African American Jockeys & The Derby

malikom · Apr 3, 2009

Isaac Murphy is considered one of the greatest race riders in American history. He was the first jockey to win the Derby on three occasions and consecutive runnings: Buchanan, 1884; Riley, 1890; and Kingman, 1891. He remains the only jockey to win the Derby, Oaks and Clark Handicap in the same year, 1884. Ike or the "Colored Archer" as he was dubbed in reference to the prominent English jockey of the time, Fred Archer, won 44 percent of all races he rode. Isaac Burns (Murphy) was born in 1860 on David Tanner's Pleasant Green Hill Farm in Fayette County, KY. His father enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and died as a prisoner of war at Camp Nelson along the Kentucky River. His mother moved to Lexington where the family lived with her father Green Murphy. Upon becoming a jockey at 14, Isaac changed his last name to Murphy in honor his grandfather. Murphy, 35, died of pneumonia February 12, 1896.
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malikom · Apr 3, 2009

Oliver Lewis rode Aristides to a two-length upset victory in the inaugural running of the Derby in 1875. The time, 2:37 3/4, established an American record for the 1 1/2 miles. Lewis was instructed to send Aristides to the lead to ensure a fast pace and set up the race for stablemate Chesapeake. He sent Aristides to the front and as the field rounded the far turn and headed for home, Chesapeake was far behind. The owner of the two horses, H. Price McGrath, told Lewis "Go on!" when he looked over at McGrath for a sign. Later that year he guided Aristides to a second in the Belmont. He won three races during Churchill's inaugural meet to take the honor as leading rider. Lewis never rode in another Kentucky Derby but was on hand for the 33rd running in 1907. Detailed information is not available, but it was reported that he later worked for a bookmaker (legal at the time) an provided detailed information on how the horses ran. This method of race result notes was later developed into charts which served as a forerunner to the Daily Racing Form and Equibase systems.
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malikom · Apr 3, 2009

Willie Simms won in both of his Derby attempts, 1896 aboard Ben Brush and 1898 with Plaudit. Born January 16, 1870 in Augusta, GA, Sims is the only African-American rider to win each of the Triple Crown events. He won the Preakness in 1898 aboard Sly Fox and consecutive runnings of the Belmont with Commanche, 1893, and Henry of Navaree, 1894. He also was the nation's leading jockey in 1893 and 1894. Simms was the first American jockey to win a race with an American horse at an English race course and is credited with introducing the short stirrup riding style to England in the 1890's. He later trained horses and died February 26, 1927 in Asbury, N.J. at 47.
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malikom · Apr 3, 2009

James Winkfield rode in four consecutive Kentucky Derbys: 1900 Thrive, 3rd; 1901 His Eminence, 1st; 1902 Alan-a-Dale, 1st; and 1903 Early, 2nd. Born April 12, 1882 in Chilesburg, KY, he began his career in 1898 with a one-year suspension for causing a four-horse spill in his first race. In 1901, his third full year of riding, Winkfield captured 161 races. He left the U.S. for Russia in 1903 where he rode for the Czar. During his career in Europe, he rode in Poland, Austria, Hungary, Spain France and England. He retired from riding at 48 and purchased a horse farm outside of Paris at Maisons-Lafitte. In 1943, during World War II, he escaped from the Germans. He later returned to his home in France where he died at 92 on March 23, 1974.
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malikom · Apr 3, 2009

Marlon St. Julien became the first African-American jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby in 79 years, when he guided Godolphin Racing Inc.'s Curule to a seventh place finish in the 126th running of the classic race. St. Julien, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, worked on his uncle's farm as a youngster, but was more interested in playing football than in race riding. He turned his attention to becoming a jockey following his junior year in high school and began riding at Evangeline Downs in 1989, winning his first race aboard Sadie's Sensation two weeks into his career.
He was involved in a five-horse spill a short time later, suffering multiple injuries, including a broken sternum. He almost gave up riding at that point, but instead became more inspired, and following two months of recovery, he was back in the saddle.
Following his graduation from high school, he continued riding in Louisiana before temporarily moving his tack to California. He returned to Louisiana before venturing to Lone Star Park for their inaugural season in 1997, where he won the first race at the Texas track, with I Are Sharp in the Premier Stakes.
He is a regular rider on the Kentucky circuit and spends his winters at the Fair Grounds in Louisiana. He was a member of the ultra-tough riders colony at Saratoga last summer.
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malikom · Apr 3, 2009

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2004/derby_history/african_americans_in_the_derby/jockeys.html

More than half of the first 28 kentucky derby races were won by African American jockeys...

I had no clue

chicity · Apr 3, 2009

Thank you so much for sharing this information.

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African American Jockeys & The Derby

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