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.
Tag: The Sport
Mystik Dan Surprises in Sloppy Southwest Stakes
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has often captured the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, winning the race six times since 2010, but this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep on Feb.
Hades Posts Upset Win in Holy Bull Stakes, Fierceness Finishes Third
Owner John Green could hardly believe what he was seeing when the quarter-mile and half-mile splits of the Feb. 3 Holy Bull Stakes flashed on the tote board. Jockey Paco Lopez had nursed Hades, co-owned by Green, through languid early fractions of :25.03 and :50.53 with 4 ½ furlongs left to run.
Uncle Heavy Joins Kentucky Derby Trail with Upset Withers Win
Trainer Butch Reid has no interest in leaving his cozy base of operations at Parx Racing and moving to New York. He has family members in the nearby Philadelphia area. He’s also a Philadelphia Eagles fan. “I’d have to start cheering for the Jets and I don’t want to do that,” he said. Yes, Parx and Philadelphia may be an indelible part of Reid’s pedigree, but his occasional jaunts to New York remain as profitable and enjoyable as ever.
