Johns Joy was a horse of marked natural speed, but he was capable of stretching that speed over intermediate distances. He was a stakes winner from 2 to 9 furlongs and set or equaled four track records at distances ranging from 5.5 to 9 furlongs. He was a good, consistent stallion who was just below the top tier and was also a well-regarded sire of broodmares. He is the broodmare sire of two champions in Europe and is also the maternal grandsire of 1975 King's Stand Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Flirting Around, a good sire in South Africa.
Race record
54 starts, 19 wins, 10 seconds, 5 thirds, US$192,613
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse with good overall conformation, Johns Joy was tough and durable with clean legs. His head was attractive and had a kindly expression.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Johns Joy sired 318 winners (73.6%) and 46 stakes winners (10.6%) from 432 named foals. He was an influence for speed.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Oh Johnny (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Flirting Around (USA), Silver Cloud (FR), Wind and Wuthering (USA)
Connections
Johns Joy was bred by Dale Shaffer's Coldstream Stud. Sold as a yearling for US32,500. He was owned by John A. Kinard, Jr., and at various times in his career was trained by his owner and by Monte Parke. Following his retirement, he stood at Stoner Creek Stud near Lexington, Kentucky. In 1960, he was sold to Charles Dubois for US$250,000.
Pedigree notes
Johns Joy is inbred 4x5 to the important English and French sire Bay Ronald. He is a full brother to the tough sprinter-miler The Doge and to juvenile stakes winner Carolina Queen. He is also a full brother to Amita, dam of juvenile stakes winner Judge M. (by Valdina Orphan). In addition, he is a half brother to Cousin (by Priam II), winner of the 1951 Hopeful Stakes.
A stakes-placed full sister to 1937 Bryan and O'Hara Memorial Handicap winner Busy K., My Auntie is by 1922 Blue Grass Stakes winner Busy American (by North Star III) out of Babe K., a winning daughter of 1920 Hopeful Stakes winner Leonardo II (by Sweep). Babe K. is a half sister to Cristar (by North Star III), whose Bull Dog daughter Albania is the dam of 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker (by Sickle) and 1947 Louisiana Derby winner Carolyn A. (by Questionnaire) and the second dam of 10 stakes winners including 1953 American champion 3-year-old filly Grecian Queen, the high-class stakes horse My Request and 1965 Dwyer Handicap winner Staunchness.
Babe K. and Cristar were produced from the Fair Play mare Cri de Coeur, a full sister to stakes winner Tailor Maid and to Mlle. Dazie, dam of 1930 American co-champion 2-year-old male Jamestown. The next dam in the tail-female line, Toggery, is by Rock Sand out of Tea's Over (by Hanover) and is a full sister to 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy and a half sister to two-time American champion Ort Wells and the top Midwestern stakes winner Dick Welles, both by King Eric.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 27, 2025
Race record
54 starts, 19 wins, 10 seconds, 5 thirds, US$192,613
1948:
- Won Hawthorne Juvenile Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Duncan F. Kenner Stakes (USA, 2FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Breeders' Futurity (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Prairie State Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- Also equaled the Arlington Park track record of 1:04 for 5.5FD
1949:
- Won Cavalcade Handicap (USA, 9FD, Detroit)
- Won Motor City Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Detroit)
- Won Sequoia Stakes (USA, 9FD, Tanforan; equaled track record 1:50-4/5)
- Won Yerba Buena Stakes (USA, 6FD, Tanforan)
- 2nd Tanforan Handicap (USA, 10FD, Tanforan)
- 2nd Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd American Derby (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Frontier Stakes (USA, 6FD, Detroit)
1950:
- Won Le Compte Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
1951:
- Won Drexel Handicap (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- Won Myrtlewood Handicap (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park; equaled track record 1:09-1/5)
- Won Churchill Downs Handicap (USA, 7FD, Churchill Downs; new track record 1:22-4/5)
- 3rd Skokie Handicap (USA, 7FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Clark Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse with good overall conformation, Johns Joy was tough and durable with clean legs. His head was attractive and had a kindly expression.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Johns Joy sired 318 winners (73.6%) and 46 stakes winners (10.6%) from 432 named foals. He was an influence for speed.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 5th in the American general sire list in 1963; 7th in 1960 and 1964; 9th in 1962.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1975; 4th in 1970; 5th in 1976; 7th in 1974.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 5th on the American general sire list in 1963; 7th in 1960 and 1964; 9th in 1962.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 5th on the American general sire list in 1963; 7th in 1960 and 1964; 9th in 1962.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1975; 4th in 1970; 5th in 1976; 8th in 1974.
Notable progeny
Oh Johnny (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Flirting Around (USA), Silver Cloud (FR), Wind and Wuthering (USA)
Connections
Johns Joy was bred by Dale Shaffer's Coldstream Stud. Sold as a yearling for US32,500. He was owned by John A. Kinard, Jr., and at various times in his career was trained by his owner and by Monte Parke. Following his retirement, he stood at Stoner Creek Stud near Lexington, Kentucky. In 1960, he was sold to Charles Dubois for US$250,000.
Pedigree notes
Johns Joy is inbred 4x5 to the important English and French sire Bay Ronald. He is a full brother to the tough sprinter-miler The Doge and to juvenile stakes winner Carolina Queen. He is also a full brother to Amita, dam of juvenile stakes winner Judge M. (by Valdina Orphan). In addition, he is a half brother to Cousin (by Priam II), winner of the 1951 Hopeful Stakes.
A stakes-placed full sister to 1937 Bryan and O'Hara Memorial Handicap winner Busy K., My Auntie is by 1922 Blue Grass Stakes winner Busy American (by North Star III) out of Babe K., a winning daughter of 1920 Hopeful Stakes winner Leonardo II (by Sweep). Babe K. is a half sister to Cristar (by North Star III), whose Bull Dog daughter Albania is the dam of 1945 Roamer Handicap winner Chief Barker (by Sickle) and 1947 Louisiana Derby winner Carolyn A. (by Questionnaire) and the second dam of 10 stakes winners including 1953 American champion 3-year-old filly Grecian Queen, the high-class stakes horse My Request and 1965 Dwyer Handicap winner Staunchness.
Babe K. and Cristar were produced from the Fair Play mare Cri de Coeur, a full sister to stakes winner Tailor Maid and to Mlle. Dazie, dam of 1930 American co-champion 2-year-old male Jamestown. The next dam in the tail-female line, Toggery, is by Rock Sand out of Tea's Over (by Hanover) and is a full sister to 1915 Tremont Stakes winner Tea Caddy and a half sister to two-time American champion Ort Wells and the top Midwestern stakes winner Dick Welles, both by King Eric.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: October 27, 2025