4. Horse Racing and Enslaved Jockeys
In the 18th and 19th centuries, enslaved jockeys and trainers were central to the rise of American horse racing. Their skill, knowledge, and fearless riding made them the dominant athletes in the sport’s early days. Owners relied on enslaved Black men to train and race their prized horses, and their expertise shaped the traditions and techniques that define horse racing today. These athletes’ legacies endure, even as their stories have often been overlooked or erased.
