dagblog - Comments for "Where Did All the Black Jockeys Go?"

And Animal Kingdom wins,

we are stardust — Sat, 07 May 2011 22:58:14 +0000

In reply to Where Did All the Black Jockeys Go?

And Animal Kingdom wins, with Johhny Velasquez riding; looked like by about eight lengths.

Good on the books, rmrd. The

we are stardust — Sat, 07 May 2011 22:40:39 +0000

Good on the books, rmrd. The Watkins piece told a bit of the Winkling story:

"Winkfield made and lost several fortunes. In Russia he lived in the Moscow National Hotel, owned a skating rink and held 4 percent of Russian railroad stock. He developed a fondness for caviar at breakfast and chauffeur-driven Duesenberg cars. Legend had it, if you were an American tourist and bet on a race that he did not win, you simply brought your betting ticket stubs to the hotel dining room, where he would buy them back.

Winkfield's escapades included narrow escapes during the Russian Revolution and the Nazi invasion of Paris during World War II. He survived and prospered until the ripe old age of 93. He died quietly at his horse-breeding farm at Maisons-Laffitte, near Paris, in 1974."

Gotta love the legend in bold. ;o) And the Ebony piece was based on Hotaling work, I think.

And damn; it's Derby Day, and I don't even know who's running. Racing's a guilty pleasure for me, and I've read every book Dick Franics ever wrote (and other authors, too). He used to ride for the Queen, both flat and steeple-chase. ;o)

Excellent post. Two great

rmrd0000 — Sat, 07 May 2011 22:10:30 +0000

In reply to Where Did All the Black Jockeys Go?

Excellent post. Two great books about the black jockeys are "The Great Black Jockeys" by Edward Hotaling and "Black Maestro: The Epic Life Of an American Legend" By Joe Drape. "Jockeys" details the history of multiple Black jockeys. "Maestro" tells the story of Jimmy Winkfield, the last black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Wingfield fled to Russia and then Paris after the Russian Revolution.

If you ever go to the Clinton Library, there is an area called Argenta close by with several excellent restaurants. One restaurant, "Ristorante Capeo", is literally across the street from the home built by a famous Black jockey, Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton. The home, completed in 1895, was described as the finest home on the north side in it's time. A small commemorative plaque marks the home today.

Nice to see you, Watt.

we are stardust — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:02:48 +0000

In reply to Amazing. All my life I've

Nice to see you, Watt. Welcome. Looking forward to your piece. A reader at my.fdl put up this Ebony link, and it says a slave jocky could earn enough to purchase his or his family's freedom. Though it is hard to picture in actuality.

Dunno how they made Andre Benjamin into so many musicians in that video, but it really is so much fun; and that grin! Love when the grammy finally rocks out!

Damn; what a great songline,

we are stardust — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:53:16 +0000

In reply to "I'll take a drive to Bevery

Damn; what a great songline, Des! That Zappa rules...

(When I was hunting images, I actaully found some who'd had their faces whitewashed. Good God all Friday.)

Amazing. All my life I've

Watt Childress — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:00:49 +0000

In reply to Where Did All the Black Jockeys Go?

Amazing. All my life I've seen lawn jockeys as a symbol for the racist hierarchy of the old South. You would have thought I'd have some sense of the history of that symbol. But no, Stardust, it wasn't until this timely blog fetched my attention that the pieces clicked together, as often happens when I happen to check in on dablog or firedoglake and read your work.

I've been drawn deeper into this topic we call "race relations" of late, and hope to share a related post in the coming days. Thank you Stardust for staying tuned. Great music video!!

"I'll take a drive to Bevery

Desider — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:41:38 +0000

In reply to Where Did All the Black Jockeys Go?

"I'll take a drive to Bevery Hills just before dawn
and knock the little jockeys off the rich peoples lawn
and before they get up, I'll be gone"

-Frank Zappa