Horse Racing Fantasy Community

Foaled on March 9, 1975, at Golden Chance Farms in Paris, KY, by the sire Old Bob Bowers, victorious only once in a stake race at Tanforan Park, John Henry quietly came onto the thoroughbred racing scene. Not highly thought of, the yearling was sold for $1,100 at a public auction to John Callaway. But Callaway, not realizing the future value of the horse he had purchased, sold John Henry at a subsequent auction as a 2-year-old for the whopping sum of $2,200. I’m sure Callaway would say it was the worst $1,100 he’s ever made in his life.

John Henry once again exchanged hands when a Louisiana trainer, Phillip Marino, found the colt “interesting” because of his tough guy attitude and paid $10,000 as part of a racing partnership. So, before John Henry ever broke out of a starting gate for an official race, he changed hands among three different owners.

The start of John Henry’s first race was less than exciting. When the bell rang and the gates opened, John decided to walk out of the gates instead of running. He quickly found his stride, however, made a powerful move around the far turn, stormed home and won by a nose. After a couple of more starts, the former owner, Harold Snowden, who originally purchased the horse for $2,200 and sold him for $10,000, decided to buy back the horse. It is said that Snowden paid $25,000 for the buy-back. Buying horses back after they’re sold is not a common practice among owners. But, Snowden realized he had made a mistake in selling the colt and aggressively pursued the new owner in order to re-purchase him.

It wasn’t long after that John Henry found himself competing in stake races. But, it wasn’t to be until 1980 when John Henry would win his first graded stake race. Three weeks later, then under the trainer Ron McAnally, John came back to win the San Marcos Handicap on the dirt, scoring an easy victory by almost three lengths. John Henry then traveled to Florida to win the Hialeah Turf Cup, taking control early in the race and holding off all other competition through the stretch. Soon after, John Henry would travel back to California and win his first Grade I stake event beating the well-acclaimed, Relaunch, by two lengths in the San Luis Rey Stakes. One of America’s famous horses was now being recognized as a true champion and well on his way to stardom.

As a youngster, John was a feisty little fella, constantly tearing his water and feed buckets off the stall walls and then stomping on them until they were crushed. John Henry’s stardom grew when he entered the racing scene in California. Earning over $6.5 million in his racing career, John is one of just a few horses that has actually received the U.S. Horse of the Year Award twice. In 1981, he was also proclaimed U.S. Champion Older Male Horse. What’s interesting is that he received that honor in 1981, but won his second Horse of the Year title in 1984, three years later, an unprecedented accomplishment. Just like his popularity, John Henry appeared to get better with age. The tough brown gelding was never considered ‘much’ early on and his sire once sold for a whopping $900 and his dam had no recognition at all for being either a runner or producer of quality horses. But, you couldn’t tell John Henry that. As far as he was concerned, he was the greatest athlete ever.

John Henry was named into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1990. He is ranked as one of the top 20 greatest horses of the 20th century. The two-time Arlington Million winner has his statue standing at Arlington Park. And, rightfully so, as he won the inaugural running of the Arlington Million and came back to win the race again as a 9-year-old. In June of 1985, John Henry’s owner decided that he would retire John the following year when he would become 10 years of age. But, John was injured during a workout at Hollywood Park in mid-July that same year and therefore the decision was made to retire him then.

A lot of people don’t realize that less than a year following his retirement, the horse was actually brought back into training and an attempt would be made to resurrect his racing career at the age of 11. But, recurring injuries prevented the return of John Henry to the racetrack and once again sent him back to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for the final time. There’s no doubt in my mind that John Henry was the people’s horse. He played an influential role in helping to cement the validity of California racing. Whenever John Henry ran in southern California, the crowds came out in droves. One of the many unique characteristics that brought further popularity for John was his unique habit of looking at the tote board after winning a race, almost as if he was checking on the time of the race and, who knows, maybe even the payoffs. Maybe John figured out a way to put a few bucks on himself!

Considered by his trainer, owner and regular rider, Chris McCarron, as a super-intelligent animal with a keen sense of understanding his surroundings, all good things come to an end. At 32 years of age, one of America’s superstar champions, John Henry, was euthanized to end the painful endurance of a kidney ailment. I have the utmost respect for Chris McCarron, who was notified several hours before the decision was made to put the horse down. McCarron quickly proceeded to the Kentucky Horse Park and accompanied his dear old friend until he departed.

One of my favorite horses to ride in our game because he always throws in a rock-solid performance is John Henry. The fact that John Henry’s racing career spanned so many years, building races with him gives you many opportunities to not only recreate some of the great events he participated in directly, but you can create so many ‘what if’ scenarios in racing events that John did not actually participate in. If you would like to become part of history and add this spectacular animal to your stable of horses, you can find John Henry in our 1980s file of Best Male Horses. He’s a proud addition to anyone’s collection of files. Below are several pictures of John Henry for your enjoyment.

- Clicksloud