John henry was a steeldrivin man eecs at uc berkeley. Named after the steel driving man of american folklore, john henrys career began slowly. John henry defied the odds and his timeless ragstoriches story is what makes him a true american hero. It depicts an eight foot tall, muscle bound john henry, standing with his feet spread wide and a hammer in both hands. This week is a look at john henry s 1984 horse of the year title.
Given his line of work, he probably wears relatively tightfitting clothing, if any to minimize the buildup of heat when working. Mar 10, 2017 john henry s body is full of racing advantages not obvious at first glance. The ballad john henry is the most recorded folk song in american history and john henrythe mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drillis a towering figure in our culture. The steel driving racehorse directed by cameron duddy and christian koby open sky entertainment, may 2010, 82 minutes widescreen john henry is one of the worlds most popular racehorses of all time.
Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Above are tom keene, his trusty horse prince and young donald stewart in a lobby card from keenes last starring b western, where trails end monogram, 1942. The 500 mourners sat respectfully in folding chairs in front of the gravesite as the former governor eulogized the departed. A steel driving race horse documentary 3 may 2010 usa the new john henry documentary will chronicle the life and legacy of this remarkable animal, and will include interviews with fans, celebrities, dignitaries and other notables that knew. As he took the lead in the stretch, meadowlands track announcer dave johnson exclaimed, and down the stretch they come. This page tells you the story about how we came to be together. For everything that made this horse so special his humble origins, long life, horsenality, and an amazing racing career until age nine. Similar to the 2008 lost in the fog documentary, john henry portrays a talented rags to riches story, but with a much happier ending.
Ballads about john henrys life typically contain four major components. He was the winner of 30 stakes races, was voted horse of the year in l981 and in 1984, and was even included in people magazines most intriguing people of 1984 roundup story. John henry s last race was the 1984 ballantine scotch classic at the meadowlands. Steel drivin man john henry, the untold story of an american legend scott reynolds nelson john henry is the most recorded folk song in american history there are hundreds of version of the john henry ballad, it is routinely taught to american schoolchildren the song is enormously popular. Suddenly, the horse no one wanted was shattering records and winning dramatically. Meet john henry, the fastest steeldriver that ever lived, and some say the worlds strongest man. We are an education focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home schoolers to access educational for the classroom and home learning. John henry, the steel driving man the limeliters shazam. A steel driving race horse 2010 official sites, and other sites with posters, videos, photos and more. This week is a look at john henrys 1984 horse of the year title. Racehorse john henry dead at 32 the horse owners resource. The new john henry documentary will chronicle the life and legacy of this remarkable animal, and will include interviews with fans, celebrities, dignitaries and other notables that knew him or won big money from his successes. He was ornery, hard to handle and not much to look at. Careful assessment, however, reveals that john henry has.
He evokes the entire marxist apparatus of downtrodden labor, exploited by the fatcat capitalist bosses. What are the release dates for not now john 2012 john vs. He looks like he is ready to spring off of his stone base and drive some serious steel. The best horse racing movies and documentaries of all time. Nelsons john henry make him plausible as the real steeldriving man. The authors argument in steel drivin man is that the life of john henry was one of oppression multiplied through abuses of the penal system and forced penal labor. This documentary is hard to find and rather pricey but 100% worth owning if you are a fan of the racehorse john henry. The last words i heard that poor boy say, my daddy was steeldriving man. A new website has been launched where a new trailer, clips, bios etc. In the race of man against machine, john henry won, but he hammered so hard that he broke his heart. A steel driving race horse writer 2010 beverly hills, 90210 writer 19941995 matlock writer 19881993. Welcome to the website dedicated to john henry one of the worlds nicest mules.
The spark of intelligence blazing in his eyes rivaled only by such characters as batman and steel. He was sired by ole bob bowers by prince blessed out of once double by double jay. He pulled away to his 39th career victory and his second horse of the year title. Jun 30, 2016 this documentary is hard to find and rather pricey but 100% worth owning if you are a fan of the racehorse john henry.
Sep 28, 20 in the race of man against machine, john henry won, but he hammered so hard that he broke his heart. The steel driving racehorse, it seems as though a genre might be emerging. Oct 18, 2006 the historical record is sketchy, but most of the verifiable facts about mr. Dwayne johnson to star in a john henry movie for netflix. Harris, apparently an itinerant construction worker, claimed he first heard this version in 1909 while part of the crew building. Ballads about john henry s life typically contain four major components. John henry has been a character used in tall tales, folk tales and. Max eisenberg is a writer and producer, known for john henry. A public memorial service will be held october 19 at 2 p. Not now john 2012 john vs the man of steel 26 was released on. Open sky producers glenn garland and christopher duddy recount the travails of a horse that. The movie will be available to be purchased from the site shortly. Sep 28, 2006 the ballad john henry is the most recorded folk song in american history and john henry the mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drillis a towering figure in our culture.
Steel drivin man johns job was extremely difficult and dangerous. Consider the legend of john henry and his race against the newly invented steam hammer, a competition in driving steel to build a railroad line. Unable to limit it to just one, rubin said there were three he cherished the most. Prince is easy to spot the horse has a small white splotch on the forehead, is.
A free community for sharing instructional videos and content for teachers and students. Teamed with kathleen conklin, john henry is well known for his spectacular shows and equestrian driving events. Another early version of the john henry ballad collected by johnson was obtained from leon r. Tales were told that young john henry, the horse, would rip steel feed and water buckets off the wall of his stall and stomp them flat. He was born a slave in the 1840s but was freed after the war. Oct 09, 2018 what started out as a pitch from the lego ninjago movie writer tom wheeler led to something of a bidding war for the project, which netflix ultimately won. The bronze statue is a testament to the folk legend, whose win over a mechanical steel driver is celebrated in songs and stories. John henry march 9, 1975 october 8, 2007 was an american champion thoroughbred racehorse. Aug 17, 2010 mcanallys other choices were john henrys triumphs in the 1980 san juan capistrano handicap at about 1 34 miles because he led all the way in such a long race under 126 pounds, the 1981 santa anita handicap through the disqualification of perrault because he won off works and became the first horse to win the big cap twice. Thisconsistedofdriving a metal spike into the rock with a hammer.
He won numerous eclipse awards and was named horse of the year in 1981. Tribute video for john henry, the steel driving racehorse. To learn more about john henry, man and legend, visit your local library. John henry also one an amazing and well deserving seven eclipse awards including two horse of the year titles. Scott was my advisor in grad school it still impresses me, even after my third time reading steel drivin man, how solid this book is. In steel drivin man, scott reynolds nelson recounts the true story of the man behind the iconic american hero, telling the poignant tale of a young virginia convict who died working on. John henry is a massive for the time, at least and handsome black man. And john henry was the strongest, the most powerful man working the rails. John henry was the greatest of hammerers, as well as the best of gamblers, the biggest of drinkers, nastiest of ghters, and the best of. John henry one of the worlds nicest mules our story. One race rubin said he enjoyed immensely was john henrys win in the 1978 chocolatetown handicap at penn national. Steel drivin man scott reynolds nelson oxford university. In some versions, john henry is almost seven feet tall.
In 1984, after seven years of racing and at the ripe old age of nine, fate stepped in to remind the steel driving man to pay his dues. John henrys body is full of racing advantages not obvious at first glance. Now, according to the wrap, johnson is set to star in the film as the eponymous john henry, the legendary steeldriving man and a cornerstone of modern american mythology. John henry was the greatest of hammerers, as well as the best of gamblers, the biggest of drinkers, nastiest of ghters, and the best of lovers. Centered on the john henry of both reality and legend, it is a political, cultural, and social history that covers a lot of ground in under two hundred pages. Oct 11, 2018 dwayne johnson to star in a john henry movie for netflix. In others, he wears fine clothes and commands any price for his work. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. Horse race insider bill christine writes about the 20something filmmaker, chris koby, and his new documentary, john henry. John henry lived from march 9, 1975 october 8, 2007.
What started out as a pitch from the lego ninjago movie writer tom wheeler led to something of a bidding war for the project, which netflix ultimately won. An early version construction crew version folk version prison and chain gang version other versions. Now, according to the wrap, johnson is set to star in the film as the eponymous john henry, the legendary steel driving man and a cornerstone of modern american mythology. Open sky producers glenn garland and christopher duddy recount the travails of a horse that defied his pedigree and went on to become a multiple champion. John henry was a moody, undersized gelding with bad knees named after the 19th century folk hero john henry, the steeldriving man. I loved the way it ended the very last video image in this documentary is a fade to black clip of john henry being led out to meet an audience at the hall of the champions at kentucky horse park, where he lived for 22 happy years after finishing his long and fantastic racing.
Sired by ole bob bowers, later he was purchased by sam and dorothy rubin and trained by ron mcanally. John henrys last race was the 1984 ballantine scotch classic at the meadowlands. For the left, henry symbolizes the workingclass hero. Careful assessment, however, reveals that john henry has a large frame and is a bit leggy for a horse of his size. People from all walks of life felt a deep connection to this extraordinary racehorse. John henry was a reminder of the dauntless american spirit, the courage to overcome any obstacle and the will to never give up. Horse race insider bill christine writes about the 20something. John henry, he would spend his days drilling holes by hitting thick steel spikes.
This article about the racehorse john henry appeared as original content on in january 20. Callaway had the colt for a short period of time, but saw enough of the rambunctiousness in him to name the horse john henry in honor of the fabled steeldriving man. Called the old man, he lived to the age of 32 before passing away at the kentucky. Steel drivin man john s job was extremely difficult and dangerous. Lyrics to john henry, the steel driving man by the limeliters. John and horace dodge were a major supplier of automotive parts to industry giant ford. He was the winner of 30 stakes races, was voted horse of the year in both 1981 and 1984, and was even included in 1984s people magazines top people. John henry horse page with past performances, results, pedigree, photos and videos. Tribute to john henry, steel driving man a happyglyphs. Horse racing fans, students of pedigree, and history buffs will enjoy this website, which includes the biographies of many great thoroughbreds, as well as information on eclipse awards, horse of the year, classic winners, and hall of fame members. The last words i heard that poor boy say, my daddy was steel driving man. As a steel driver, john henry hammered spikes into rocks surrounding train tracks to resist the emergence of steampowered drills.