I remember ths call like it was yesterday "John Henry like GANG BUSTERS!". Love it. As far as we Europeans were concerned John Henry WAS American racing.
john henry inspired me to pursue a career in horse racing i began working as a groom and then assistant trainer i worked for the great chicago trainer j.r. smith sr. and am currently training a small string of horses at hawthorn i won a race at arlington with a horse that returned 242 dollars to win love john henry and i miss him to this day 😓
The living legend is ACTUALLY Phil Georgeffe the fabulous voice of Chicago area racing for my whole life. There is and was NO ONE like him. He memorized EVERY name of EVERY HORSE before each race. Unlike the boring announcers you hear now, NO ONE called a race better than Phil. If you were at the track you always remeber Phils warning before the betting windows closed...."1 minute til post....just..........................................t'a minute"
If you don't already know -- Phil wrote an autobiography in 2002 that's available on Amazon. It's called "And They're Off! : My Years As The Voice Of Thoroughbred Racing."
Oh... that John Henry was truly a remarkable horse who literally brought people to their feet every time he hit the track. One of the greatest racehorses of all time.
