October 2007 • VOLUME 26 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Voted 7 Eclipse Awards
Voted Horse of the Year 1981 and 1984
Won Horse of the Year more than once, but not in consecutive years
Voted Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse 1981
Oldest horse to win Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year - at age 9
Oldest horse to win a Grade 1 race - at age 9 (tied)
Voted Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984
Won 30 stakes races
Only horse to win the Arlington Million (G1) twice - 1981 & 1984
One of only two horses 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 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1990
Ranked #23 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century

NEWS RELEASE



HE IS GONE
One of Thoroughbred Racing’s Greatest Stars, John Henry, Will be Sorely Missed

LEXINGTON, KY (October 8, 2007) John Henry, the legendary Thoroughbred racehorse who was twice Horse of the Year, was humanely euthanized at the Kentucky Horse Park today at 7:00 pm.

John Nicholson, executive director of the park announced, “The mighty heart of the great John Henry has, at long last, yielded to time. The racing industry has lost a legend, but more significantly, many people have lost a personal hero. John Henry’s true legacy was written in people’s hearts far more indelibly than his superlative racing career could ever reflect.” He continued, “John Henry was a testament to the fact that a horse’s value is far greater than the sum of his pedigree, conformation, sales price and race record. Winston Churchill said that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man, but I would add that horses like John Henry prove that the inside of a horse is even better for the inside of man.”

The sad but unanimous decision was reached by a team of people who knew him best. The park’s equine director, Kathy Hopkins stated, “After continued successful efforts to maintain the quality of John Henry's life, in the past 48 hours he did not respond to our medical intervention. Due to the loss of kidney function and muscle mass, his veterinarian, Dr. Mike Beyer, found it impossible to keep him properly hydrated and comfortable. Over the years, our goal has always been to maintain the highest quality of care and life for him, and it became evident over the weekend that this was no longer possible. Our hearts go out to all of those who so deeply cared for John during his long and charismatic life.”

He lived 32-and-a-half years, and went peacefully to sleep surrounded by a small circle of friends who were closest to him, including Cathy Roby, who has been his friend and caretaker for 16 years and his breeder, Verna Lehmann.

John Henry overcame numerous well-known obstacles throughout his career, and colic surgery in 2002. His talent, determination, tenacity and toughness inspired thousands of people who didn’t even see him race, but became aware of him many years after his retirement. Some of his fans visited him at least once a month from Toledo, Indianapolis, and other cities in the Midwest, while others made annual pilgrimages to his barn from California, Texas and around the world. When it recently became public knowledge that his health was in a state of decline, many of his fans immediately came to the park to thank their beloved champion for the memories, and to whisper their personal, final farewells to the horse who inspired great respect and ardent devotion.

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