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However, Lewis and others are a major part of the superabundance of Black jockeys in the history of horse racing. African-American jockeys rode 14 of 15 horses in that first Kentucky Derby. The horse racing sport was built with the talents of Blacks whose jobs typically included trainer, jockey, and owner. One extraordinary jockey in this history was named Isaac Burns Murphy. Murphy was born on May 7, 1861 in the Fayette County area of Kentucky. He first worked as an exercise boy at Lexington Stables, and acquired his first race mount in 1875 at the age of fourteen as a replacement rider. Murphy would win that race and would later go on to dominate the sport of horse racing. In 1879, he won a record 35 of 75 races entered. He won 45 of 51 starts at Saratoga in 1882, and on several days he rode winners in every race. Murphy's abilities earned him the best mounts of his era. He soared to victory in three Kentucky Derbies, first in 1884 aboard Buchanan, again in 1890 on Riley, and in 1891 atop Kingman. With that feat, Murphy became the first back-to-back and three-time Kentucky Derby winner. He retired in 1892 to become a horse trainer. He achieved a record 628 wins in 1,412 races during the fifteen seasons he rode. Murphy died in 1896 and was belatedly inducted into the Jockey's Hall of Fame at Saratoga in 1955. His body was re-interred at the Kentucky Horse Park in Fayette County in 1977. In 1995, the National Turf Writers Association established the Issac Murphy Award. The annual award is given to the jockey who has ridden at least 500 mounts and attained the highest win percentage. While small in stature, Murphy still remains a giant in the sport of kings. Coming in Part Two: Jimmy Winkfield. NOTE: The African-American Registry contributed to this story.  Anthony McClean is a Researcher/Reporter/Writer for ESPN and Black Athlete Sports Network. You can also hear his sports commentaries every Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. on "Sport Talk" on WCLM-AM 1450 in Richmond, Virginia (www.wclmradio.com). WANT TO REACH THIS WRITER Copyright 2006 by BlackAthlete.net, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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