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.

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John Henry Named Kentucky's Most Intriguing Newsmaker of 2007!
It's official! Go to the Lexington Herald-Leader's website, Kentucky.com, to find out more.
Full Article

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Related Links

Read more about the passing of John Henry
Donate to the John Henry Memorial
View other admirer's thoughts on John Henry
Thoroughbred Times' Memorial Coverage

Watch the video "Hoofing it with John Henry"
Watch the John Henry documentary trailer
Watch the Memorial Service, Courtesy of theHorse.com
Watch John Henry in the Inaugural Ryder Report



HORSERACING TV PRODUCES SPECIAL
JOHN HENRY DVD
All Proceeds Donated to John Henry Memorial at the Hall of Champions
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 ccrocker@santaanita.com.

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.

"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."

John Henry Articles

• Kentucky.com Guestbook
• Racing Great John Henry Dead at 32
• The Champion is Now the Legend
• John Henry dies at age 32
• Legendary Racehorse John Henry Euthanatized at 32
• Steve Haskin Remembers John Henry
• John Henry: Legend Video
• Two-time Horse of the Year John Henry Euthanized
• Donate to the John Henry Memorial

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

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

Watch the video "Hoofing it with John Henry"
Watch the John Henry documentary trailer