Isaac “Ike Murphy” and Jimmy Winkfield: Two Legendary Jockeys: Part 2
In the first part of this article a description was given of the life of Isaac Murphy and his racing success in the Kentucky Derby. He made history by winning 628 out of 1, 412 races. He won the Kentucky Derby three times in 1884, 1890, and 1891. He won his first race at the age of 14. He won the American Derby in Chicago four times. The story of Isaac Murphy has not been told. His father was a bricklayer who died as a prisoner during the Civil War. His mother did laundry for the Owings and Racing stables. Here is where Isaac learned about horses. There were other Black jockeys, but prejudice and jealousy from many white jockeys gave them difficulties in this country. The names of Black jockeys are seldomly mentioned.
My readers might be interested reading a book entitled, “The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby.” It is a book about the life of Jimmy Winkfield. He made history in Europe. This book was written by Crystal Hubbard and illustrated by Robert McGuire. The Jimmy Winkfield story celebrates the racing of one of the most talented black jockeys.
In Europe racing was known as the sport of Kings. It came to the United States with the early settlers. The first recorded races were in 1665. At the time, most horses of wealthy land owners were cared for by the slaves. Horse racing gave some slaves fame and others freedom. In the introduction to the book, it states that, on May 17, 1875, the Kentucky Derby made its debut and of the fifteen jockeys who raced that day, fourteen were Black. Between 1875 and 1902 they continued to win, and it was during this time that Isaac Murphy became known. And another Black jockey named Jim my Winkfield took center stage. What he loved best were horses and Isaac Murphy was his idol. As a teenager he spent a lot of time at the racetrack.
Wink had some setbacks but kept on racing with determination to win. The pictures in the book will make you feel that you are in the stands of the racetrack seeing this magnificent rider win the races with style. He had a passion for racing. After 1903, economic factors drove many racetracks out of business. There was rivalry between the African American jockey and the other jockeys. Wink found work in Europe, racing for Russian Czars, Pol ish Princes, and German Barons. Wink missed the states, when he returned, he found Black jockeys were no longer welcomed in the United States.
He traveled to the United States for The Kentucky Derby banquet. However, when he arrived he was not allowed to go inside of the hall. Today he is recognized as one of the world’s greatest jockeys. He was inducted into the National Museum Racing Hall of Fame in August 2004, in Saratoga Springs, New York. On January 17, 2005, the Aqueduct Racetrack had its inaugural run on the Jimmy Wink field Stakes. Jimmy Winkfield died on March 23, 1974 just short of his 92nd birthday. His daughter Liliane Winkfield Casey stated the following upon his death: “He was a survivor. His determination not to give up was amazing. He lived a good life.”