“Until you go to the Kentucky Derby with your own eyes, behold the Derby, you ain’t never been nowhere and you ain’t never seen nothing.”—Irving S. Cobb It was a Monday, the start of a new week, but this would go down as anything but a typical Monday. The day began with clear skies, the sun soon joining the multitudes flocking to Louisville’s newest racetrack, their journey presaging a day a century and a half hence. May 17, 1875, was something altogether bigger than a Monday: it was Derby day.
Tag: Legends
Hall of Fame Trainer Bill Mott: Eclipsing His Own Expectations
Even as a teenager, when some youngsters are inclined to think the world is theirs for the taking, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott did not dream big. “I was 18 years old and hauling horses around in a two-horse trailer to the bush tracks,” recalled the native of Mobridge, S.D. “I never imagined training for anybody else other than myself.”
John Asher: Dedicated Kentucky Derby Ambassador and Friend to All
The grounds of historic Churchill Downs features statues of figures essential to the track and its signature race, the Kentucky Derby: Aristides, the first victor; Barbaro, the fan favorite; and two men seated on benches, one talking and the other listening, beckoning visitors to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Black History Month: Shining a Spotlight on Notable African-American Jockeys
From the beginnings of the sport in the United States, people of color have made significant contributions to horse racing. African-American jockeys dominated the winner’s circle in racing’s first three decades. They were the first Black superstar athletes in the United States, and won 15 of the first 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. In fact, 13 of 15 jockeys for the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875 were Black.
