A biography written by Pellom McDaniels (MARBL), an Emory professor and curator of African-American collections, has been transformed into a compelling exhibit for the Kentucky Derby Museum.
The book entitled “The Prince of Jockeys” details the extraordinary life of African-American jockey Isaac Burns Murphy, who won the Kentucky Derby three times just before the turn of the 20th century.
Featured in honor of Black History Month, the book and subsequent exhibition also demonstrate the role that African Americans played in the birth of horse racing as a sport in the United States.
“Murphy’s impact on horse racing was tremendous,” said McDaniels. “Besides his ability to win important races on some of the most distinguished horses bred in the nineteenth century, Murphy’s honesty, intelligence, and ability in the saddle elevated him as a model of African American manhood and masculinity.”
You can read more about the exhibit at: http://www.wlky.com/news/kentucky-derby-museum-holds-exhibit-for-famous-africanamerican-jockey/31118640.
For a website dedicated to the book, please go to http://www.theprinceofjockeys.com/.
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