Art Exhibit at West Virginia State University Showcases African American Jockeys

2/5/2020

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Contact: Jack Bailey
(304) 766-4109
Jbaile19@wvstateu.edu
 
   
INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- A collection of paintings showcasing African American horse jockeys that were among the first jockeys to race in the Kentucky Derby will be on display at West Virginia State University (WVSU) throughout the month of February as part of Black History Month.

The collection is sponsored by the Project to Preserve African American Turf History (PPAATH) and opens on Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Della Brown Taylor Art Gallery, located in the Davis Fine Arts Building on the WVSU campus. The paintings will remain on display through March 5. The gallery is free and open to the public.

The portraits by artist Audrey Menefee feature the jockeys who are an often overlooked chapter in early American horse racing history.

The winning rider at the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 was African American as were, 13 of the 15 jockeys participating in the inaugural race. Over the Kentucky Derby’s first 28 years the race was won 15 times by an African American jockey, with the last time coming in 1902.

“By the turn of the 20^th century, African American jockeys fell victim to the same plight as other African Americans endured at that time,” said Dr. James Natsis, WVSU assistant professor and vice president of PPAATH. “These men were pioneers of the horse racing industry. They each have a story and a legacy that this collection is able to showcase.”

The exhibit will also include paintings from PPAATH's collection of the Triple Crown jockeys.

The exhibition is part of Black History Month. A complete calendar of Black History Month events can be found at www.wvstateu.edu/blackhistorymonth.

Established in 2007, PPAATH is a Kentucky based non-profit organization that commemorates the legacy of African American contributions to the Kentucky Derby. For more information, visit www.ppaath.org.

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West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.