique keepsake gift, made available in time for the holiday season, may purchase the DVD for $19.95 at the Champions! Gifts and Apparels at Santa Anita. Those wishing to purchase may also do so by calling 800-675-2114, or by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

HRTV broadcast the public memorial for John Henry in its entirety, from the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on October 19. The DVD will include full coverage of the entire ceremony, as well as a special episode of HRTV's weekly Across The Board show, which was devoted exclusively to John Henry's impressive legacy.

The show featured interviews with trainer Ron McAnally, Lewis Cenicola, and Cathy Roby, who cared for the great gelding at the Horse Park's Hall of Champions barn.

All profits from the DVD will be donated to Old Friends and earmarked for the John Henry Memorial at the Hall of Champions.

HRTV (www.hrtv.com) is a 24-hour television network providing up to 15 hours per day of wire-to-wire coverage of live horse racing action from more than 70 thoroughbred, harness and quarter horse racetracks in the United States, Canada and Australia.

John Henry Articles

About John Henry

Thoroughbred Bay Gelding, (foaled March 9, 1975 in Kentucky)
15.1 hands
by Ole Bob Bowers - Once Double, by Double Jay
Breeder: Golden Chance Farm
Owner: Samuel and Dorothy Rubin (Dotsam Stables)
Trainer: Ron McAnally

Accomplishments

Voted 7 Eclipse Awards
Voted Horse of the Year 1981 and 1984
Only horse to win Horse of the Year more than once but not in consecutive years
Voted Champion Older Horse 1981
Oldest horse to win Horse of the Year - at age 9
Oldest horse to win a Grade 1 race - at age 9
Voted Champion Turf Horse - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984
Won 30 stakes races
Only horse to win the Arlington Million(G1) twice - 1981 & 1984
Only horse to win the Santa Anita Handicap(G1) twice - 1981 & 1982
Won more grade stakes than any other Thoroughbred - 25
Voted Racehorse of the Decade for the 1980s
Still the richest gelding of any breed in history
Retired as the world's richest thoroughbred - July 28, 1985
Inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame in 1990
Voted 23rd best racehorse of the 20th Century

Record

Record and Statistics

Year	Age	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
1977	2	11	3	2	2	$49,380
1978	3	19	6	2	3	$120,319
1979	4	11	4	5	0	$129,864
1980	5	12	8	3	1	$925,217
1981	6	10	8	0	0	$1,798,030
1982	7	6	2	0	2	$580,300
1983	8	5	2	2	0	$652,100
1984	9	9	6	1	1	$2,336,650
Totals	*	83	39	15	9	$6,591,860