LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keeneland, a thoroughbred auction house that hosts races, held a reception in its library to kick-off the newest exhibit, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers.

What You Need To Know

  • The Keeneland Library’s newest exhibit honoring African American horsemen and women will be open until the end of August

  • It highlights 80 Black people that worked a variety of jobs in the horse racing industry

  • Among the people being showcased is Francis Carrol Wilson Sr., who worked in the industry for about 40 years

  • The new exhibit is free and open to the public

Jermo Reese, the founder and clinician of Frankie’s Corner Little Thoroughbred Crusade, attended the event. His grandfather, Francis Carrol Wilson Sr., is being recognized in the exhibit after working at Keeneland and Jonabell, a breeding farm.

Wilson’s work with horses sparked Reese’s love for the industry.

“I think it’s amazing because, again, historically, they talk about that we as African Americans started the industry… [we] had a lot to do with the industry and now for us to get the kudos of, you know, all of this coming back,” said Reese. “I think it’s an amazing thing.”

Wilson would often take Reese to work with him.

“I know growing up, had it not been for my grandfather, I really wouldn’t have been into horses,” said Reese.

Now he is passing along his passion for horses to his little cousin, Brycen Bel. The twelve-year-old has taken part in Frankie’s Corner since it began in 2015. He has also grown up learning about his great-grandfather, Wilson, but learned something new about him at the exhibit.

“I’ve seen those, like, books over there had my great-grandad in it and stuff and I learned that he was in here ever since, like, 1972 or four and it’s pretty cool… I like it a lot,” said Bel.

Teaching children and adults about the contributions of Black people in the horse racing industry is what the staff at the Keeneland Library set out to do when creating the exhibit.

“People can see something like this and engage with some of these people, see themselves, and that possibility of themselves in the industry, regardless of the role that they want to fulfill,” said Roda Ferraro, the exhibit curator.

Ferraro noted it doesn’t just showcase famous jockeys. Several of those being recognized in the exhibit, like Wilson, took on other roles in the industry.

The exhibit will be at the Keeneland Library from today until Aug. 31. It is free and open to the public from Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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