Thoroughbred Greats: John Henry
1980s Gelding Rated 23rd All Time by Blood-Horse, Won 39 of 83 Trips
Among the top Thoroughbred money earners, John Henry posted 83 times, going 39-15-9 in the late 1970s and early 1980s under rider Chris McCarron. He died Oct. 8.
John Henry led the golden geldeds of the 1970s and 1980s in wins (39), and in career earnings ($6,591,860 - 9th all time), and he copped a ranking of 23rd by The Blood-Horse in that magazine's writers' picks for The Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century.
John Henry Dies at 32
After winning 39 of 83 lifetime starts, J.H. lived in respected style for 22 years at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, where, in poor health, he was humanely euthanized Oct. 8 of this year. He was 32.
Legendary Fire-Eyed Competitor
Stepson of one-time J.H. owner Sam Rubin, Tom Levinson spoke of J.H. as a legendary Thoroughbred who always displayed "fire in his eyes" as a racer.
Jockey Chris McCarron, who was J.H.'s regular rider, recalled that race crowds doubled everywhere J.H. raced. John Henry's reputation was as a cantankerous champ, but he will remain "forever in our hearts", McCarron said.
John Henry ruled the early 1980s, winning in the initial Arlington Million, Thoroughbred racing's first million dollar run, in 1981, and returning to that race at the age of nine in 1984 to capture it again and gain one of his most popular victories. He remains the race's only two-time winner.
Humble Beginnings
Starting at the base of the Thoroughbred ladder, John Henry, foaled in 1975 at Golden Chance Farms, Kentucky, was calf kneed; that is, conformed back-at-the-knee. Expectations for him as a racer were low.
Sired by Old Bob Bowers out of the Double Jay mare Once Double, John Henry's breeding was not noteworthy. J.H. injured himself at his own Keeneland sale. He sported a bloody head and those impossible knees and sold for $1,100.
As an early track prospect, he tore up more tubs and buckets than he did racing competition. His ill-tempered ways earned him a second sale, to Harold Snowden, Jr., for $2,200. Snowden, Jr. liked J.H.'s professionalism on the track, but he could find no answer to the colt's terrible off-track behavior. Gelding followed.
Still, Snowden, Jr. sold J.H. to Louisiana buyers. After J.H.'s nine straight losses, the southern trio of owners swapped J.H. back to Snowden, Jr. for two 2-year-olds.
Trainer Ron McAnally Finds the Prince
Winning six of 19 starts, J.H. then went to trainer Lefty Nickerson and turf racing in New York. Trainer Ron McAnally of the West Coast, a friend of Nickerson, amicably acquired charge of J.H. full time.
And a true prince of the track was born.
John Henry's career blossomed over the next four years. With four consecutive wins at the age of nine, J.H. finished his popular reign. Plans to run him in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf in 1984 were canceled because of a minor injury.
Briefly, at ten, J.H. attempted a comeback, but the nagging injury made his retirement permanent.
John Henry won seven Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year in 1981 and in 1984, turf male champ in 1980, 1981, 1983, and 1984, and older male champion in 1984.
At the Kentucky Horse Park, he took part in the annual Hall of Champions show. At this event, his adoring public could meet him one-on-one and thrill in lasting memory to the telling of his special story.
