Kentucky
‘If these artifacts could speak.’ Take a look at 7 iconic artifacts in Kentucky Derby history
The Kentucky Derby has left quite a trail in its 149 runnings.
While dust certainly settles on the track, artifacts associated with the Run for the Roses can linger for decades.
Stories and memories live on in the countless collectible Kentucky Derby cups that fill cupboards or hats that rest in closets, but some objects carry a whole different weight and symbolism.
A few years ago Jessica Whitehead, the curator of collections for the Kentucky Derby Museum, told me the American flag that flew over Churchill Downs in 1937 was one of the most celebrated artifacts in the museum’s 20,000-piece collection. The Kentucky Derby was nearly canceled that year because the Ohio River flooded and devastated Louisville but the race went on because Kentucky’s governor at the time delivered a morale-boosting speech insisting the event was a symbol of unity.
Like that flag, so many of the objects in the museum seem ordinary or unremarkable, until you think about what they have to say about the era they’re from.
“Objects are so special because, they’re literal touchstones for history, and they’re literal touchstones for memory,” Whitehead said.
Kentucky Derby history runs in tandem with American history, so much of what’s happening in the world can be remembered through the lens of this historic race.
In honor of the 150th running, Whitehead has compiled a book titled “The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects.” Inspired by that 1937 flag, I asked her to share a few other stories hidden among the museum’s Kentucky Derby artifacts.
“If these artifacts could speak,” she gushed.
Here is a quick look at some extremely humble but very telling pieces of Kentucky Derby history.
1870s: Renderings of the original Clubhouse
Images of the earliest days of Churchill Downs, which was known originally as The Louisville Jockey Club, are difficult to come by. Photography was extremely limited when the track opened in 1875, Whitehead said, so one of the best ways to understand what life was like at the track is hand-drawn renderings.
The Clubhouse was the most exclusive part of the track in the late 19th century, and it was where all the movers and shakers of the day practiced their social sport in between races. These drawings, which are more than a century and a half old, offer a glimpse into what high society looked like for the earliest Kentucky Derby-goers. The Clubhouse had a kitchen all its own, and it was the only part of the track that had indoor bathrooms.
The drawings nod to both the Kentucky Derby experience in its earliest days and the technology of that period. The building was designed in a Carpenter Gothic style by John Andrewartha, a prolific architect in Louisville. The intricate detail in the trim on the structure was only possible because of scroll saws, which were semi-new tools of the day.
The Clubhouse wasn’t part of the Kentucky Derby for long. Once the Twin Spires grandstand was constructed in 1895, it was used for storage or as a residence for the track’s superintendent. By the 1910s it was demolished to make room for barns and outbuildings.
1875: Aristide’s booties
Even with all the glittering trophies and priceless artwork, Whitehead says some of the most prized objects in the collection look humble. The ankle boots once worn by the first Kentucky Derby winner Aristides tell a story of craftsmanship and how racehorses were cared for in 1875.
“These are just (hide) and leather little booties, and if you haven’t ever seen 19th-century horse gear, you might not know what you’re looking at,” Whitehead said.
Aristides wore these anklets in the same way that modern horses have gauze wrapped around their ankles. They would have been touched by Oliver Lewis, the Black jockey who won the first Derby, and by his celebrated Black trainer, Ansel Williamson. The booties are among the oldest objects in the museum’s collection.
“We don’t know if they were worn in the [first Kentucky] Derby,” Whitehead said. “But the fact that they were saved and hallowed this way suggests that certainly, he would have worn them at an important time in his career.”
1896: Isaac Murphy’s grave marker
Isaac Murphy’s legacy is imperative to the history of the Kentucky Derby, but for decades his grave was lost.
His gravestone helps tell the story of how the Jim Crow era, which enforced segregation, forced out the Black jockeys, who powered the racing industry in the late 19th century, Whitehead said. Murphy was a three-time Kentucky Derby winner and the son of a formerly enslaved person in Fayette County. He rode in 11 Kentucky Derby races.
When he died in 1896 — the same year that Black horsemen started getting pushed off the tracks by their white counterparts — Murphy was buried in African Cemetery No. 2 in Lexington, which fell into disrepair in the early 20th century. Grave markers were kicked down, destroyed, and moved from their original spots. His grave was considered lost until it was rediscovered in the 1960s. His body was then moved to a place of honor in the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
The original gravestone was then restored and donated to the museum’s collection.
1913: Donerail’s scrapbook
Donerail, who won the 1913 Kentucky Derby, was the longest shot to ever win the race at 91-1 odds. His owner, Thomas Hayes, was so thrilled kept a scrapbook about the horse’s racing career, which is now part of the museum’s collection.
Hidden in those pages is the story of the track’s survival and hometown pride.
Today the Kentucky Derby is an international sensation, but it wasn’t always that way. Churchill Downs was in financial turmoil at the end of the 19th century, and it looked like the Kentucky Derby might have run its course. Matt Winn, the former director of Churchill Downs, gets most of the credit for reviving the track and the race, but Whitehead said, he also got a lot of help from some incredible horses, like Donerail.
“These were stories that spoke to more than just horse racing fans or gamblers,” Whitehead said. “These were stories that started to speak to the American public in ways that were beyond just horseracing.”
Donerail’s jockey, Roscoe Goose, had grown up in Louisville on Third Street near Churchill Downs, and there was an immense sense of local pride swelling around his Kentucky Derby win. Inside the scrapbook is a letter to Hayes from a local shopkeeper, who states that they were so thrilled they decorated the shop in Donerail’s colors.
1934: Brookmeade Stable Jockey Silks
Isabel Dodge Sloane owned Brookmeade Stable and her horse Cavalcade, won the Kentucky Derby in 1934. These are the jockey silks worn by Mack Garner that represent her colors and win.
A man’s jockey silks might seem like an unusual symbol of women’s strides in the male-dominated horseracing industry, but Whitehead says these point to the story of the earliest women horse owners involved in the Kentucky Derby. They first came on the scene in the early 20th century, but it wasn’t until the 1920s and 1930s that women owning racehorses became a more acceptable practice, particularly on the East Coast.
Sloane was also a fashion icon, who helped set the stage for women’s sportswear at the track.
1958: Tim Tam’s horseshoes
Today, Latin American jockeys are a crucial part of horseracing, but that wasn’t the case in the earliest Kentucky Derby races. José “Joe” Rodriguez was a Cuban trailblazer for Latinx jockeys in the United States throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but a Latin American jockey wouldn’t win the Kentucky Derby until Ismael “Milo” Valenzuela road to victory on Tim Tam in 1958. The Kentucky Derby Museum has Tim Tam’s horseshoes in its collection.
“He was the first Latin American winner of the Kentucky Derby, which of course has huge ramifications on the history of the sport,” Whitehead explained. “After that, the trend went significantly toward Latin, Central American and South American horsemen.”
Valenzuela also won The Preakness in 1958. His earnings in his career topped $20 million.
2020: Hats and masks
The museum focuses on preserving the Kentucky Derby’s past, but that also involves collecting objects that help tell its story in the future. The past decade has seen many highs and lows between the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial justice protests, and two disqualifications of winners, among other circumstances.
“We’re still so close to it, that I think we’re going to be trying to understand this period for a long time,” Whitehead said.
It’s always difficult to guess what artifacts will be important down the line, Whitehead said, but the hats and masks worn at the races in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic undeniably speak volumes about the culture of the era.
“People are going to look back at 2020 and 2021, and go ‘What the heck was going on there,’” Whitehead said. “And we’re really fortunate to have some examples in our collection that can help shed light on that and tell those stories later on.”
Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky unique, wonderful, and occasionally, a little weird. If you’ve got something in your family, your town or even your closet that fits that description — she wants to hear from you. Say hello at mmenderski@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4053. Follow along on Instagram @MaggieMenderski.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball is off to its first 3-0 start since the 2016-17 season. And the Wildcats are now up to No. 11 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll. As UK prepares to host Lipscomb in a nonconference clash tonight at Rupp Arena, Kentucky coach Mark Pope said there’s “a lot he’s really proud of” so far.
But there’s still so much work left to do.
“Our defensive punches, which is all the different ways that we can kind of change up the texture of the game schematically at a moment’s notice; we’d like to make some progress there,” Pope said. “We’d like to continue growing on the glass on both sides. That’s a real big deal for us. (And) offensively, we’d like to continue to get in a space where our guys are able to pay attention — it becomes part of their DNA — where they’re paying attention to how they’re being guarded and responding accordingly, where it becomes second nature.”
Tonight will be the third meeting between UK and Lipscomb, all since the turn of the millennium. The Wildcats lead the series 2-0. Kentucky won the first matchup, 67-49, on Nov. 14, 2005. In the most recent tilt, UK cruised to an 88-50 win on Dec. 15, 2012.
Follow along below with live updates from Rupp Arena:
The contest between the Wildcats and Bisons will not air on a traditional TV channel.
Instead, it will stream live on SEC Network+. Andrew Kappes (play by play) and Travis Ford (analyst) will have the call.
Authenticated subscribers to SEC Network+ can watch the contest on WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
Those without access to SEC Network+ can access coverage via a subscription to ESPN+. (To sign up for ESPN+, click here.)
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 21.5-point home favorite (-110) on BetMGM, which set the over-under at158.5 points (-110). The money line odds areUK -5000, Lipscomb +1500.
- Oct. 23: exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 123, Kentucky Wesleyan 52
- Oct. 29: exhibition vs. Minnesota State Mankato ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 98, Minnesota State Mankato 67
- Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 103, Wright State 62
- Nov. 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 100, Bucknell 72
- Nov. 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Duke 72
- Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena), 6:30 p.m., ESPNU
- Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network
- Dec. 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9:30 p.m., ESPN
- Dec. 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle), Time TBA
- Dec. 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena), 8 p.m., ESPN2
- Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena), 5:15 p.m., ESPN
- Dec. 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York), 5:30 p.m., CBS
- Dec. 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena), 2 p.m., ESPNU
- Jan. 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena), 11 a.m., ESPN
- Jan. 7: at Georgia, 7 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 11: at Mississippi State, 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 14: vs. Texas A&M (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU
- Jan. 18: vs. Alabama (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN
- Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/2
- Jan. 28: at Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 4: at Ole Miss, 7 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN/ESPN2
- Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 15: at Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network
- Feb. 22: at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 26: at Oklahoma, 9 p.m., SEC Network
- March 1: vs. Auburn (Rupp Arena), 1/4 p.m., ABC/ESPN
- March 4: vs. LSU (Rupp Arena), 7/9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
- March 8: at Missouri, noon, ESPN/SEC Network
Record: 1-0
- Ansley Almonor (forward, senior)
- Koby Brea (guard, graduate)
- Lamont Butler (guard, graduate)
- Andrew Carr (forward, graduate)
- Collin Chandler (guard, freshman)
- Grant Darbyshire (guard, junior)
- Brandon Garrison (forward, sophomore)
- Walker Horn (guard, junior)
- Kerr Kriisa (guard, senior)
- Trent Noah (forward, freshman)
- Otega Oweh (guard, junior)
- Travis Perry (guard, freshman)
- Jaxson Robinson (guard, graduate)
- Zach Tow (forward, junior)
- Amari Williams (center, graduate)
Lipscomb went 20-12 overall last season, posting a 11-5 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. Its season ended in a 77-75 loss to North Alabama in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
The Bisons are 2-3 this season, with losses at Arkansas, Western Kentucky and a one-point home setback to city rival Belmont. Lipscomb’s two wins are at the expense of Duquesne and Wofford, respectively.
Click here to see the Bisons’ full 2024-25 schedule.
Want to learn the Bisons’ roster?
Click here for player bios and more.
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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off a massive win over the Duke Blue Devils but the key for Mark Pope’s bunch will be to stay focused on the next game. The Wildcats have had a full week off and are set to take on Lipscomb, who is an extremely underrated team.
At a recent media viewing period, Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler was asked about how Coach Pope is preparing for this game. Butler had this to say about how Coach Pope has discussed the importance of this matchup with Lipscomb, “I think Coach Pope put it best. He said the next game is going to be the biggest game of your life, and that’s how we have to treat it. Lipscomb has the power to come in here and beat us. We don’t want that to happen, especially on our home court. We got our fans there. We’re very locked in on this game. We’re locked in on their personnel and their game plan to go out there and win.”
Kentucky fans should love to see this quote from Butler because it shows Coach Pope is never going to let his team look past an opponent. Some teams would lose a game like this after a big win because they get full of themselves after a big win. That won’t be the case for Coach Pope’s team, as he always makes sure his team is ready to play no matter the opponent.
Coach Pope’s coaching style is going to be a big reason why the Kentucky Wildcats are so successful during his tenure.
The 2024 high school basketball season is set to get underway in the coming days and the state of Kentucky once again features a litany of talent-rich programs.
While the Bluegrass may not rival the likes of Florida or California when it comes to national rankings, it’s still a state that prides itself on the hardwood and continuously churns out top prospects.
Below are the top 25 teams in the state of Kentucky entering the 2024-25 basketball season, as of Nov. 18, per the On3 Massey Ratings.
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
CLICK HERE to watch your high school’s games on NFHS Network now!
Lexington Catholic holds the top spot and is coming off a 28-win season last time out. The Knights won at least eight games in a row three separate times last season and are poised for another impressive campaign this winter. The No. 118 team nationally, Lex Cath’s defense ranks No. 2 in the state preseason, per the Massey Ratings. A Dec. 7 matchup against preseason No. 2 Covington Catholic will be appointment viewing.
Covington Catholic is the only team to own a top-five offensive and defensive rating in the state ahead of the season, per the Massey Ratings. The Colonels won 24 games a season ago and will look to make a statement early this time around, as their first six games are all against ranked foes.
The highest-ranked of last season’s Sweet 16 participants, Great Crossing is once again expected to be dominant in and around Georgetown this winter. Led by top-30 prospect and Kentucky center commit Malachi Moreno, the Warhawks, who lost in the state semifinals last time around, are expected to be a force on both sides of the ball. Their offensive and defensive rating both check in inside the top 10 in-state, per the Massey Ratings.
To no surprise, Trinity is a top program out in Louisville. The Shamrocks lost in the Sweet 16 Quarterfinals last season and won 27 games. Heading the roster is junior four-star shooting guard Jayden Johnson, a top-100 prospect. Per the Massey Ratings, Trinity has the top-ranked in-state defensive rating. A matchup against No. 5 Louisville Male early next month looms large.
Louisville Male sits right behind Trinity and, as always, will challenge the Shamrocks every step of the way this season. The Bulldogs won 21 games last season and are expected to be potent offensively for the 2024-25 campaign. They rank No. 4 offensively in-state, per the Massey Ratings. The schedule will be rigorous at the beginning for Male, as it will take on Trinity, Dupont Manual and Eastern early on next month.
After winning 25 games a season ago, Bowling Green is considered a top contender in the Bluegrass once again this season. The Purples have a top-15 offense and the No. 10 defense in the state, per the Massey Ratings. Paired with a favorable schedule, BG will be a tough out if it can make it to Rupp Arena come March.
North Oldham rattled off an 11-game winning streak a season ago as the Mustangs finished 24-6 on the year. The No. 8 offense in the state, per the Massey Ratings, resides in Goshen preseason. A Dec. 5 clash against No. 10 Ballard will serve as an early measuring stick. It is currently Oldham’s lone ranked matchup until January.
Lyon County won the state championship last season and is back for more this winter. The Lions were led by now-Kentucky Wildcats guard Travis Perry — who became the state’s all-time leading scorer during his senior season. While the workload left by Perry is impossible to fully pick up, Lyon Co. is still expected to do damage to opposing defenses this season, as its offensive rating is No. 2 in the state, per the Massey Ratings.
St. Xavier is yet another elite program out of Louisville that’s coming off an impressive 2023-24 season. The Tigers won 29 games and will look to reach 30-plus this time around. They check in right behind Lyon County with the No. 3 offensive rating in the state, and also like the Lions, they have a defensive rating that ranks outside the top 50, per the Massey Ratings.
The preseason No. 1 offensive rating in the state belongs to Ballard, yet another Louisville power. Unlike the rest of the top 10, the Bruins are coming off a bit of a down 2023-24 season, as they won just 13 games. The Massey Ratings predict a big bounce back this winter, and they’ll have a chance to kick things off with a bang thanks to December matchups against North Oldham and Frederick Douglass.
Teams 11-25 in Kentucky High School Basketball Rankings
11. Evangel Christian
12. Dupont Manual
13. George Rogers Clark
14. Warren Central
15. De Sales
16. Frederick Douglass
17. Newport
18. Cooper
19. Oldham County
20. Ashland Blazer
21. Harlan County
22. Woodford County
23. Eastern
24. Christian Academy
25. Bryan Station
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