Share
Digg
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Photo Gallery
|
The Kentucky Derby’s Forgotten JockeysExplore more photos from the story |
When tens of thousands of fans assemble in Louisville, Kentucky, May 2 for the 135th Kentucky Derby, they will witness a phenomenon somewhat unusual for today’s American sporting events: of some 20 riders, none are African American. Yet in the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, 13 out of 15 jockeys were black. Among the first 28 derby winners, 15 were black. African American jockeys excelled in the sport in the late 1800s. But by 1921, they had disappeared from the Kentucky track and would not return until Marlon St. Julien rode in the 2000 race.
African American jockeys’ dominance in the world of racing is a history nearly forgotten today. Their participation dates back to colonial times, when the British brought their love of horseracing to the New World. Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson frequented the track, and when President Andrew Jackson moved into the White House in 1829, he brought along his best Thoroughbreds and his black jockeys. Because racing was tremendously popular in the South, it is not surprising that the first black jockeys were slaves. They cleaned the stables and handled the grooming and training of some of the country’s most valuable horseflesh. From such responsibility, slaves developed the abilities needed to calm and connect with Thoroughbreds, skills demanded of successful jockeys.
For blacks, racing provided a false sense of freedom. They were allowed to travel the racing circuit, and some even managed their owners’ racing operation. They competed alongside whites. When black riders were cheered to the finish line, the only colors that mattered were the colors of their silk jackets, representing their stables. Horseracing was entertaining for white owners and slaves alike and one of the few ways for slaves to achieve status.
After the Civil War, which had devastated racing in the South, emancipated African American jockeys followed the money to tracks in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. “African Americans had been involved in racing and with horses since the beginning,” says Anne Butler, director of Kentucky State University's Center for the Study of Kentucky African Americans. “By the time freedom came they were still rooted in the sport.”
The freed riders soon took center stage at the newly organized Kentucky Derby. On opening day, May 17, 1875, Oliver Lewis, a 19-year-old black native Kentuckian, rode Aristides, a chestnut colt trained by a former slave, to a record-setting victory. Two years later William Walker, 17, claimed the race. Isaac Murphy became the first jockey to win three Kentucky Derbys, in 1884, 1890, and 1891, and won an amazing 44 percent of all the races he rode, a record still unmatched. Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton, at 15 the youngest to win in 1892, was followed by James "Soup" Perkins, who began racing at age 11 and claimed the 1895 Derby. Willie Simms won in 1896 and 1898. Jimmy "Wink" Winkfield, victorious in 1901 and 1902, would be the last African American to win the world-famous race. Murphy, Simms and Winkfield have been inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.
In 2005, Winkfield was also honored with a Congressional House Resolution, a few days before the 131st Derby. Such accolades came long after his death in 1974 at age 91 and decades after racism forced him and other black jockeys off American racetracks.
Despite Wink’s winning more than 160 races in 1901, Goodwin's Annual Official Guide to the Turf omitted his name. The rising scourge of segregation began seeping into horse racing in the late 1890s. Fanned by the Supreme Court's 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine, Jim Crow injustice pervaded every social arena, says Butler.
“White genteel class, remnants from that world, didn't want to share the bleachers with African American spectators, though blacks continued to work as groomers and trainers," she says.
Comments
I applaud the Smithsonian's fascinating article on african-american participation in the upper levels of horseracing. As a black american,I take special delight in discovering the contributions that have been made in unexpected areas of American culture by slaves, ex-slaves, and the children of slaves. The Smithsonian consistantly has cast, to my mind, the keenest eye on american culture.
Posted by rocky c jackson on May 2,2009 | 01:11 AM
Unfortunately, the article is not explicit on the demise of Black Jockeys. White Jockeys formed a union (with the approval of white owners, etc) that denied membership to Black Jockeys. This fact created the end of Black Jockeys at the Kentucky Derby although Black Groomers, walkers, etc continued until today. Blacks like St. Julien, who acknowledges his lack of history and aspires to be a role model to anyone who wants to race, is more of an accomodationist than the potential model of which he speaks. In order to become all that he can be, study of those who came before (technique, approach, preparation, etc., of the pioneering Black Jockeys is a prerequisite. Happy to be in and lauded as todays's exception is not enough.
Posted by Ernest Gibson on May 8,2009 | 02:42 PM
Thank you for reminding us of another piece of forgotten history.I wonder how many more hidden treasures of our past remain undiscovered by our present population.
Posted by Gertrude on May 8,2009 | 10:10 PM
Thank you for the education! I know this bit of history will never make the history books in the school system-public or private. Now, when I attend the event, I will have a little pride inside knowing that African-Americans/Black jockeys were at the forefront of this sport.
Posted by M Ragsdale on May 10,2009 | 07:49 PM
Fascinating! I especially appreciate your effort of putting faces to the names and digging up their photographs from old newspapers.
Posted by Teresa on May 11,2009 | 05:11 AM
I definitely agree that this is a story that should be told to African American children...having pride in one's ancestors for their accomplishments is a wonderful and uplifting thing. It's time to focus on the triumphs instead of the tragedy of slavery. If we focus on the positive and see what others have accomplished, it can give us all hope for our own future!
Posted by KSmith on May 13,2009 | 01:24 PM
I really loved reading this article- kudos to The Smithsonian and Ms Winkler for bringing us this knowledge. It is unfortunate that the black jockeys of the past never realized they were on the forefoot of a sport that has been considered very exclusive, particularly during a time of racism, intolerance and violence. Miles Dean is a gem and has a wonderful story to tell- one that will continue to benefit all school children!
Posted by Deborah Axelrod on May 17,2009 | 10:05 AM
Iam an AFRICAN AMERICAN, THE HISTORY ON AFRICAN AMRERICAN JOCKEYS IS GREAT FOR OUR LEARNING.
Posted by mandel stoker on May 17,2009 | 11:22 PM
I forwarded this article to my husband and son. This is a apart of history that I was not aware of. My husband's uncle worked for a horse farm for years. He was a foreman which was a very coveted position. It took years of hard work to get there. Thank-you for for giving us a part of our history that was omitted from all the history books.
Posted by Judy Washington on May 25,2009 | 09:43 PM
There are so many things to think about here. Let's start with Afr-Am attitudes towards the "lawn jockey,"(oddly, a representation for this subject both more common and symbolic than photos or film), and a term of derision for black people in the US not very often used today. For the record, I am African-American, and over 35, but not over 70. The representation of the jockey that most often came to us was the cocoa-faced-painted lawn jockeys that we saw in the suburbs. I know what occurred to me when I went to whites' houses and saw this:
1) Are they trying to insult me?
2) Or, are they honoring the history of black jockeys?
3) Are they implying a status, either for themselves or blacks that the other group would agree with?
The questions were endless, and I knew that I didn't know enough about this subject. This article elucidates a point that talks me down from an automatic assumption of racism on other people's parts.
As blacks, we might've ignored or thrown out a valuable history of ourselves because of an immediate reaction to the "user's" use of the history rather than the history itself.
But whites and non-blacks can learn from this, too--the history of the USA and its citizens is so much more rich than we all give it credit for, and this is a perfect illustration. Thanks, Smithsonian.
Posted by Bill on August 3,2009 | 01:20 AM
There are so many Afri/American, un-told stories, about courageous men & women that need to be TOLD!So many talented & athletic Afri/Americans that never received credit because of the color of thier skin. And,also, during the Civil War the blacks were treated so terribly, and were denied their pensions..they had to fight for what was owed them & their families.Read the book "Men of Color,To arms!"by James Fuller (VT Afri/Amer in the civil war)Excellent book!
My gggrandfather was a jockey from Kentucky & moved to Saratoga Springs,NY in the early 1800's.He is mentioned in the history book,Black Jockey's of Saratoga.His son,George Speck/Crum was the inventor of the Potato Chip in Saratoga Springs,NY,1853.The Afri/Amer children should know more of their ancestry..and, be proud of where they came from & how far they can go!
Posted by B.Brown on September 15,2009 | 05:16 PM
Thank you for enlightening the world on yet another significant contribution African Americans have made to this country. I happened upon this article while researching my uncle, who during his youth was a jockey.
Posted by B.Bolden on October 9,2009 | 11:53 PM
AS an African American of 66 years, I have great RESPECT for our culture/race.WE have contribute everything to this country OUR COUNTRY, in the words of that great world statesman Sir Winston Churchill when he said, when he told the world "WE HAVE,NOTHING TO GIVE BUT BLOOD, TOIL,TEARS,AND SWEAT." in World War 11,this WE have DONE from the slave fields of the SOUTH to every BATTLEFIELD that this country has fought IN from 1770 till 2010,even with an black president.
Posted by clarence sherman on February 1,2010 | 06:40 PM