This is an original 1928 photo of Jimmy Winkfield on Miche at Longchamp.
Winkfield was born in Chilesburg, Kentucky and began his career as a jockey in 1898 at age sixteen. He was suspended for one year after just one race for his involvement in a four-horse accident at the starting gate.
However, he returned in 1900 to ride Thrive in the Kentucky Derby, finishing third. He rode in the race again in 1901 and 1902, winning on His Eminence and Alan-a-Dale. He won 220 races in 1901.
He was only the second jockey to ride back to back winners of the Kentucky Derby. The first to accomplish it was Isaac Murphy. The feat would not be duplicated until 1967 when Bobby Ussery rode Proud Clarion and then Dancer’s Image the following year.
In 1903 with the advent of Jim Crow Laws in the USA, Winkfield emigrated to Russia riding for Tsar Nicholas II and competing at racetracks all over Europe. He won the Russian Oaks five times, the Russian Derby four times and the Warsaw Derby twice. Arriving in Russia, Jimmy knew not a bit of Russian, but would later become fluent in four languages.
Of Tsarist Russia, Winkfield said:
"Before the revolution that was a good country and I never had to pay no income tax," he said. "There was no prejudice in Russia, not a bit. I would have stayed but for the revolution."
After the Bolsheviks implemented their reign of terror Jimmy stated:
"I got to thinking this ain't no longer a fit place for a small coloured man from Chilesburg, Kentucky, to be.”
In 1918, with the Bolshevik army moving into Odessa and burning down the racetrack, Wink led a rag tag band composed of: Russian Nobility, Polish soldiers, his fellow riders, trainers and owners and drove over 250 thoroughbreds across the Transylvanian Alps to Poland - a harrowing thousand-mile odyssey - eating horseflesh to survive.
He left Poland and settled in France where he resumed riding. His numerous wins included the Prix du Président de la République, Grand Prix de Deauville, and the Prix Eugène Adam. He retired as a jockey at age fifty having won more than 2,500 races then began a second successful career as a horse trainer.
Winkfield lived on a farm near the Hippodrome de Maisons-Laffitte (racetrack) in Maisons-Laffitte on the outskirts of Paris. He remained there, even defending his home with a pitchfork against the Nazis, until fleeing the German occupation of France during World War II.
During World War II Winkfield returned to the United States and worked as a groom. In 1953 he went back to France and opened a school for training jockeys with his son, Robert. Wink lived in France until his death in 1974.
While being treated with respect in Europe, segregation still ruled American society. Sports Illustrated invited Winkfield in 1961 as a two-time winner, to a Kentucky Derby banquet.
But when he and his daughter arrived at Louisville's historic Brown Hotel, they were told they couldn't use the front door; after a long delay they were let in, but most people at the banquet ignored them.
Except for an old competitor. Jockey Roscoe Goose, who rode Donerail to victory in 1913, recognized Jimmy even though he hadn't seen him since their Derby days sixty years earlier, came over, introduced himself, and sat down next to him.
One of the last public photos of Jimmy, was taken at the Kentucky Derby the following day. He was sitting next to his old rival Roscoe, both in suits and hats, smoking cigars, smiling and telling stories to incredulous reporters. Wink had not only outrun his competition on the racetrack but he’d outrun racism once again.
Jimmy Winkfield was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. The following year, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Jimmy Winkfield. A race is named in his honor and is run at Aqueduct Race Track.
There are two excellent books on Jimmy Winkfield. One is Wink by Ed Hotaling and the other is Black Maestro by Joe Drape.
Winkfield was born in Chilesburg, Kentucky and began his career as a jockey in 1898 at age sixteen. He was suspended for one year after just one race for his involvement in a four-horse accident at the starting gate.
However, he returned in 1900 to ride Thrive in the Kentucky Derby, finishing third. He rode in the race again in 1901 and 1902, winning on His Eminence and Alan-a-Dale. He won 220 races in 1901.
He was only the second jockey to ride back to back winners of the Kentucky Derby. The first to accomplish it was Isaac Murphy. The feat would not be duplicated until 1967 when Bobby Ussery rode Proud Clarion and then Dancer’s Image the following year.
In 1903 with the advent of Jim Crow Laws in the USA, Winkfield emigrated to Russia riding for Tsar Nicholas II and competing at racetracks all over Europe. He won the Russian Oaks five times, the Russian Derby four times and the Warsaw Derby twice. Arriving in Russia, Jimmy knew not a bit of Russian, but would later become fluent in four languages.
Of Tsarist Russia, Winkfield said:
"Before the revolution that was a good country and I never had to pay no income tax," he said. "There was no prejudice in Russia, not a bit. I would have stayed but for the revolution."
After the Bolsheviks implemented their reign of terror Jimmy stated:
"I got to thinking this ain't no longer a fit place for a small coloured man from Chilesburg, Kentucky, to be.”
In 1918, with the Bolshevik army moving into Odessa and burning down the racetrack, Wink led a rag tag band composed of: Russian Nobility, Polish soldiers, his fellow riders, trainers and owners and drove over 250 thoroughbreds across the Transylvanian Alps to Poland - a harrowing thousand-mile odyssey - eating horseflesh to survive.
He left Poland and settled in France where he resumed riding. His numerous wins included the Prix du Président de la République, Grand Prix de Deauville, and the Prix Eugène Adam. He retired as a jockey at age fifty having won more than 2,500 races then began a second successful career as a horse trainer.
Winkfield lived on a farm near the Hippodrome de Maisons-Laffitte (racetrack) in Maisons-Laffitte on the outskirts of Paris. He remained there, even defending his home with a pitchfork against the Nazis, until fleeing the German occupation of France during World War II.
During World War II Winkfield returned to the United States and worked as a groom. In 1953 he went back to France and opened a school for training jockeys with his son, Robert. Wink lived in France until his death in 1974.
While being treated with respect in Europe, segregation still ruled American society. Sports Illustrated invited Winkfield in 1961 as a two-time winner, to a Kentucky Derby banquet.
But when he and his daughter arrived at Louisville's historic Brown Hotel, they were told they couldn't use the front door; after a long delay they were let in, but most people at the banquet ignored them.
Except for an old competitor. Jockey Roscoe Goose, who rode Donerail to victory in 1913, recognized Jimmy even though he hadn't seen him since their Derby days sixty years earlier, came over, introduced himself, and sat down next to him.
One of the last public photos of Jimmy, was taken at the Kentucky Derby the following day. He was sitting next to his old rival Roscoe, both in suits and hats, smoking cigars, smiling and telling stories to incredulous reporters. Wink had not only outrun his competition on the racetrack but he’d outrun racism once again.
Jimmy Winkfield was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. The following year, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Jimmy Winkfield. A race is named in his honor and is run at Aqueduct Race Track.
There are two excellent books on Jimmy Winkfield. One is Wink by Ed Hotaling and the other is Black Maestro by Joe Drape.
