Beyond the physical qualities that can be measured by objective science, there are the more intangible qualities that give a winner the edge. Of all the factors involved in John Henry's success, his personality is perhaps the most obvious. All of the members of our panel of experts were instantly aware of his powerful presence, whether they were stallside or watching him on film. According to Mackay-Smith, John Henry's distinctiveness isn't physical, startling or spectacular, but penetrating and absolute. He is self-confident, aloof, alert, studious, wise and, it must be said, more than a bit theatrical. At the risk of anthropomorphizing, he's one horse who'll never fall victim to an equine identify crisis. That look in his eyes tells you John Henry knows exactly who he is.
His legendary eccentricities--stopping wherever he wants and working only when and as far as he pleases--are respected and tolerated by his keepers, who know that there's no changing the horse's mind. Training can have a powerful effect on performance, especially for speed over endurance, but John Henry thwarts any ambitious schedules.
According to trainer Ron McAnally, "Any horse who does what he does in his races can do as he pleases the rest of the time. He's never a bit of trouble if you just respect his needs." As a result, McAnally concedes, he nearly lets the horse run his training program himself. He'll gallop all day, but when it comes to fast work, about six furlongs are his limit. Overall, his training is even lighter than conventional racetrack preparation.
In a race, says jockey McCarron, John Henry commands his competition just as forcefully: he seems to know what the other horses are going to do, adjusts his pace and route accordingly without guidance, and once in front is about impossible to pass. Look at the faces in his win pictures--you can see who is in charge.
As three special experts from our panel were able to ascertain, using perhaps less conventional but no less valid techniques than those the sports scientists used, the gelding's will is as strong as any part of his body. According to Linda Tellington-Jones, who had an opportunity to use her Tellington-Jones Equine Awareness Movements (T.E.A.M.) on him, John Henry's anatomy, combined with a Napoleonic view of himself, makes him exceptionally strong and successful. Psychic Nancy Regalmuto agreed after "reading" the horse. She said that his strength stems from his dam and shows up as a superb physical constitution and a determined will to survive. Astrologer Virginia Reames concurs, pointing to John Henry's castration as the event in his life which focused his energy on running.
So there you have it: gait, heart and will are what make John Henry run. When we began this project we knew that he was no ordinary horse, but until all of the evidence was in, none of us realized how truly special he is.
Check out the May 1985 issue of EQUUS for a detailed analysis of the sports scientists' results along with profiles that relate to the horse's personality and mind and a complete biography. Call 301-977-3900 ext. 0 to order the back issue.
This article originally appeared in the May 1985 issue of EQUUS magazine.
