SubscribeGift a Sub
Enable cache 100
Horse Parties and Events

Put Another Candle on John’s Birthday Cake

John Henry
Photo by Gayle Strickroot



How many people came to your last birthday party? About 100 horse lovers showed up at the party held at Kentucky Horse Park a few weeks ago for its most famous resident, John Henry. The wiry dark bay gelding celebrated birthday number 32, though he wasn’t exactly the life of the party. In his typical anti-social manner, he shunned reporters and well-wishers and chose instead to nibble on the grass in his pasture. A recipient of racing’s Horse of the Year honors in 1981 and 1984, John Henry currently looks more like a scruffy pony than the cantankerous, hard-headed horse that won nearly $7 million during his racing career. But who can blame him? Theoretically, in “horse years” he’s about 90 years old.



Eventually, Kentucky Horse Park will also be home to a cache of John Henry mementoes courtesy of the estate of Sam and Dorothy Rubin, who owned the gelding during most of his racing heyday. The win photos, trophies and racing silks—among other items—will be housed in the park’s Museum of the Horse.

18 years ago
Abigail Boatwright

Abigail Boatwright is a freelance writer and photographer based in Texas, and is the editor of Horse Illustrated’s sister publication, Western Life Today.

View Comments

  • I'm glad to hear this remarkable horse is doing well! Only wish your article had featured a current picture of the birthday boy.

  • You gotta love John. I have the "dubious" honor of getting bitten by him while visiting KHP in 1985. Being a horseperson - without even thinking about "Who" he was - I smacked him in the side of the head! His groom thought that was hilarious! He was a naughty boy! He let me think he was enjoying the attention and wow - he was as fast with his teeth as he was with his feet!! Many more, you grouchy ol' guy!

  • Thank you so much for this information! I have loved John Henry ever since I read him on a book when I was kid. John Henry is very funny and cute old man. I saw him at the Kentucky Horse Park and you now what? He kissed me on the cheek!! I love him. FOR EVER JOHN HENRY RULES THE RACE TRACK WIT ALL OTHER HORSES!!

  • I watched him race when I was a kid. He caught my attention because my favorite teacher had the same name. I thought anybody who is named after such a great horse had to be cool. I wish him many more birthdays to come.

Leave a Comment

Related Post

Recent Posts

AHP Equine Industry Survey Returns in 2025

Horse owners who live in the United States, are 18 years of age and older, and currently own or manage…

1 day ago

Is My Horse Cold? – An Excerpt from Keeping Horses Outdoors by Iveta Jebáčková-Lažanská

Is your horse cold in the winter? The following excerpt from Keeping Horses Outdoors by Iveta Jebáčková-Lažanská helps answer that question…

1 day ago

ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Hali

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…

2 days ago

Common Horse Training Mistakes

These four common horse training mistakes are easier to catch and correct when you’re aware of them. As a clinician,…

3 days ago

All About the American Warmblood

If you appreciate sport horses of many different breeding backgrounds, types and colors, the American Warmblood will unite you with…

5 days ago

Waste: ReImagined – ZahnTech Repurposes Waste for a Permanent Fencing Solution

LENNOX, S.D. — Every great innovation begins with a moment of clarity, and for ZahnTech's founder, Avery Zahn, it came…

1 week ago