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African American Contributions To Horse Racing Recognized Ahead Of Kentucky Derby 147

On Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation naming April 25 – May 1 Ed Brown Society Week in the commonwealth, recognizing African Americans' contributions to horse racing ahead of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby.

“In the 1800s and early 1900s, the majority of jockeys were African Americans. But, despite their centuries of contributions, after World War I, African Americans were pushed out of the sport,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am proud to recognize the Ed Brown Society, an organization helping right this wrong by providing mentorship to the next generation of African American Kentuckians in the horseracing industry.”

The Ed Brown Society is named after Edward D. Brown, who was born into slavery in Lexington in 1850, but through his tenacity and love of the sport developed into one of the most accomplished African American horsemen in the history of Thoroughbred racing.

Brown was sold at age seven to a proprietor of the horse farm Woodburn Stud in Woodford County. Brown had a small boyhood stature, but gained a vast knowledge of horses, which afforded him the opportunity to become a jockey in his early teens.

At 14, Brown won his first race on a horse named Asteroid. A year later, Brown was emancipated. He continued to work at Woodburn Stud until the proprietor's death in 1867. Afterwards, Brown built his career as a top jockey and trainer until he saved enough money to establish his own racing stable, where he owned and trained a number of stakes winners.

Brown's most distinguished career highlights include two standout victories: He rode Kingfisher to win the fourth running of the Belmont Stakes in 1870, and led Baden-Baden as a trainer in 1877 to win the third running of the Kentucky Derby.

Brown's important role in thoroughbred racing was confirmed with his 1984 induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The Ed Brown Society was recently established to celebrate the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry as well as to create opportunities for young African American Kentuckians.

“At the Ed Brown Society, in our past, we want to acknowledge and educate about the wonderful history of African Americans in horse racing in our great state,” said Ray Daniels, chief executive officer of Equity Solutions Group and president of the Ed Brown Society. “In the present day, we want to highlight the great jobs and opportunities in the equine industry. We've been successful in guiding 30 African Americans into horse ownership in the past few years. And the future for us is to educate young students to make these opportunities in the industry a reality.”

The society aims to increase diversity in thoroughbred racing and its support professions, helping more people pursue a career they are passionate about, and at the same time, helping the equine industry reach its full potential. For example, as of 2018, African Americans comprised 13.4% of the U.S. population, but made up only 1.7% of veterinary employment, a statistic the society wants to help improve.

Through partnerships with industry stakeholders and educational institutions, the Ed Brown Society has the opportunity to ensure the horseracing industry is well-positioned culturally and economically to create a stronger, more diverse pipeline of talent for the future.

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The Racing Biz Virtual Series to Focus on Industry-wide Racial and Social Issues

The Racing Biz, LLC, a media company focused on Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the mid-Atlantic region, has partnered with freelance journalist Teresa Genaro and National Thoroughbred Racing Association Director of Communications Alicia Hughes to launch a series of digital panel discussions designed to tackle issues of diversity and inclusion within the Thoroughbred industry.

The series, titled “Truth to Power,” will bring together various participants within the racing realm to share their perspectives on racial, gender, and social inequality and how it impacts the sport as a whole. In addition to featuring industry stakeholders, the multi-part series will also seek out diversity experts from other sports to help illustrate why greater inclusion is crucial for any business seeking sustainable growth.

The first panel will take place Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. ET and is set to feature noted bloodstock agent Greg Harbut, a third-generation horseman, and his business partner, Lexington-based entrepreneur Ray Daniels, to discuss their experience as Black owners in racing and their non-profit the Ed Brown Society, which is working to create opportunities for people of color in the Thoroughbred industry through scholarships, internships, and apprenticeships.

The panel will be streamed on both The Racing Biz website (www.theracingbiz.com) and social media platforms @TheRacingBiz, as well as on the NTRA's Twitter account @NTRA.

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‘Truth To Power’: Racing Biz Launches Virtual Series On Race, Social Justice In Thoroughbred Industry

The Racing Biz, LLC, a media company focused on Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the mid-Atlantic region, has partnered with freelance journalist Teresa Genaro and NTRA Director of Communications Alicia Hughes to launch a series of digital panel discussions designed to tackle issues of diversity and inclusion within the Thoroughbred industry.

The first panel will take place on February 24 at 5 p.m. ET and is set to feature noted bloodstock agent Greg Harbut, a third-generation horseman, and his business partner, Lexington-based entrepreneur Ray Daniels, to discuss their experience as Black owners in the racing and their non-profit the Ed Brown Society, which is working to create opportunities for people of color in the Thoroughbred industry through scholarships, internships, and apprenticeships.

“As a biracial female working in the Thoroughbred industry, the issue of diversity – specifically the lack thereof in this sport – is a deeply personal one for me,” Hughes said. “I am hoping we can further enlighten aspiring allies while holding industry leaders accountable to have their practices match their statements denouncing systemic injustice.”

In addition to Harbut and Daniels, the panel will also feature an interview with Rose Grissell, head of Diversity and Inclusion for the British Horseracing Authority, which has had a Diversity in Racing Action plan in place since 2018.

“With each passing year, the United States becomes a more multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural society,” said Frank Vespe, owner and publisher of The Racing Biz. “The future of the Thoroughbred industry here will depend in no small part on its ability to adapt to that changing landscape and to speak to, and most importantly, listen to, people of all races and ethnicities.”

“The racing industry has been slow to become more inclusive and equitable,” Genaro said. “The sport could not survive without the labor of people of color, yet their voices are seldom part of the big conversations about its future. Increasing the participation of people of color and of women, on boards, in offices, and as customers, is an essential step in the industry's growth.”

The panel will be streamed on both The Racing Biz website (www.theracingbiz.com) and social media platforms @TheRacingBiz as well as on the NTRA's Twitter account @NTRA.

Tentative dates for future panels include March 17 and April 7, both at 5 p.m. ET.

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Doing his Part, Harbut Introducing African American College Students to Racing

Greg Harbut's mission to make horse racing more diverse has taken take him back to the classroom. Starting in January, he began a lecture series as part of an entrepreneur residency program at Wilberforce University in which he delivers the message to the students at the historically Black university that getting involved in racing can be a terrific career opportunity. It's his latest attempt to help racing solve what is clearly a problem–its lack of diversity.

“It's a wonderful industry, an industry I hold near to my heart and an industry that has afforded me a lot of opportunities,” said Harbut, a bloodstock agent, which makes him one of the few Blacks in a prominent role in the sport. “From a factual standpoint, there just aren't minorities in this business. We have to make a strategic effort to go out and target people of color and market to people of color.”

The Harbut family history in racing traces all the way back to the early twentieth century. Harbut's great-grandfather, Will, was the long-time groom of Man o'War. His grandfather, Tom, became the stallion manager at Spendthrift Farm and co-owned a horse that ran in the 1962 Kentucky Derby. Because he was Black, Tom Harbut was not allowed to sit in the grandstand Derby Day to watch his horse race.

Greg Harbut's father did not get involved in the sport, but that didn't stop his son from going into the business. The owner of Harbut Bloodstock, Harbut specializes in finding top-class broodmares for his clients, many of whom are overseas. He is also the co-owner of Necker Island (Hard Spun), a starter in the 2020 GI Kentucky Derby.

Harbut's participation in the Derby at a time that Louisville was reeling over the death of Breonna Taylor, became a well-documented story and it caught the attention of Wilberforce's Dr. Taisha Bradley, the schools executive vice president and chief innovation officer. She knew that he had a story to tell, how an African American male can make it in a predominantly white industry.

“This is still a prime example about learning to break down barriers and allow your imagination to run wild,” Harbut said. “This will give exposure and the possibility for them to find what they're passionate about so they can achieve success and then explore it. We all start with one step.”

He said that about 30 students at the school that is located just outside Dayton, Ohio will attend his lectures and he hopes to work with others to get some of them internships in various segments of the industry.

Harbut, a Lexington resident, is also one of the founders of the Ed Brown Society. Born into slavery, Brown became one of the top horsemen of his time. He won the 1870 Belmont S. as a jockey and the 1877 Kentucky Derby as a trainer. The society will provide scholarships for minority students interested in going into racing. Harbut has also started Living the Dream Stable, a partnership focusing on attracting Blacks into ownership.

He said that the easiest way to connect with the younger generation is to tell them about the history of African Americans in the early days of the sport. Fifteen of the first 28 Kentucky Derbies were won by Black jockeys.

“I tell them about these trainers and jockeys,” he said. “They were the LeBron James and Michael Jordan of their era. Horse racing was pretty much the only sport in town and they dominated and they were well compensated.”

Today, there are only a handful of Black jockeys and from 1921 to 2000, not a single Black rode in the race. It's not just jockeys. There are very few Black trainers, owners, breeders or racing executives. There was a time when many backstretch jobs went to Blacks. Today, that no longer is the case as the predominant ethnic group on the backstretch is Latinos. Even Black fans of the sport seem to be in short supply.

It's a reason why Harbut sometimes feels out of place when at the racetrack.

“There are racetracks that could be a lot more welcoming,” he said. “I don't know how many times I have walked into a clubhouse or a suite and it's presumed that I am lost. No I am not lost. In fact, this is where I belong and I'm quite comfortable in this type of setting. Just retraining staff to better deal with something like this would go a long way.”

To Harbut, solving the diversity problems would not just be good for minorities, but for the sport as a whole.

“If you look at other sports that are considered mainstream sports that had been lacking minority participation, they understood why this was a problem,” he said. “They went out and made it a strategic point to appeal to a broader audience. A prime example is NASCAR. Through their diversity program, they produced Bubba Wallace. When a particular group is not represented in a sport they are not going to be fans. When you look around and you don't see anyone that looks like you, whether it's a trainer, jockey or fan, that's a problem. It's a barrier the sport has to overcome.”

Harbut is doing what he can and so is Ray Daniels, the co-owner of Necker Island and another co-founder of the Ed Brown Society. But Harbut says he cannot do this alone and that the entire industry must come together to sell itself to Blacks.

“You are dealing with an industry that could do a lot better when it comes to inclusion and diversity,” he said.

Harbut will continue to do his part, which, for now, means delivering lectures he hopes will open the eyes of Wilberforce students. The goal is simple–to convince them to give the horse racing business a try.

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