Thoroughbred horse racing is a sport built on grit, grace, and history—but not all of that history has been equally honored.
Long before the Jim Crow era drew an oppressive curtain over Black excellence in the sport, Black jockeys and horsemen were the kings of the racetrack.
The Black Heritage in Racing Collection, housed at the Kentucky Derby Museum, is restoring their rightful place in racing history—one story at a time.
A Legacy That Galloped Ahead of Its Time
When the Kentucky Derby ran its inaugural race in 1875, it was a Black jockey named Oliver Lewis who rode to victory aboard Aristides, forever etching his name into the pages of American sports history. But Oliver Lewis wasn’t alone.
Of the 15 riders in that very first Derby, 13 were Black—a striking image of a sport where Black excellence was not the exception, but the rule.
Between 1875 and 1903, Black jockeys dominated the Derby, winning 15 of the first 28 races—more than half. These men, many of whom were born into slavery or were the first generation born free, channeled their lived experience, resilience, and expertise with horses into legendary careers.
One of the most celebrated among them is Jimmy Winkfield, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner who took the crown in 1901 and 1902.
He was the last Black jockey to win the Derby, a heartbreaking milestone that underscores the rapid and aggressive decline of Black representation in the sport in the early 20th century.
The Fall: Jim Crow’s Grip on the Track
By the early 1900s, as Jim Crow laws spread across the South and racial hostility intensified, Black jockeys were systematically pushed out of the sport. White jockeys refused to ride with them, white trainers and owners stopped hiring them, and the racing authorities turned a blind eye to the rising discrimination.
Jimmy Winkfield, despite his immense talent, found himself ostracized from American racing.
Determined to keep riding, he left the U.S. for Europe, where he became a celebrated jockey and trainer in countries like Russia and France. His success abroad could not erase the painful truth: American horse racing had erased its Black champions.
Preserving the Legacy: The Black Heritage in Racing Collection
Today, the Kentucky Derby Museum is working to shine light on the contributions and legacy of Black horsemen through its Black Heritage in Racing Collection.
This curated collection is a vital part of American sports history, showcasing the lives, struggles, and victories of the men who once defined thoroughbred racing.
The Museum’s exhibits feature rare photographs, personal artifacts, and oral histories that help reconstruct a narrative that was intentionally buried.
From Oliver Lewis to Isaac Murphy (the first jockey to win three Kentucky Derbys), and of course Jimmy Winkfield, the collection tells stories that every racing fan—and every American—should know.
“This isn’t just Black history or racing history. It’s American history,” says Chris Goodlett, Senior Director of Curatorial and Educational Affairs at the Kentucky Derby Museum. “These men laid the foundation of one of America’s greatest sporting traditions.”
— Source: Kentucky Derby Museum [2023]
A Legacy Rekindled
In recent years, efforts have been made to honor Black jockeys and reintegrate their stories into the mainstream. Jimmy Winkfield was posthumously inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2004. The Kentucky Derby Museum also hosts the “Winkfield Stakes” to commemorate his achievements.
Still, representation in the sport remains slim. But as the Museum continues to expand its Black Heritage in Racing initiative—offering educational programs, exhibitions, and scholarship—there’s hope that new generations will not only know the names of these legends but will be inspired to carry their torches forward.
Final Thoughts
The story of Black jockeys like Oliver Lewis and Jimmy Winkfield is not a footnote in history—it is the very foundation of it. The Black Heritage in Racing Collection is doing vital work to ensure that these stories are not lost to time.
As we gather around our screens or the stands each May to watch the Run for the Roses, let’s also remember who made it possible.
Let us not just cheer the horses—but honor the horsemen.
Sources:
- Kentucky Derby Museum – Black Heritage in Racing Collection
https://www.derbymuseum.org/black-heritage-in-racing.html - National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame – Jimmy Winkfield
- Smithsonian Magazine – “The Black Horsemen Who Dominated the Kentucky Derby”
- NPR – “The History of Black Jockeys in Horse Racing”
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