Jimmy Winkfield is the last Black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Learn more about him and see this painting in person at the museum!
#blackhistory #blackhorsemen #blackstories
Posted by International Museum of the Horse on Monday, February 15, 2021
Care for a walk down history lane with me? This week’s rabbit hole dive subject is Jimmy Winkfield, the last Black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby – which he did consecutively in 1901 and 1902. In fact, he rode in four Kentucky Derby races in succession, never finishing worse than third. During a time when racism ran rampant and racing was becoming almost exclusively white, an offer to ride in Russia became too tempting to turn down, and Jimmy soon found himself on a ship headed to the other side of the world.
His success as a race jockey is underscored by another display of boldness: a harrowing journey from Russia across the Transylvania Alps to Poland, fleeing oncoming Bolsheviks with 250 Thoroughbreds, Polish noblemen and horsemen.
Jimmy’s race career would spill all over Europe, finding success in each corner and spinning into an equally successful second career as a trainer. After 60 years away from the U.S., Jimmy returned with his daughter, Liliane, for a reception in his honor hosted by Sports Illustrated. The pair were denied entry to the party through the front door.
I’ve hardly done Jimmy’s incredible story justice, so I highly recommend this article over on America’s Best Racing to learn much more about his life.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Full Gallop Farm Mid-February H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Stabling, Volunteer
Pine Top Advanced H.T.: Website, Schedule, Entry Status, Stabling, Volunteer
Three Lakes Winter II H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Volunteer
Twin Rivers Winter H.T.: Website, Entry Status/Ride Times, Stabling, Volunteer
Wednesday Reading List:
For your next trot set: tune in to the latest episode of The Equestrian Podcast, featuring Erin Brown, also known as The Concrete Cowgirl. Erin has extensive experience managing stables and is a strong advocate for riding programs serving her local communities. She is also an active representative on the USEF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion External Thought Leaders Group and contributed to the development of the USEF DEI Action Plan.
British Eventing has issued an update regarding current COVID-19 restrictions in England and Scotland. With a return to play anticipated, the organization is working on protocol to unveil in the coming days: “Our member bodies are working on various ‘return to play’ plans for release in the coming days with specific details for their sectors and stakeholder groups.”
Somehow, it’s nearly allergy season again. How prepared are you? Allergic reactions can manifest in a multitude of ways and can also be exacerbated by barn and living conditions. Learn more about allergens and avoidance in this blog from Haygain.
We’re off and running with EN’s Patreon, a dedicated eventing super-fan hub that we created in January. To say thank you to our Patrons, we’ve teamed up with Horse & Rider Books for a giveaway this week. Want to enter? Consider joining the party on Patreon!
The popular “Sire Madness” game is back for this year’s Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover. Breeding aficionados will love this game that tracks the performance of Thoroughbred sires across disciplines. Learn how to play here.
Could the 2032 Olympics be held in Queensland, Australia? There’s definitely a chance, and that chance could get stronger with an endorsing nod from the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Summer Commission this week.
#ICYMI: Kate Samuels spent the weekend tracking down this incredibly cool story about Indiana-based Dan Kreitl and his Advanced debut on three self-produced horses.
Research has found that omeprazole, commonly used as a treatment for gastric ulcers in horses, is more effective when fed to fasted horses. Dive into the study on The Horse here.
Wednesday Video Break:
Learn more about Jimmy Winkfield:
