04/09/2024
We took a long weekend to Lexington, Kentucky for the Kentucky Derby at Keeneland. During this past black history month our family historian, uncle Lee Robinson and designated black history facilitator at church gave a presentation about black jockeys and the major role they played in the beginning history of the Kentucky Derby. This peaked our interest….
So we visited Keeneland and Churchill Downs where some of the derby’s are held. We enjoyed the Black Heritage in Racing tour where we learned about black jockeys and the less known important people behind the scenes. The people who trained and cared for the horses and their contributions to what has stayed one of the biggest sporting events.
Did you know? At the first Kentucky Derby, in 1875, 13 of 15 jockeys were African American. Between 1890 and 1899, Black jockeys won six Derbies, one Preakness Stakes, and three Belmont Stakes. But in the early 1900s Black jockeys disappeared. Jimmy Winkfield was the last African American to win a Triple Crown race, in 1902. He was one of the last African Americans to ride in a Triple Crown race for almost a century. This is because they were eventually prevented from continuing to thrive by people and circumstances and soon they became history.
A good time was definitely had❣️ 🐎
