A traveling exhibit titled “Black Heritage in Racing,” organized by stable Futures Equine Career Initiative in partnership with the City of Plainfield, will be displayed at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center from February 2 to 6. This exhibit, a companion to the permanent installation at the Kentucky Derby Museum, features 11 panels that chronicle nearly 200 years of African American contributions to Thoroughbred horse racing. It highlights the foundational role of enslaved Africans in establishing the sport, the early dominance of Black jockeys and trainers, and the impact of segregation and Jim Crow laws on their participation, while recognizing their ongoing caregiving roles in the industry.
The exhibit showcases historic figures such as Oliver Lewis, the first African American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby in 1875, trainer Ansel Williamson, and Isaac Murphy, a formerly enslaved jockey with three Derby wins and one of the highest winning percentages in history. It also includes modern stories like jockey Kendrick Carmouche and horse owners Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels, whose horse Necker Island competed in the 146th Kentucky Derby. Additional programming and exhibit locations in New Jersey throughout February are available through stable Futures Equine Career Initiative.
