John Henry

Описание: Named after the steel driving man of American folklore, John Henry's career began slowly. No one seemed willing to take a chance on the small, calf-kneed two-year-old when he was sold at the 1976 Keeneland January sale for $1,100. He was gelded and during the following months spent most of his time traveling between owners until Sam and Dorothy Rubin purchased him for $25,000. For the Rubins, it was their beginning in the horse industry -- for the horse industry it was the beginning of a legend.

Immediately after arriving in New York, the Rubin's home state, he won a $25,000 claiming race on dirt and a $35,000 race on the turf. Following these races, he was shipped to various tracks across the country where he continued to win. Records fell beneath his hooves, fans waited for his appearance and, while younger horses retired, he continued to run.

At the age of nine he became the world's top money-earner with a record totaling more than $6.5 million and the oldest horse to win a Horse of the Year title. Dreams of racing him as a ten-year-old were shattered when a bowed tendon was discovered in his right foreleg after a morning workout.