john r. gentry
John R. Gentry, "The Little Red Horse," was bred by H. G. Toler, sired by Ashland Wilkes out of Dame Wood and foaled in Wichita, Kansas. He was sold to John R. Gentry and James F. Ramey of Hughesville, Missouri and made his turf debut in 1892, when he defeated an aged group, pacing in 2:15. He beat every pacer he met and soon became famous under the tutelage of Myron McHenry. On September 24, 1896 John R. Gentry almost became the first Standardbred to beat 2:00, pacing an exhibition mile in 2:00 1/2 at Rigby Park in South Portland, Maine. At this time he was owned by William Simpson who sold him to Lewis J. Tewksbury for $19,900. The following winter John R. Gentry became the property of E. H. Harriman, who later retired him to Tennessee, where he died in December 1920.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals