Krigger Hopes to Reverse History at Churchill Downs

Kevin Krigger is hoping to become the first black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby since 1902 when he rides Goldencents next month.   The 29 year old will only be the second black rider to hit the famous track since 1929 in a race that was once dominated by black jockeys.  From 1875 to 1902, fifteen out of the 28 titles were won by former slaves or their sons, before Jim Crow laws slowly ran these riders off the tracks.  Incredibly, Churchill Downs was totally segregated in the 1950s.

Krigger’s personal tale is a rags to riches one.  Born on the tiny island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, his love for horses began at an early age. “In the Virgin Islands, horses are pets, like dogs or cats in the U.S.,” recalled Krigger about himself as a five year old “Our neighbors didn’t know I’d be taking theirs for a ride. My great-grandfather saw me fly past him and couldn’t believe it.”  By the age of 10, he owned his own mare and he dreamed of one day taking part in the Kentucky Derby.  During his teen years, Krigger walked two hours each way to the only race track on the island and came to the US as a 17 year old, travelling from track to track hoping to attract the attention of an agent or trainer.

Struggling to keep his weight down to qualify as a jockey in his five-foot-six category and nursing a fractured spine from a fall in 2007 has not seen Krigger let go of his dream, and he’ll have his spot in the limelight on May 4th when he rides one of the early top ten favorites, Goldencents at Churchill Downs.

Krigger prefers to play down the race issue.  “I’m glad as an African-American jockey to be in this position after so long,” he said. “But that’s not what’s going to decide the race.”