Churchill Downs creates new Ansel Williamson Award; Contributions of Black horsemen to Thoroughbred racing recognized ahead of Kentucky Derby 150
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 1, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined leaders of Churchill Downs and the Ed Brown Society to sign a proclamation naming April 29 to May 3 Ansel Williamson Week in the commonwealth and recognized the contributions of Black horsemen to Thoroughbred racing ahead of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs also announced that it is honoring Williamson’s legacy to the sport with the creation of a new award, the Ansel Williamson Leading Trainer of the Year Award, which will be given to the top trainer of the year, starting this year and to be awarded on Champions Day of 2025. Churchill Downs also announced the Oliver Lewis Leading Jockey of the Year Award and H.P. McGrath Leading Owner of the Year Award.
“Today, we honor and recognize Ansel Williamson for his immeasurable contribution to Kentucky Derby history,” said Gov. Beshear. “As we celebrate the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, let’s remember the historic African Americans like Williamson for their contributions to Kentucky and across the horse racing industry.”
Ansel Williamson was born into slavery in Virginia in 1810. The earliest record of Williamson’s career was in the 1850s, while enslaved in Alabama, though many believe his work with horses began much earlier. Williamson became a sought-after horse trainer who also spent time in Kentucky.
Williamson was instrumental in training African American jockey and trainer Edward Dudley Brown. Williamson secured his place in history by training the Thoroughbred racehorse Aristides, who arrived at the Kentucky Derby as a pacesetter and left as the first Derby champion in that inaugural race in 1875.
Williamson married his wife, Ellen, in October 1870, and they had a daughter and grandchildren. His grandsons worked with Thoroughbreds in New York, New Jersey and Kentucky.
Williamson passed away in June of 1881, in Lexington, but his legacy has lived on. In 1998, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inducted Williamson. In 2011, a highway marker dedicated to the horse Aristides was installed at the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Campus. This is the site of the former farm where Williamson trained. The marker stands in part as a tribute to Williamson’s legacy.
“It is a great privilege to join Governor Beshear and the Ed Brown Society in the important mission to share the legacy of the great Black horsemen of the industry who contributed so much to the first Kentucky Derby and the years to follow,” said Ben Huffman, vice president of racing for Churchill Downs Racetrack. “The Ansel Williamson Leading Trainer of the Year Award, the Oliver Lewis Leading Jockey of the Year Award and the H.P. McGrath Leading Owner of the Year Award will be an annual tradition that will allow us to share the story of these trailblazers of horse racing for years to come.”
Clark Williams, president of the Ed Brown Society said, “The Ed Brown Society celebrates the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry, so we are delighted to continue our ongoing collaboration with Governor Beshear in amplifying this part of our work by honoring Ansel Williamson – a tremendous horsemen who has not received the accolades that his legacy richly deserves.”
Today’s announcement furthers the work that the Beshear administration, Churchill Downs and the Ed Brown Society have done to recognize African Americans’ impact on horse racing.
In 2021, Gov. Beshear proclaimed April 25 through May 1 as Ed Brown Society Week in the commonwealth. The Ed Brown Society is named after Edward D. Brown, who was born into slavery in Lexington in 1850, but through his tenacity and love of the sport, developed into one of the most accomplished African American horsemen in the history of Thoroughbred racing.
The Ed Brown Society was established by Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels, whose horse, Necker Island, ran in the 2020 Kentucky Derby. The society celebrates the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry and creates opportunities for young African American Kentuckians.
In 2022, the Governor was at Churchill Downs to celebrate the organization becoming the highest level Ed Brown partner.
Last month, the Governor presented this year’s Governor’s Derby Celebration poster. The artist is Ken Burney, a contemporary painter based in Lexington. His work on the Derby Celebration poster pays homage to some of the Kentucky Derby’s famous Black jockeys. Burney’s artwork depicts Oliver Lewis riding Aristides in 1875, Isaac Murphy riding Buchanan in 1884 and Isaac Lewis riding Montrose in 1887.
“African American jockeys won 15 of the first 28 Kentucky Derbies,” Gov. Beshear said. “Their importance has often been forgotten in the history of horse racing, and we are working to change that and make sure they too are remembered for generations to come.”
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