State of Affairs – Weekdays Live at 1PM & Rebroadcast at 9PM
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Cajun Racing
Crawfish, jambalaya, jazz, all words synonymous with New Orleans and Louisiana. Thoroghbreds, jockeys, Derby, all words synonymous with Kentucky. So, what if you mix the two? Well, you get Cajun racing. But it’s not the story of genteel tracks, monied owners and big hats. It’s a hard scrabble life at the bush tracks of Louisiana, an era that may be on it’s way out. Join us on Tuesday when we talk with sports writer and author Ed McNamara about Cajun racing, the bush tracks, and why so many of today’s great jockeys hail from Louisiana.
Related Links:
Monday, April 26, 2010
Who Was James Winkfield?
Barring last-minute changes, when the world tunes in next week to watch the 136th Kentucky Derby, they won’t see any African-American jockeys under the twin spires. In contrast, at the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, 13 out of 15 jockeys were black. Among the first 28 derby winners, 15 were black. But as segregation solidified in America, fewer African-Americans raced. James Winkfield was the last black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, riding to victory in both 1901 and 1902. On Monday we’ll hear Winkfield’s story, and learn more about the history of African-Americans in thoroughbred racing.
Related Links:
- Wikipedia: James Winkfield
- African-Americans in Racing
- Forgotten heroes: Black winners of the Kentucky Derby; savvy Black jockeys dominated the event from its inception in 1875 until 1902
Show ideas are welcome and should be submitted to SoA Producer Robin Fisher by email, at rfisher@wfpl.org or fax at (502) 814-6560.
Looking for an older episode? Browse the State of Affairs Audio Archive.
