John Henry, whose humble beginnings struck a common theme with the everyday racing fan and whose place in history will remain secure by virtue of seven championships and a Hall of Fame plaque, was euthanized Oct. 8 at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington. The 32-year-old gelding, a contemporary of fellow Hall of Famers Affirmed and Alydar, had experienced kidney problems and weight loss exacerbated by hot temperatures starting in August.

“After continued successful efforts to maintain the quality of John Henry’s life, in the past 48 hours he did not respond to our medical intervention,” said the park’s equine director, Kathy Hopkins. “Due to the loss of kidney function and muscle mass, his veterinarian, Dr. Mike Beyer, found it impossible to keep him properly hydrated and comfortable.

“Over the years, our goal has always been to maintain the highest quality of care and life for him, and it became evident over the (Oct. 6-7) weekend that this was no longer possible.”

John Henry not only had beaten the odds by living to the ripe old age of 32, but had done so numerous times in his racing career. Unlike Affirmed and Alydar, whose racing ability was evident right from the start, John Henry largely went unnoticed before he started winning big for Sam Rubin and his wife, Dorothy, in the name of their Dotsam Stable. Rubin, a bicycle importer who grew up in New York City, had bought John Henry for $25,000 as a 3-year-old in training in the spring of 1978 from Central Kentucky horseman Harold “Bubba” Snowden Jr. It took some time, but under Ron McAnally’s training, John Henry reached unimagined heights. Only fellow geldings Forego and Kelso earned more championships