The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington unveiled a bronze statue that memorializes two-time Horse of the Year John Henry on Wednesday during a special ceremony in front of the Horse Park's Hall of Champions.

Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of the death of the Ole Bob Bowers gelding. John Henry was euthanized at age 32 due to problems associated with kidney failure.

Shelley Hunter, executive director of the American Academy of Equine Art, created the sculpture of John Henry, which is half the actual size of the horse. Donations to help cover the cost of the statue can be made by contacting Bill Oster, a volunteer at the Hall of Champions, at johnhenrymemorial@yahoo.com.

A 1990 inductee into the Racing Hall of Fame, John Henry was named Horse of the Year in 1981 and ’84. He concluded his eight-year racing career in ’84 with $6,591,860 in purse earnings and 39 wins in 83 starts. The temperamental gelding also was a four-time Eclipse Award winner as champion turf male and earned champion older male honors in '81.