Trivia

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

John Henry? He was a gelding.

Correct.

Not according to the PP's or chart.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

He's even still listed as a colt in the offical chart of his 2nd New York race that season -- which was also his first turf race. The PP cut above was from the race prior to his first turf race.




9th place finisher Data Link was claimed out of that race ... he wasn't.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Correct.

Not according to the PP's or chart.

Got shot down on that one. Good thing you didn't tee off on me too bad.

I don't deserve it.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Interestingly .... this is the first race in his PP's where's he's listed as a gelding ...



I doubt they gelded him after a 15 length turf win... perhaps, his entire turnaround was the result of gelding him?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Interestingly .... this is the first race in his PP's where's he's listed as a gelding ...
I doubt they gelded him after a 15 length turf win... perhaps, his entire turnaround was the result of gelding him?

From my extensive research (Google), I surmised that John Henry was gelded as a 2yo before he ever raced.

They fine you in CA $1000 nowadays for failing to report your horse as a gelding.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

From my extensive research (Google), I surmised that John Henry was gelded as a 2yo before he ever raced.

They fine you in CA $1000 nowadays for failing to report your horse as a gelding.

Yeah ... it seems like the consensus from Google is that he was gelded before he ever raced. That was clearly not the case though.

Debut form from Jefferson Downs race:




Chart:




I would guess all of the bios and write-ups on him are wrong - and that he was actually gelded right around the time he made that gigantic form reversal in New York.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Yeah ... it seems like the consensus from Google is that he was gelded before he ever raced. That was clearly not the case though.

Debut form from Jefferson Downs race:

Doug, you would have liked Jefferson Downs. It was a bullring located in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner. Purses were awful. A real classy joint. The track couldn't afford a bugler, so instead, a recording of Camptown Races was played over the PA system between races.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Sounds a lot like Erie's old Commodore Downs.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Yeah ... it seems like the consensus from Google is that he was gelded before he ever raced. That was clearly not the case though.
I would guess all of the bios and write-ups on him are wrong - and that he was actually gelded right around the time he made that gigantic form reversal in New York.

They do things differently in Louisiana, trust me.

He was probably a gelding all along.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

They do things differently in Louisiana, trust me.

He was probably a gelding all along.

If that is the case - it really makes you wonder where the gigantic form reversal came from. He was a total slug at FG all winter.

His turf debut was insanely huge. Winning by 15 lengths going 8.5f on firm turf is like winning by 30 lengths going 8.5f on dirt. You can get some big margins in turf races when the ground is yielding or soft... but rarely when firm.

I think 15 lengths at 8.5f on turf is either 31 or 32 Beyer points. Considering the firm ground - and looking over the 9 other rivals - you'd have to project John Henry's figure to be 110 range in that turf claiming race. Maybe even as high as 112 or 113 ... an insane figure for a mid season 3yo in a claiming turf race.

6th place was beaten 23.5 lengths in a 10 horse field!

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Interestingly .... this is the first race in his PP's where's he's listed as a gelding ...



I doubt they gelded him after a 15 length turf win... perhaps, his entire turnaround was the result of gelding him?

Hard to believe that he was unable to show his true ability while being ridden by David Copling and Alonzo Guajardo.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Interestingly .... this is the first race in his PP's where's he's listed as a gelding ...



I doubt they gelded him after a 15 length turf win... perhaps, his entire turnaround was the result of gelding him?

You could ask Empire Arab. She'd know.

[Linny]

Lots of "high end" stables in there. Harbor View, Wygod, Seth Hancock etc. Of course $35k was a pretty solid price in '78.