In recognition of Black History Month, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will host the traveling exhibit, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers.

The exhibit will open Saturday, Feb. 1 with a talk by the exhibit curator, and Library Director, Roda Ferraro from the Keeneland Library. The exhibit will be available to visit at the MHLEC through Feb. 28.

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.

“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.”

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

This story was posted in Top News and tagged African American horsemen, Black History Month, Cricket Goodall, Keeneland Library, Maryland Horse Library and Education Center, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers.