updated 5:58 p.m. ET Oct. 19, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. - More than 500 people attended a graveside memorial Friday for John Henry, the thoroughbred great remembered by one of his jockeys as a "tremendous legend" and a horse who could draw fans to tracks across the country.

John Henry, who won $6.5 million and became America's richest racehorse before retiring in 1985, was euthanized last week at 32 at Kentucky Horse Park. The gelding spent the final 22 years of his life there and was one of the park's biggest attractions.

"He represented our spirit," said John Nicholson, the park's executive director. "If ever we had a day things might look bleak, all we had to do was visit our good-luck charm."

The memorial service was held around John Henry's grave next to his former paddock. On hand were trainers, jockeys and horse owners.

"He'd double or triple the size of the crowd who went out to watch him run, and I think he's doubled or tripled the size of any memorial I've ever been to," said jockey Chris McCarron, who rode John Henry in 14 of his last races. "Even after he's gone, he's still proving what a tremendous legend he was."

Tom Levinson, the stepson of the horse's late owner, Sam Rubin, said John Henry was a thoroughbred his parents had followed long before they bought him.

"Now I guess they're all together in the great track in the sky," Levinson said. "John Henry meant so much to my parents. They just loved sharing him with people."

Many at the service were fans inspired by his story.

Mary Beth Ordaz fought back tears as she remembered visiting the thoroughbred as a college student.

"He was a little guy, and he just beat the odds," she said.

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John Klocinski, a college professor from Toledo, Ohio, said he has been making monthly trips to see John Henry for more than a year.

"I've just really found him to be an inspiration," said Klocinski, wearing a John Henry sweat shirt and snapping photos.

Others in the crowd stood in line to sign a memorial banner. Old Friends, a thoroughbred retirement organization, is funding a more permanent memorial to surround the grave site, which will include a small statue of the horse and horseshoe-shaped benches.

During the speeches, one four-legged spectator peeked over a white-picket fence to have a look. Cigar, John Henry's stable mate for several years, often displayed signs of jealous rivalry inside the barn. On this day, he decided to be close to the crowd, even though it wasn't his nature.

"I guess he's the big man in the barn now," said Lisa Jackson, a spokeswoman for the park.

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