Legendary Race Horse. In his career, John Henry earned 39 victories, 15 seconds and nine-thirds in 83 starts and earned $6,597,947. He was inducted into thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame in 1990. He won four Grade I races and was the only horse to ever win Horse of the Year honors twice, at ages 6 and 9. He also collected seven Eclipse awards from 1980-84. Called small, ugly and bad-tempered as a foal, he was sold at a mixed sale for $1,100. He soon became known more for his disposition than his racing ability, often tearing buckets and tubs off the wall of his stall and stomping them flat. He was sold to Harold Snowden of Lexington for $2,200 in 1977. Snowden chose to geld John Henry with the hope it would calm him and allow him to focus on racing. This decision would later result in a tremendous loss of revenue from stud fees. He changed hands two more times until native New Yorker Sam Rubin and his wife, Dorothy, bought him for $25,000 sight unseen over the phone. After retirement, he spent the last 22 years of his life as the star attraction at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Surviving several illnesses over the years, he never recovered from a bout with dehydration, in which he experienced kidney failure. He was euthanized in his paddock.
Legendary Race Horse. In his career, John Henry earned 39 victories, 15 seconds and nine-thirds in 83 starts and earned $6,597,947. He was inducted into thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame in 1990. He won four Grade I races and was the only horse to ever win Horse of the Year honors twice, at ages 6 and 9. He also collected seven Eclipse awards from 1980-84. Called small, ugly and bad-tempered as a foal, he was sold at a mixed sale for $1,100. He soon became known more for his disposition than his racing ability, often tearing buckets and tubs off the wall of his stall and stomping them flat. He was sold to Harold Snowden of Lexington for $2,200 in 1977. Snowden chose to geld John Henry with the hope it would calm him and allow him to focus on racing. This decision would later result in a tremendous loss of revenue from stud fees. He changed hands two more times until native New Yorker Sam Rubin and his wife, Dorothy, bought him for $25,000 sight unseen over the phone. After retirement, he spent the last 22 years of his life as the star attraction at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Surviving several illnesses over the years, he never recovered from a bout with dehydration, in which he experienced kidney failure. He was euthanized in his paddock.
Bio by: Ron Moody
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