CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E901 HON
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E901 been honored with the Nevada Educator of In the article we learn about a man, Patrick from Louisiana who rode in the race in 2000. the Year Award, the Excellence in Education Husband who grew up in a poor Barbadian But his presence brings pleasure to tens of Award and a National Gallery of Art State neighborhood who with strong-will and deter- millions, not only racing fans in North America and the Caribbean but elsewhere. It Scholarship. Candy is also a member of the mination was able to ride in the Kentucky can also inspire Black youth to seek careers Arts Council of Henderson and an honorary Derby. He was not the first to do so, but his as jockeys and trainers once again in a sport, member of the Henderson Art Association. mere presence at the Derby that day brought a multi-billion dollar business that they Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Candy admiration to all that watched. Truly this has once dominated. Schneider for her years of dedicated service become an inspiration for people up in those Unfortunately, too few television viewers to the students in the Clark County School same neighborhoods as Husband. Witnessing and horse racing fans who will watch the 2006 District. Her passion is truly arts education and these historic moments encourage Black Kentucky Derby from the comfort of their living rooms, sports bars and other places she has surely enriched countless lives with youths to seek experience and careers as and who will follow the course of the race in her tutelage. I wish her the best in her retire- jockeys and trainers, a career once dominated their car radios know that Husbands is sim- ment. by Blacks. ply adding his name to a long list of out- f There is so much history to be studied and standing Blacks who have ridden in the very few people know about it, nor do they Derby and various major races. RECOGNIZING BRANDON CRAIN have access to the information. Few people Indeed 14 of the 15 jockeys who rode in the FOR ACHIEVING THE RANK OF know that 14 of the 15 jockeys who partici- inaugural year of the Kentucky Derby in 1875 EAGLE SCOUT were Black and the first winner, Oliver pated in the inaugural year of the Kentucky Lewis atop Aristedes was Black. Between Derby in 1875 were Black and that the first 1875 and 1902, Black jockeys won 15 of the 27 HON. SAM GRAVES winner, Oliver Lewis atop Aristedes was Black. Kentucky Derby races. OF MISSOURI Another interesting fact was between 1875 Names like Isaac Murphy, Willie Simms, Jimmy Winkfield, Billy Walker, Alonzo IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and 1902, Black jockeys won 15 of the 27 Kentucky Derby races. This type of informa- Clayton, Isaac Lewis, Erskine Henderson and Friday, May 19, 2006 James Perkins dot the pages of racing’s his- tion should not be hidden from people. There Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause tory books for their accomplishments in the was a time in racing history known as the saddle between 1875 and 1911 in the U.S. to recognize Brandon Crain, a very special ‘‘golden days’’ in which the greatest contribu- For example, Murphy, a native of Fayette young man who has exemplified the finest tions were made by Black jockeys and train- County in Kentucky, became the toast of the qualities of citizenship and leadership by tak- ers. horse racing fraternity in the 19th century, ing an active part in the Boy Scouts of Amer- The youth of today should know the names so much so that historians insist he was to ica, Troop 98, and in earning the most pres- of Isaac Murphy, Willie Simms, Jimmy the sport of kings what Michael Jordan be- tigious award of Eagle Scout. Winkfield, Billy Walker, Alonzo Clayton, Isaac came for basketball, Jessie Owens to track and field, Hank Aaron to baseball, O.J. Simp- Brandon has been very active with his Lewis, Erskine Henderson and James Perkins son, Jim Brown and Jerry Rice to American troop, participating in many scout activities. who have made history for their achievements football, Sir Garfield Sobers to cricket and Over the many years Brandon has been in- in racing in the United States from 1875 to Tiger Woods to golf. That is the greatest per- volved with scouting, he has not only earned 911. These are names forever to be cherished former in their sport. numerous merit badges, but also the respect and embraced by people everywhere. When Murphy rode winners three times in the of his family, peers, and community. L.P. Tralton, a famous trainer, died in 1896 he Kentucky Derby, including back-to-back vic- Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in tories in 1890–1891; captured the Travers in wrote in the Thoroughbred Record, ‘‘I have 1879; the Saratoga Cup in 1881 and 1886; the commending Brandon Crain for his accom- seen all of the great jockeys of England and Kentucky Oaks in 1884. At the height of his plishments with the Boy Scouts of America this country for years back, but, all in all Isaac career in the late 19th century, he was mak- and for his efforts put forth in achieving the Murphy is the greatest of them all.’’ ing more than $20,000 a year back then, in to- highest distinction of Eagle Scout. I enter into the RECORD with pleasure the day’s money, we are talking about millions f article by Tony Best published in New York’s of dollars. CaribNews for its careful historical analysis of When he died of pneumonia in 1896 at the HORSERACING AND THE BLACK some of America’s most talented yet sadly for- age of 35 years, L.P. Tarlton, a famous train- JOCKEY—THE RETURN TO er, wrote in the Thoroughbred Record, ‘‘I gotten athletes. We must never forget the sac- have seen all of the great jockeys of England CHURCHILL DOWNS AND KEN- rifice Black jockeys have made for the sport of TUCKY DERBY and this country for years back, but, all in horseracing. The article helps in increasing the all Isaac Murphy is the greatest of them awareness about those who have made the all.’’ HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL sport what it is today and who rightfully de- In his book, A Hard Road to Glory, a His- OF NEW YORK serve their place in the history books. tory of the African-American Athlete be- tween 1619–1918, Arthur Ashe, the late tennis IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HORSERACING AND THE BLACK JOCKEY—THE great explained that ‘‘from roughly 1800 RETURN TO CHURCHILL DOWNS AND KEN- Friday, May 19, 2006 until the eve of World War I, Black jockeys TUCKY DERBY had few peers in their profession.’’ Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in When Patrick Husbands climbs aboard Sea- He went on: ‘‘Black jockeys enjoyed an un- appreciation of an article printed in New York’s side Retreat in Saturday’s Run for the Roses, precedented streak of good fortune until rac- CaribNews entitled, ‘‘Horseracing and the as the world famous Kentucky Derby is often ism forced them off the tracks. No Civil Black jockey, the return to Churchill Downs called, his presence astride the horse will rights groups came to their aid and then and Kentucky Derby’’. Little is known about write another interesting chapter in the his- most had unfortunate endings. tory of horse racing in the U.S. the history of Blacks in horseracing and how What a pity. It’s a chapter that brings to mind the glory Most observers and historians blame the they dominated the sport, but it spans back days of Blacks in the saddle in the 19th and Jockey Club which was formed in 1894 to li- from the 19th and early 20th centuries in the early 20th centuries in the United States and cense riders for the disappearance of Black United States and Europe. their elimination from a sport in North jockeys. Greed and racism were the major With such an illustrious and long history, America that attracts and holds people’s at- engines that systematically drove them out. why is it that such few Blacks are seen engag- tention around the world, the pernicious ef- The ebony-skinned riders were just too good ing in the sport? What we come to learn from fects of racism and greed and now the return and made too much money to suit the whites the article is that because of racism and of Blacks to the pinnacle of a sport from in charge, complained Ashe. which they should never have been driven But Blacks weren’t restricted to the saddle greed, Blacks were eliminated from the sport out in the first place. or to being grooms. Dating back to the colo- in North America. They were simply denied That Husbands, who grew up poor in a Bar- nial days and continuing long after the Rev- the chance to engage in horseracing, an activ- badian neighborhood that’s within walking olutionary War and the Reconstruction pe- ity loved by so many. Late tennis great Arthur distance of one of the Caribbean’s leading riod in America’s history many of the train- Ashe made the case in his book, ‘‘A Hard race tracks, the Garrison Savannah, can ers were Black. Road to Glory’’, a history of the African Amer- make it all the way to Louisville, Kentucky, Blacks in horse racing were the first to ican Athlete between 1619–1918, that ‘‘Black tells a story about sheer grit, determination make a name for themselves in the business and talent and recalls the era of the golden of sport.