Horse Racing

The influence of England on the early life in colonial America was quite evident in the social, cultural, and political practices of the colonists. Horse racing was one of the earliest English influences on the American gentry. The status of owning thoroughbred horses imported from England was a true indicator of American wealth. Later these wealthy Americans began breeding their own horses on large farms and plantations. As a cost effective and profitable approach, the care and training of these horses were assigned to the slaves. Horses were also needed for the gentlemen as a mode of transportation and for the carriages of the ladies of the aristocracy. As a diversion, horses were trained to race in betting events. Horse racing could earn the gentry money or goods such as tobacco, rice, cotton, sugar, or the addition of more property in the name of slaves. Horse racing became an enjoyable and profitable American pastime. Soon the owners of race horses discovered that the riders were just as important as the horses. Since the African American slaves knew the temperament and ability of each horse they so trained, their selection as riders of race horses soon caught on. Out of the desire to have winners in horse racing, these sporting events included the first identifiable African American sportsmen known as jockeys and trainers. By 1800, the south had produced the majority of black jockeys seen at the major race tracks. From 1823 to the beginning of the American Civil War (1861-1864), the most popular American sporting event was horse racing, and the African American riders were key players in this spectator sport. The earliest known African American jockey was recorded by the name of "Monkey" Simon. Simon was a rider at the Clover Bottom Race Track, near Nashville, Tennessee around 1806. Later the name of Abe Hawkins appeared as a rider at the Metarie, Louisiana race track around 1851.

The American Civil War (1861-1865) put a temporary stop to horse racing. All horses were needed for the war efforts, and many were destroyed during this period. But, by 1875 racing was back, and on May 17, the first Kentucky Derby was won by Oliver Lewis, an African American jockey riding Aristides.

Isaac Murphy (b. Jan. 1, 1861? - d. Feb. 12, 1896), a prominent African American jockey, succeeded in winning the Kentucky Derby three times in the years of 1890 and 1891, a record which stood until the year of 1948 when Eddie Arcaro won the Kentucky Derby four times riding the famed Citation. Isaac Murphy was known as "the most phenomenal hand jockey the world had yet seen." He was opposed to being a "whip" rider in order to achieve the speed needed to win a race. Murphy rode in over 1,412 races and won over 628. Upon his death, the famed trainer L.P. Tarlton said these words about Isaac Murphy: "I have seen all the great jockeys in England and this country for years back, but, all in all, Isaac Murphy is the greatest of them all."

In the footsteps of Isaac Murphy came a list of notables up until the start of World War I. The list included:

* Monk Overton, who was credited with winning six races at Washington Park in Illinois, July 10, 1891.

* Willie Simms, who won five of his six races at Sheepshead Bay, New York, June 23, 1893 and the Kentucky Derby in 1896 and in 1898.

* James "Soup" Perkins at age 13, became known as "the boy jockey" in 1893. Perkins won at Saratoga and the Kentucky Derby in 1895.

* Jimmy Lee at the end of his career was a top drawer in horse racing. He won, from 1907 to 1909, ten major races, including the Kentucky Oaks, the Travers and California Derby.

* Jimmy Winkfield became a legend in the field of horse racing. He won the Kentucky Derby in 1901 and in 1902 and came in second in 1903. In 1904, he traveled to Europe and raced in Moscow, Russia. By 1923, he was racing in France and won the coveted Prix du President de la Republique. He died in 1974 at age 93 and was inscribed into the Jockey Hall of Fame at Pimlico.

* Marlon St. Julien, on May 6, 2000, became the first black jockey in seventy-nine years to ride in the Kentucky Derby. He finished in seventh place.