John Henry wasn’t the friendliest horse–far from it. However, his ability to turn a humble pedigree into the resume of a champion made him a prime attraction at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he spent his final 22 years.

“We would always bring kids to John Henry’s paddock and say, ‘Here is a great champion,'” said John Nicholson, the park’s executive director.

Grumpy yet beloved, the Thoroughbred great died Monday after 32 years of defying odds–both in racing success and longevity.

The two-time Horse of the Year, who earned more than $6.5 million before retiring to the Park where he became an icon, was euthanatized Monday night in his paddock there