May 2017


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


The Hampton Roads Messenger 7 James Winkfield


African Americans in the Kentucky Derby Edward Brown


James Winkfield won the Kentucky Derby in 1901 and 1902. He is known as the last


African


American to ride a winner in the Derby. Winkfiled was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2004.


Edward Brown was a Belmont Stakes-winning jockey, Kentucky Derby-winning horse trainer and an owner of many of the best racehorses during the late 19th century. His accomplishments led him to be one of the top trainers of the 19th century. His trainees were notable winners in the Kentucky Derby. Brown won the Belmont Stakes in 1870. He owned the racing stable that competed under the name Ed Brown and Co.


Oliver Lewis


Oliver Lewis was an African American who rode the winning horse in the first Kentucky Derby in 1875. He entered the Derby at 19 years old. Of the fifteen Jockeys participating in the first Kentucky Derby, thirteen were African American.


Alonzo Clayton became the


youngest to win the Kentucky Derby at the age of 15. He won races in New York and California in the 1890’s. By the start of the 20th century, African Americans were no longer afforded the opportunity


to acquired ride as stable


owners switched to using white jockeys only. The wealth Clayton had


soon diminished


and he had to sell his home and investment property


Alonzo Clayton


Willie Simms


Willie Simms became the first American rider to ever win a race in England with an American horse and all-American connections. He won back-to-back in the Belmont Stakes in 1892 and 1894. Simms was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1977.


IsaacMurphy


Isaac Murphy won three Kentucky Derby races by 1891 and was considered


one of the greatest


riders in American Thoroughbred horse racing history. According to his calculations, he won 628 of his 1,412 starts. Murphy was the first Jockey to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, which was created in 1955.


William Walker was born a slave. He was later the leading rider at Churchill Downs. After Walker’s fourth appearance in the Kentucky Derby in 1896, he retired as a trainer and adviser.


James Perkins


James Perkins, one of the two youngest jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby. He started to ride horses in 1891 at 11 years old. Perkins won the Kentucky Derby when he was 15 years old.


William Walker


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16