John Henry

Strangely enough, the beginnings of my horse racing journey are tied to a racing-related contest put on by one of the local grocery chains in suburban Chicago in the 1970s where you'd watch a short clip at 6:57 p.m. and try to match your ticket for a can of Spam or something of the like. A few years later, a neighbor three doors down (kryptonite?) campaigned a mare called Diablo Morn with trainer Jerry McGrath, no great shakes (she finished her career 2-32, I just looked), but it gave me...

Santa Anita Park is approaching its 90th anniversary Dec. 26 with the opening of the Classic Meet, and the track is calling on the public to vote for the 13 'top moments' in track history, it was announced via presser. Voting on those moments will be open until Friday, Nov. 8 at 5:00 p.m. PT with the top 13 vote-getters being featured in Santa Anita's wall calendar, which is provided to on-track patrons on opening day each year. There are 15 nominations to choose from, which were selected by a...

Churchill Downs Incorporated will donate "Against All Odds," an inspiring bronze statue by Edwin Bogucki, to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as part of the Museum's permanent collection. The statue will be unveiled at its new home in Saratoga Springs July 12. "Against All Odds" depicts the thrilling photo finish victory of John Henry with jockey William Shoemaker in the irons as they ran down The Bart in the shadow of the wire in the inaugural running of the Arlington Million in 1981, the first Thoroughbred...

Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally has been named the 18th recipient of the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award. He'll be honored at the seaside track Saturday, Aug. 27. The Pincay Award, named for, and presented by, the Hall of Fame rider, goes to those who have served the sport "with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction." McAnally, who turned 90 last month, has enjoyed a prodigious training career that began 64 years ago and continues today. "Ron put me on horses right from the beginning," Pincay, who first rode in...

As one of few institutions of American sport to rival its fastest two minutes, the Super Bowl will reopen some painful old wounds among our community. For while many in the Bluegrass presumably feel some allegiance to their nearest NFL team, they owe a deeper loyalty to the very acres on which the game will be contested—to the memories interred below.

Trainer Eduardo Inda passed away last week at the age of 78. Born in Chile, Inda was the primary assistant to Ron McAnally in the 1980s when the barn was represented by the great John Henry. He also had success with his own public stable, training champion Riboletta (Brz) on behalf of Aaron and Marie Jones, as well as Grade I winners Toga Toga Toga and India Divina (Chi). He retired from training in 2012. Inda is survived by his wife Monica, daughters Monica Cowell and Lisa Isaguirre and four...

The ninth race Saturday at Arlington is scheduled to go off at 6:12 p.m. Central Time and that will be it. Barring an 11th-hour miracle, the plug will be pulled by Churchill Downs and the wrecking ball will soon be on its way. Considered one of the most beautiful tracks in the world and an important part of American racing since opening in 1927, Arlington Park will run its last-ever card Saturday. On the racetrack, it figures to be a quiet afternoon. At the same track that has played host...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL--They are a dime a dozen nowadays, but back in 1981, the idea that a track would offer a $1-million purse for a Thoroughbred horse race was about as far-fetched as civilians building their own rockets for space travel. As president and chief executive officer of Arlington Park, the late Joe Joyce conceived of and brought to fruition a race that would be called the Arlington Million, an event aimed at drawing the best horses to race over the renowned Arlington turf course not just those based domestically,...

Twenty-four years after he last started a horse in the race, Ron McAnally could achieve as a breeder what he was never accomplished as a trainer--win the GI Kentucky Derby. Along with his wife Deborah, McAnally is the breeder of the GI Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), who will be among the favorites come Derby day. It is the latest chapter in a Hall of Fame career that has included wins with superstars like John Henry, Paseana and Bayakoa and three Eclipse Awards as the...

Golden Chance Farm, an historic 600+ acre property in Bourbon County, is currently being offered for sale through Kirkpatrick & Co. The farm was home to 1970 GI Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander, who was campaigned by Robert and Verna Lehmann and who began his stud career at the Lehmanns' Golden Chance Farm. The farm was also the birthplace of the great John Henry, as well as 1977 Derby runner-up Run Dusty Run. In addition to a main residence and guest house, the property includes five barns with one-hundred stalls,...