Horses Frozen in Time – John Henry
July 4th 2011 06:07
Horses Frozen in Time – John Henry
a guest contribution for RacingWrite and Thoroughbreds Worldwide by Vicki L Vinson. Words & photography by Vicki L Vinson.
On opening day December 26, 2010 at Santa Anita, it was more than the normal fan fair of assorted stakes races. Not only was Zenyatta going to parade in front of the fans for her premature retirement appearance, but a special ceremony was scheduled on the paddock side of the grandstands. It was for the unveiling and dedication of a new statue in the paddock, that of racing great John Henry.
Sculptor Nina Kaiser gives a final tug of the cover to unveil John Henry to the public.
click on images for enlargements
From a humble pedigree out of Ole Bob Bowers by the dam Once Double, John Henry moved from owner to owner and trainer to trainer. In his first appearance at the sales ring as a yearling he sold for a mere $1,100. I wonder what the people involved then thought a few years later as John Henry retired from racing with 39 wins from 83 starts and purse earnings of $6,591,860.
Trainer Ron McAnally is interviewed by Mike Wellman, as jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. and former ex-rider Lewis Cenicola look on.
Probably the most famous race in John Henry’s career was his win in the inaugural running of the Arlington Million in 1981, where it was a photo finish between John Henry and The Bart. The exciting climax of this race will last for eternity in another sculpture entitled ‘Against All Odds’ by sculptor Edwin Bogucki. The sculpture of the two horses stands on a balcony overlooking the paddock at Arlington Park. John Henry won 30 stakes in his career including the Arlington Million one more time in 1984, the Hollywood Invitational and Oak Tree Turf Championship each three times, and back to back editions of the Santa Anita Handicap in 1981 and 1982. During his career he won 7 Eclipse awards, including Turf Horse four times and Horse of the Year honors in 1981 and 1984. He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Fans get a close up view of the John Henry statue.
Upon John Henry’s final retirement in 1986 he was sent to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky and was the first star of their Hall of Champions show and barn. John Henry lived out his days being well cared for and loved by his adoring fans that visited the park. John Henry passed away on 10/8/07 at the ripe old age of 32. A memorial held at the park was attended by over 300 people. He was frozen in time yet once again in a sculpture by Shelly Hunter there at the Horse Park.
a guest contribution for RacingWrite and Thoroughbreds Worldwide by Vicki L Vinson. Words & photography by Vicki L Vinson.
On opening day December 26, 2010 at Santa Anita, it was more than the normal fan fair of assorted stakes races. Not only was Zenyatta going to parade in front of the fans for her premature retirement appearance, but a special ceremony was scheduled on the paddock side of the grandstands. It was for the unveiling and dedication of a new statue in the paddock, that of racing great John Henry.
Sculptor Nina Kaiser gives a final tug of the cover to unveil John Henry to the public.
click on images for enlargements
From a humble pedigree out of Ole Bob Bowers by the dam Once Double, John Henry moved from owner to owner and trainer to trainer. In his first appearance at the sales ring as a yearling he sold for a mere $1,100. I wonder what the people involved then thought a few years later as John Henry retired from racing with 39 wins from 83 starts and purse earnings of $6,591,860.
Trainer Ron McAnally is interviewed by Mike Wellman, as jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. and former ex-rider Lewis Cenicola look on.
Probably the most famous race in John Henry’s career was his win in the inaugural running of the Arlington Million in 1981, where it was a photo finish between John Henry and The Bart. The exciting climax of this race will last for eternity in another sculpture entitled ‘Against All Odds’ by sculptor Edwin Bogucki. The sculpture of the two horses stands on a balcony overlooking the paddock at Arlington Park. John Henry won 30 stakes in his career including the Arlington Million one more time in 1984, the Hollywood Invitational and Oak Tree Turf Championship each three times, and back to back editions of the Santa Anita Handicap in 1981 and 1982. During his career he won 7 Eclipse awards, including Turf Horse four times and Horse of the Year honors in 1981 and 1984. He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Fans get a close up view of the John Henry statue.
Upon John Henry’s final retirement in 1986 he was sent to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky and was the first star of their Hall of Champions show and barn. John Henry lived out his days being well cared for and loved by his adoring fans that visited the park. John Henry passed away on 10/8/07 at the ripe old age of 32. A memorial held at the park was attended by over 300 people. He was frozen in time yet once again in a sculpture by Shelly Hunter there at the Horse Park.
John Henry
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