Last year when two-time Horse of the Year John Henry passed away at the age of 32, five hundred fans from across the country attended his memorial service, thousands watched that same service on a live television broadcast, and thousands of others sent letters of condolence.
On October 8, the one-year anniversary of John Henry’s death, the Kentucky Horse Park and the organizers of the John Henry Memorial Fund will dedicate a permanent memorial to one of the Thoroughbred racing industry’s heroes, when a bronze statue by Shelley Hunter will be unveiled at his gravesite.
John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, stated, “Now that we have had a year of grieving and adjusting, we will begin a new era—one of celebration for a remarkable life and an exciting legacy. This will be a day of joy. With his memory to inspire us, we plan to launch other legacy events in John Henry’s name, which will make life better for people and horses. We believe this is the best way to honor John Henry and what he meant to each of us, by accomplishing a lot of good on behalf of others.”
The project was the inspiration of Bill Oster, a long-time fan of John Henry’s and volunteer at the Hall of Champions, who spearheaded the fundraising campaign. “This is a project that needed to be done. The multitudes of people I have personally seen inspired by John Henry made me realize his legend must continue. When folks come to the Kentucky Horse Park, this memorial can help them remember what John meant to them. They can tell their children and grandchildren 'We saw him right out there in his pasture.' I think John Henry is so inspiring that some of those grandchildren will be telling future generations, 'Your great grandparents actually saw John Henry.'”
The memorial features a half life-size bronze sculpture by Shelley Hunter, the Executive Director of the American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA), headquartered at the park. Shelley has a BA in Fine Art and specializes in equine subjects. While many sculptors must work exclusively from photos of their subjects, Shelley’s proximity to John Henry’s paddock for a number of years allowed her to watch the legendary gelding in person. “Sculpting the John Henry statue has been the most challenging and the most enjoyable commission that I have undertaken so far in my career. I gave it my best and only hope that it meets with the approval of all of his loyal fans.”
The John Henry Statue Dedication will be held on Wednesday, October 8, at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony free of charge.
For more information, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at (859) 233-4303. Donations toward the statue are still being accepted; for information, email Bill Oster at [email protected]. To contact sculptor Shelley Hunter or the AAEA, call (859) 281-6031 or visit www.aaea.net.