http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54285/santa-anita-to-unveil-statue-of-john-henry


I've thought for a while that John would at some point be honored at Santa Anita. He had great moments at tracks all over the country, but there was just that special relationship that he had at the Great Race Place that required a special and permanent memorial to him right there at Santa Anita.

A dry eye might be hard to find when Ronnie unveils this statue. I will definitely be there.

There is no horse before or after that means more to me.

amen pas

my favorite

spent many mornings rubbing him and talking to him at the KHP when an online friend was his caretaker.
same with Cigar to a lesser extent.
Always hoped that some of their ability would rub off for the day ahead at Keeneland.

Now that you mention it, I miss getting Big John's Christmas cards, and have saved all of them.

An Interested Onlooker......................................................................

That still just blows me away! Somebody snaps this picture, and 28 years later, it shows up on an internet message board, and there I am!

Just amazing!

I'm looking at the pic of "ol' John" adorned with the #4 saddlecloth.

He looks like "a horse". Unlike today's "tanks".

There is something to be said by admiring physiques like that.
You don't have to look good to have talent.

That said, John, reminds me of myself. :D

I only got close up and personal with John a couple times at the KHP when he was in his twenties, but that was enough to see that my impression when seeing him in the walking ring was absolutely accurate. That is that maybe his most compelling feature was his eyes.

He was pretty nondescript in appearance. He was on the small-ish side, and his coat never exploded in the "shine and dapple" department. His over-all conformation was well-balanced, but his head and neck made him look sort of so-so.

But those eyes.....I've never seen such intelligence in a horse's eyes. It's almost like if he could speak, he would tell you the meaning of life. He just so knew what he was about, and it was all there in his eyes.

The biggest testimony to John's intelligence was the comments made by Bill Shoemaker. The legendary jockey, after his retirement, said that Spectacular Bid was the best horse he ever rode (I think he was probably right), but he also said many times that John Henry was the most professional racehorse he ever rode.

When Ron McAnally pulled the veil off of that statue, among his first words were "It looks just like him"! Nina Kaiser deserves an award for the way she captured John Henry in a bronze sculpture.

Even moreso because she captured his eyes.



And I can't write about John Henry without choking up. He is responsible for my passion, and I'm not sure that I would be here on this Forum if it wasn't for him. He isn't the greatest racehorse the world has ever seen....he isn't even the greatest racehorse that I've ever seen, but he is my hook.

Easter Sunday, April 6th, 1980.....John Henry wires the San Juan Capistrano, and on that day, my passion for this sport was born. 31 years later, I'm still in it and loving it.

Thank you John!

"AND THE YEARS DWINDLE DOWN

It wont be long before the old warrior will hear the distant call to the post, a sound he had heard so long ago. He will come home now, one last time, to that familiar roar of the crowd and run his final race."