John E. Callaway only owned John Henry for a short time but during that time he produced Horse of the Year honors twice.
According to a family member, Callaway died June 10 in Lecanto, Fla. at the age of 88.
In 1976, Callaway purchased a son of Ole Bob Bowers—Once Double, by Double Jay for $1,100 at the Keeneland winter sale. A year later, that juvenile colt was named John Henry when he brought in $2,200 from Hal Snowden Jr. at a sale in Keeneland.
According to a 1984 Sports Illustrated story, John Henry hit his head on his counter during a year-long sale. And the problems have only just begun.
“I never put a saddle on him,” Callaway told SI. “The older he gets, the more he falls to his knees. I have a new vet and he keeps telling me to put that horse down. I don’t think he will stand the training.
“He did strange things. He was tough on the counter. He was tough on the bucket and the tub. He wanted to rip them off the wall and step on them. He was good at that.”
Callaway named the colt John Henry, after the legendary West Virginia steel driver. “That’s the only thing I do well about him.”
Most of John Henry’s 30 stakes wins would come as geldings. He would set a world record in the 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita Park, set or tied three other course records, won Horse of the Year honors in 1981 and 1984, and was named champion grass horse four times and champion older horse once. In 1990, he joined the Racing Hall of Fame.
Originally from Louisville, Ky., Callaway owns and trains horses which he campaigns primarily in the Bluegrass State, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio and Florida.
As a trainer, Callaway’s runners have registered multiple graded bets while earning more than $1.96 million in his career from five, according to Equibase statistics. 1976-1998. They compiled a record of 167-145-143 from 1,023 starts.
Callaway owned and trained Lord John, who won three stakes races at Tampa Downs Bay in 1992-1993. Other stakes winners include Dear Rick, Belle’s Ruler and Johnny Apollo. His mare Summerhill Girl won eight races and placed in 18 others in 59 starts from 1990-1994.
