To paraphrase a wiseguy I once knew, this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby — the 150th edition of the famed horse race — is made history. From its first running in 1875 as the feature race at a just opened Churchill Downs in Louisville to its current place atop a sports and culture pinnacle, its narrative has […] The post Kentucky Derby at 150 is bucket-list Americana. But can it outrun racing’s woes? appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
The Kentucky Derby debuted in 1875, the horse race a vision of Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of American explorer William Clark in hopes of reviving commonwealth's economy.
Brig. Gen. Abe Buford was perhaps best known as master of Bosque Bonita, a magnificent Woodford County farm that in 1979 became part of the Farish family’s expansive Lane’s End.
African American Contributions To Horse Racing Recognized Ahead Of Kentucky Derby 147 Sponsored by:
Ray Daniels, Gov. Andy Beshear, and Greg Harbut on Monday
On Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation naming April 25 – May 1 Ed Brown Society Week in the commonwealth, recognizing African Americans contributions to horse racing ahead of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby.
“In the 1800s and early 1900s, the majority of jockeys were African Americans. But, despite their centuries of contributions, after World War I, African Americans were pushed out of the sport,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am proud to recognize the Ed Brown Society, an organization helping right this wrong by providing mentorship to the next generation of African American Kentuckians in the horseracing industry.”