Image Ownership: Public Domain Ned Huddleston (also known as Isom Dart) was born into slavery in Arkansas in 1849. His reputation as a rider, roper and bronco-buster earned him the nicknames of the “Black Fox” and the “Calico Cowboy.” He was also a notorious … Read MoreIsom Dart (1849-1900)
Image Ownership: Public Domain Alonzo “Lonnie” Clayton, who reached stardom at the age of 15 when he became the youngest rider to win the Kentucky Derby, was born on March 27, 1876 in Kansas City, Missouri to Robert and Evaline Clayton. Alonzo Clayton … Read MoreAlonzo Clayton (1876–1917)
George B. “Spider” Anderson is considered one of the greatest African American jockeys in horse racing history. There are no details available on George Anderson’s early life, not even the place or date of his birth. Anderson achieved his greatest accomplishment by being the first … Read MoreGeorge B. Anderson (? –?)
Photograph by Carl Van Vechten, courtesy of The Van Vechten Trust Canada Lee (the adopted name of Lionel Cornelius Canegata) was a noted 20th Century jockey, boxer, and actor. Born on May 3, 1907 in New York City’s San Juan Hill district, he attended Public … Read MoreCanada Lee (1907-1952)
Stephanie St.Clair Hamid in Custody Image ©Bettmann/Corbis Stephanie St. Clair was born in Martinique, an island in the East Caribbean in 1886 and came to the United States via Marseilles, France. In 1912 she arrived in Harlem. She was known for her deep involvement in the … Read MoreStephanie St. Clair (1886–1969)
"Image Ownership: Public Domain" Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson was an American gangster in Harlem, New York in the 20th century. He has been the subject or character of a number of Hollywood films including The Cotton Club, Hoodlum, and most recently, American Gangster. Johnson was … Read MoreEllsworth “Bumpy” Johnson (1906–1968)
Image Ownership: Public Domain Isaac Murphy was born on April 16, 1861 as Isaac Burns near Frankfort, Kentucky on a farm to parents James Burns and a mother whose name is unknown. Murphy was the first American jockey elected to Racing’s Hall of Fame … Read MoreIsaac Burns Murphy (1861-1896)
Casper Holstein was a prominent New York philanthropist and mobster involved in the Harlem "numbers rackets" during Prohibition. He, along with several other rivals, most notably Stephanie St. Clair, were responsible for resurrecting illegal gambling in Harlem after several years of inactivity following the conviction … Read MoreCasper Holstein (1876-1944)
Image Ownership: Public Domain Jimmy Winkfield, born on April 12, 1882, became famous as an early 20th Century horse jockey. Winkfield, the youngest of 17 children, was born in Chilesburg, Kentucky, a town just outside of Lexington. As a child, he had a routine … Read MoreJimmy Winkfield (1882-1974)