Black Winning Jockeys in the Kentucky Derby

by Saunders, James Robert

• ISBN13: 9780786414024
• ISBN10: 0786414022
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing

Summary

Oliver Lewis was champion jockey of the Kentucky Derby in 1875 with a winning race time of two minutes and 37 seconds. Jockey Willie Simms won in 1896, bringing his horse in at two minutes and seven seconds. James Winkfield was the winning jockey in both 1901 and 1902 with winning race times of two minutes and seven seconds and two minutes and eight seconds, respectively. Each of these men possessed the skill and power necessary to spur a horse to glorious victory. All are members of the small, select group of Derby-winning jockeys who were African Americans. The stakes were high: Black jockeys who won a race in the late 1700s and 1800s sometimes won freedom from slavery as well. This work examines the presence of black jockeys in the Kentucky Derby, from the first instance of slaves working as stable hands and tending their masters' horses to the first black jockey to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby in 1875 and the continued participation of black jockeys in the Kentucky Derby. Black owners and trainers in the Kentucky Derby are also discussed. Three appendices list black winning jockeys, black trainers and black owners of Kentucky Derby horses.

Author Biography

James Robert Saunders is a professor of English at Purdue University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
List of Illustrations	xi
Introduction	1	(8)
Oliver Lewis---May 17, 1875	9	(10)
William Walker---May 22, 1877	19	(6)
James Carter---May 21, 1878	25	(3)
George Garrett Lewis---May 18, 1880	28	(5)
``Babe'' Hurd---May 16, 1882	33	(5)
Erskine ``Babe'' Henderson---May 14, 1885	38	(6)
Isaac Lewis---May 11, 1887	44	(6)
Isaac Murphy---May 16, 1884; May 14, 1890; May 13, 1891	50	(16)
Alonzo Clayton---May 11, 1892	66	(6)
James Perkins---May 6, 1895	72	(5)
Willie Simms---May 6, 1896; May 4, 1898	77	(10)
James Winkfield---April 29, 1901; May 3, 1902	87	(10)
Conclusion	97	(14)
Appendix A: Summary of Black Kentucky Derby Winners	111	(1)
Appendix B: Black Owners of Kentucky Derby Horses	112	(1)
Appendix C: Black Trainers of Kentucky Derby Horses	113	(2)
Notes	115	(6)
Bibliography	121	(4)
Index	125