BackTrack: Turf Champ John Henry is Horse of the Year

Grass racing, a feature at the old Coney Island early this century, was regarded as a novelty in American racing when Joseph E. Widener experimented with it at Hialeah in 1933. Although all racing in Europe was, and still is, conducted on grass, and although England was the primary source of fashionable bloodstock for breeders here, the American racing industry was slow to recognize turf racing as a major segment.

Years have changed attitudes. Whereas there was only one grass stakes run in this country in 1939, the development of international racing—spurred initially by the Washington, D.C., International in 1952—made the grass not only acceptable, but fashionable. Moreover, since grass races were written in many cases to attract foreign horses, they became an important aspect among tests for stamina in North America.

The honoring of John Henry as Horse of the Year for 1984 marked the second consecutive year that the runner voted best in North America won the honor off grass victories exclusively. In 1983, All Along invaded in the fall, with so gaudy a green campaign that she swept Horse-of-the-Year honors in six weeks. John Henry had shown in 1981, when he first was Horse of the Year, that he was at least almost as good on dirt as on grass, but in 1984, he earned his second Horse-of-the-Year strictly on the grass.

After failing to place when in pursuit of his third Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on dirt, in his debut at nine, John Henry made eight more starts. All but one were on the grass, and each of his six triumphs came on grass. In his only other dirt race, he was beaten by Desert Wine in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).

Primacy of grass specialists is not so much an anomaly as it may appear. In 1985, of the 381 stakes selected as graded races, nearly one-third (122, or 32 per cent) are scheduled for the grass. What was a lark at Coney Island and touch of European snob appeal at Hialeah in the 1930s is now an established part of the fabric of American racing.

Since Horse of the Year became a matter for collective balloting in 1936, seven horses preceded John Henry as winners of the honor more than once. First was Challedon, in 1939 and 1940. He was followed by Whirlaway (1941-42), Native Dancer (1952 and 1954), five-time champion Kelso (1960-64), Secretariat (1972-73), three-time champion Forego (1974-76), Affirmed (1978-79), and John Henry.

All the repeat winners before John Henry won in consecutive years, save for Native Dancer, which was named Horse of the Year on some ballots at two, then was voted the honor again at four.

Gracious in acceptance of the narrow victory, John Henry's owner, Sam Rubin, referred to rival Slew o' Gold as "a wonderful horse." He said he hoped Slew o' Gold's owners took heart from the fact that, unlike the old gelding John Henry, their champion could promise sons and daughters of quality for the future.

C. V. Whitney, honored by a special Eclipse Award at the annual Eclipse Dinner in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, alluded briefly to his many triumphs as a breeder and owner in his 55 years on the Turf. He concluded, however, that his present honor was "the biggest and most meaningful thing" in his career in racing and promised that, despite his retirement from racing, he was "not going to give up my efforts to help your industry."

Pat Day, honored as leading rider, thanked the Lord, his agent, and other people and horses that had helped him. He did not forget his parents, who "did a great job of raising me—just the right size."