LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Churchill Downs unveiled a new statue Wednesday honoring Oliver Lewis, the jockey who guided Aristides to victory in the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.
More than 150 years after that historic ride, Lewis was recognized with a permanent monument at the track where he made history.
Lewis helped launch what would become America's most famous horse race. Churchill Downs said the monument is believed to be the only statue of a Black jockey in the world. It now stands outside the First Turn Club, where visitors will be able to learn about Lewis' legacy and contributions to horse racing.
Members of Lewis' family attended the unveiling and helped support the project. During the ceremony, relatives shared emotional remarks about seeing their ancestor recognized more than a century after his historic achievement.
The tribute highlighted the often-overlooked role Black jockeys played in the early years of the Kentucky Derby. In the race's first decades, they dominated the winner's circle and helped shape the sport's history.
Now, Lewis' legacy will be permanently on display at the track where he made history.
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