24/08/2025
🌹🐎 John Henry – A Lasting Legend 🐎🌹
"If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to Heaven, and bring you home again."
— Poem on John Henry’s gravesite
"John Henry, A Lasting Legend."
— Engraving on his statue
John Henry wasn’t just a racehorse; he was an icon of determination, grit, and heart. Honored with the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in both 1981 and 1984, he remains the only horse in history to receive every single vote for the award (1981). At the remarkable age of nine, he also became the oldest horse ever to claim the title.
Over his career, John Henry ran 83 races, winning 39, placing second 15 times, and finishing third 9 times. He also set the record for most graded stakes victories among Thoroughbreds.
Fans loved his fighting spirit—and his quirks. After each win, John Henry would often stop and look up at the tote board, as if checking the race time or payout himself.
Today, we remember him not only as a champion but as a legend who captured the hearts of racing fans around the world. 🏆❤️
📸: John Henry with his groom, Jose Mercado
