In recognition of Black History Month, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center (MHLEC), at 321 Main Street in Historic Reisterstown, will host the traveling exhibit, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers.

The exhibit will open Saturday, February 1st, with a talk by the exhibit curator and Library Director, Roda Ferraro, from the Keeneland Library.  Her talk will begin at 2:00 PM. The exhibit will be available to visit at the MHLEC through February 28th.

Heart of the Turf highlights the lives and careers of 100 African American horsemen and horsewomen from the mid-1800s to the present. One-of-a-kind photographs from the Keeneland Library collection capture moments across their varied careers, while biographical vignettes honor their lasting legacies.

From racetrack superstars to behind-the-scenes caretakers, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers showcases stories of the countless African Americans who forged their way in horse racing in Kentucky and beyond. The display showcases the era of slavery to the present, noting the accomplishments that helped to make the horse racing industry what it is today.

The Feb. 1st event will also feature a book signing by Alvin Stone author of Stoney: The Story of my Dad’s Life, an African American Groom of Horse Racing.  Mr. Stone, a Baltimore resident, tells a very personal story of his family’s connection to horses.

“We will take this time to acknowledge the contributions of the many Black horsemen who are the bedrock of horse racing,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the MHLEC, “As in so many sports, African Americans were the pioneers in history.”

To register for the free event, click here.

 

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