He was bred by Frank Groves' North Ridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, and ran under the banner of Allen E. Paulson as his owner.
Blushing John was purchased by American horseman Allen E. Paulson, who maintained racing operations in France and the United States.
At age three in France, Blushing John won the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) in April.
In the late summer of 1988, Blushing John was sent to the United States to prepare for the 1988 Breeders' Cup Mile held the first Saturday of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Racing on dirt for the first time on the first Saturday in March, Blushing John won the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
With 3/8 of a mile to go, Blushing John overtook the leader midway around the far turn under jockey Angel Cordero and quickly opened up a clear advantage.
Blushing John's 1989 performances, with four wins including two Grade I stakes races and a third in the Classic, earned him the Eclipse Award for American Champion Older Male Horse.