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A32 sports
Diahuebs 29 aPRiL 2021

Carmouche to be 1st Black jockey in Kentucky Derby since '13

been many in recent decades, cause of better working con-
Carmouche is now one of the but if you go back to the ditions and never returned.
few remaining Black jockeys early years of the Derby, the Manny Ycaza came from
in the U.S. Much like Mar- late 1800s, early 1900s, Black Panama and blazed a trail for
lon St. Julien in 2000, Patrick jockeys dominated the Ken- Latin American jockeys, who
Husbands in 2006 and Kevin tucky Derby," NBC Sports used riding schools and other
Krigger in 2013, his presence analyst Randy Moss said. factors that changed on-track
in horse racing's biggest event "Guys like Isaac Murphy and demographics.
is a reminder of how the in- Jimmy Winkfield."
dustry marginalized Black Along the way, participa-
jockeys to the point they all Carmouche joins St. Julien tion by Black people in the
but disappeared from the as the only U.S.-born Black Kentucky Derby ebbed and
sport. jockeys in the Derby since flowed with significant con-
1921, which was even then tributions along the way, in-
"As a Black rider getting to long after the era dominated cluding grooms Will Harbut
the Kentucky Derby, I hope by Murphy, Winkfield and with Man O'War in 1920 and
it inspires a lot of people be- others. Eddie Sweat with Secretariat
cause my road wasn't easy to in 1973 and trainer Hank Al-
get there and I never quit," Chris Goodlett, a historian len with Northern Wolf in
Carmouche said. "What I've at the Kentucky Derby Mu- 1989. Harbut's great grand-
been wanting all my career seum, cited a combination of son, Greg Harbut, co-owned
is to inspire people and make Jim Crow laws and segrega- 2020 Derby runner Neckar
people know that it's not tion in the U.S., intimidation Island and helped found the
about color. It's about how by white riders and decisions Ed Brown Society, named
successful you are in life and by racing officials, owners after the 19th century Black
how far you can fight to get and trainers for the decline jockey and trainer to further
to that point." of Black jockeys in the early diversify racing.
20th century. One example
Carmouche is a success story was white counterparts rid- Husbands was well-aware of
in his own right. He is the ing Winfield into the rail at his unique place in history
son of a jockey who has won Harlem Race Track outside when he rode Seaside Retreat
more than 3,400 races and Chicago and injuring him in the 2006 Derby and feels
earned $118 million since be- and his horse. a connection to Carmouche
ginning to ride professionally this year because "the step-
in 2000. He came back from "Consequently, white trainers ping stone that he's doing for
a broken leg three years ago and owners would be (more) his culture is the same stuff I
and set himself up for his first reluctant to ride Black jock- was trying to do for my cul-
Kentucky Derby mount by eys on their horses due to ture."
riding 72-1 long shot Bour- instances like that," Goodlett
bonic to victory in the Wood said. "We see it also just from Knowing the history of Black
Memorial on April 3. Bour- an administrative point of jockeys, Husbands is inspired
Long before Kendrick tucky Derby in 1875 and won bonic will leave from the view, as well: fewer licenses by Carmouche's journey.
Carmouche started rid- 15 of the first 28 editions of 20th post in Saturday's race at being issued to Black jockeys,
ing horses growing up in the race. Everything has Churchill Downs. sometimes not issued at all." Husbands said Carmouche
Louisiana, Black jockeys changed since: Carmouche becoming the first Black
were synonymous with on Saturday will be the first He's also a rarity in a sport Brien Bouyea, communica- jockey to win the Kentucky
the sport. Black jockey in the Kentucky now dominated by jockeys tions director for the National Derby since 1902 "would be a
Derby since 2013 and is just from Latin America. Museum of Racing and Hall blessing. It would bring tears
Black riders were atop 13 of one of a handful over the past of Fame, said many Black to a lot of people's eyes."
the 15 horses in the first Ken- century. "Obviously there haven't jockeys left for Europe be-

Atlanta to allow full capacity at 2 stadiums

Atlanta's two biggest out- ginning May 15 when Atlanta
door pro sports stadiums United hosts a Major League
will both allow 100% ca- Soccer match against CF
pacity at events beginning Montreal. Mercedes-Benz
next month. Stadium is a retractable-roof
venue that can hold more
The Braves said they will than 70,000 fans.
return to normal capacity at
41,084-seat Truist Park be- United allowed up to 50%
ginning May 7, when they capacity at its first two home
face the Philadelphia Phillies games.
to begin their third homes-
tand of the season. Also, the NFL's Atlanta Fal-
cons intend to be at 100%
The team allowed 33% ca- capacity for games in the
pacity for their first homes- fall, following a statement
tand and ramped up to 50% from Commissioner Roger
for their current homestand. Goodell that he expects to
have full venues for the up-
In a release issued at the coming season.
same time as the Braves' an-
nouncement, officials said Face coverings will continue
Mercedes-Benz Stadium will to be required at both stadi-
return to 100% capacity be- ums.