poledancer
30-01-2002, 14:04
John Henry who was named USA Horse of the Year twice, has shown at the age of 27 he's still as tough as they come. Last Friday he underwent surgery for colic and even though vets removed up to three feet of colon, he was back on his feet in the afternoon and has already returned to his retirement home at Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington.
Kentucky Horse Park executive director John Nicholson. "He's beaten the odds all his life, I guess we shouldn't be surprised he's done it again."
John Henry is something of a folk hero in America, albeit a bad tempered one! When he was a young horse, before he was named, he ripped a steel feed bin off the wall, (it was bolted on) he threw it on the ground, stomped on it, picked it up and threw it at somebody walking past his stall.
After this incident he was quickly named, owner John Callaway said "`Now there's a steel-drivin' man." And so Callaway named the horse John Henry, after the coal-miner ballad of John Henry the steel driving man. The horse went down in racing history as a 'the steel drivin' horse'
Author Steve Haskin once said;
"My preconceptions of the John Henry saga paled in comparison to the real story. I knew he affected people's lives, and was loved by legions of adoring fans, but I had no idea the extent of that adoration. The more I learned about the horse the more I was fascinated by the spell he cast on people".
Because John Henry raced primarily on grass, he will never be ranked among the elite group that includes Secretariat, Man o' War, and Citation.
He was unlike most of these super hero dirt horses. He was not overly attractive and had minor physical flaws, but inside him lived the perfect racehorse. Because he seemed ageless, and his desire for competition was unparalleled, he will always have a special place in the hearts of all those who saw him race.
Bought for USD$1100.00 in 1976, John Henry by Ole Bob Bowers, 1963 from Once Double, 1967, had 83 career starts for 39 wins and 24 placings for USD$6,597,947.
He won Seven Eclipse Awards:
1980 Turf Male
1981 Horse of the Year
1981 Handicap Horse
1981 Turf Male
1983 Turf Male
1984 Horse of the Year
1984 Turf Male
Won the Santa Anita Handicap twice
Won the Arlington Million twice and placed second once
He held three course records:
1 3/8 miles at Meadowlands in 2:13;
1 3/8 miles at Golden Gate Fields in 2:13;
1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita in 2:23 (twice).
By: Jo Adams - Wednesday, 30 January 2002
Kentucky Horse Park executive director John Nicholson. "He's beaten the odds all his life, I guess we shouldn't be surprised he's done it again."
John Henry is something of a folk hero in America, albeit a bad tempered one! When he was a young horse, before he was named, he ripped a steel feed bin off the wall, (it was bolted on) he threw it on the ground, stomped on it, picked it up and threw it at somebody walking past his stall.
After this incident he was quickly named, owner John Callaway said "`Now there's a steel-drivin' man." And so Callaway named the horse John Henry, after the coal-miner ballad of John Henry the steel driving man. The horse went down in racing history as a 'the steel drivin' horse'
Author Steve Haskin once said;
"My preconceptions of the John Henry saga paled in comparison to the real story. I knew he affected people's lives, and was loved by legions of adoring fans, but I had no idea the extent of that adoration. The more I learned about the horse the more I was fascinated by the spell he cast on people".
Because John Henry raced primarily on grass, he will never be ranked among the elite group that includes Secretariat, Man o' War, and Citation.
He was unlike most of these super hero dirt horses. He was not overly attractive and had minor physical flaws, but inside him lived the perfect racehorse. Because he seemed ageless, and his desire for competition was unparalleled, he will always have a special place in the hearts of all those who saw him race.
Bought for USD$1100.00 in 1976, John Henry by Ole Bob Bowers, 1963 from Once Double, 1967, had 83 career starts for 39 wins and 24 placings for USD$6,597,947.
He won Seven Eclipse Awards:
1980 Turf Male
1981 Horse of the Year
1981 Handicap Horse
1981 Turf Male
1983 Turf Male
1984 Horse of the Year
1984 Turf Male
Won the Santa Anita Handicap twice
Won the Arlington Million twice and placed second once
He held three course records:
1 3/8 miles at Meadowlands in 2:13;
1 3/8 miles at Golden Gate Fields in 2:13;
1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita in 2:23 (twice).
By: Jo Adams - Wednesday, 30 January 2002