In the years following the Civil War, African American jockeys dominated horseracing and won 15 of the first 28 runnings of the Kentucky Derby; the unsung heroes of the racetrack are the track ponies; created over 50 years ago as the specialty pastry of the Melrose Inn, the chocolate-nut pie from Kern’s Kitchen is the official Derby Pie; and women’s eye-catching hats are a Derby tradition.
African-American Jockeys
Fifteen of the first 28 Kentucky Derbys were won by African-American jockeys. They dominated the early years of Thoroughbred racing in the United States—and they were widely regarded as the best in the world.
African-Americans were racing horses in antebellum days. “Slaves were taking care of the horses in all facets, and that included being jockeys,” said Chris Goodlett, curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville.
Continue reading about African-American jockeys and watch the video.
Track Ponies
At the height of their careers, Thoroughbred racehorses are very fit, very strong, and very young. Keeping them manageable at the track requires the assistance of the calming presence of a more mature equine chaperone. These horses are known as track ponies.
“The ponies fill so many roles,” says John Asher, Vice President of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs. I think they are underappreciated, unsung heroes of the racetrack because the duties that they fulfill are essential. We couldn’t get through the day without them and yet they just kind of go quietly by. You keep your eye on the horses that run fast and you don’t necessarily see the ponies.”
Learn more about track ponies and watch the video.
Derby Pie
Derby Pie is a chocolatey tradition that has its humble roots in the mid-20th century. It can now be found in freezer cases far and wide, but it was originally the signature dish at a rural inn.
“Kern’s Kitchen started out as the old Melrose Inn, a nice little country inn out in Prospect, Kentucky,” says Alan Rupp, President of Kern’s Kitchen. “My grandparents and my uncle Started managing that property back in the early 1950s, and they developed the pie as their specialty item for the Melrose Inn.”
Find out more about Derby Pie and watch the video.
Derby Hats
Some are tasteful, some are fashionable, and some are completely over-the-top. They’re Derby hats, and they’re an iconic part of Kentucky Derby Day.
“Fashion has been part of the Derby ever since the beginning in 1875,” says Chris Goodlett, Curator of Collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum. “At that time, they had a ladies’ committee, and that was a committee of men—not of women—but their charge was to kind of seat the women and make sure all their comforts were given attention and taken care of.”
