John Henry euthanized

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thoroughbred great John Henry, the two-time Horse of the Year who earned more than $6.5 million, was euthanized Monday. He was 32.

Kentucky Horse Park spokeswoman Lisa Jackson said the Hall of Famer’s health declined during the weekend. She said he had lost considerable body mass and was in kidney failure.

“The next step would have been so hard on him,” she said. “It wouldn’t have been comfortable. … It just wouldn’t have been fair to the horse.”

Foaled March 9, 1975, and an average runner early in his career, John Henry was the highest earning thoroughbred in history when he was retired to the park in 1985.

The gelded son of Old Bob Bowers out of Once Double was Horse of the Year at ages 6 and 9 and collected seven Eclipse awards from 1980-84.

Considered small and bad-tempered, John Henry had 39 victories, 15 seconds and nine thirds in 83 starts.