LEXINGTON, Ky. — In honor of Black History Month, the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation is proud to offer the limited edition “The Color of Silk” print.
This print commemorates the Jockey Silks Art Project featuring the racing silks worn by African American jockeys who won sixteen Kentucky Derby races held from 1875 to 1902. Nine of the jockeys were born in Kentucky. Seven of the thoroughbreds they rode were trained by African Americans.
Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky is rich in history with African American horsemen. From grooms to trainers to the most successful jockeys of the 19th century, African Americans are part of our story.
On Feb. 23, at KEEP Day at the Capitol in Frankfort, the KEEP Foundation will recognize the contribution of African American horsemen to our industry and honor their legacy by presenting our African American legislators with a ‘The Color of Silk’ print.
“The Color of Silk” is a product of a living and learning community at UK, LEXengaged, that brought together William Wells Brown students and UK undergraduates to learn, via art, about the contributions African Americans have made to our state’s premier industry. The poster is inscribed with the rich history and the moving process that created it. William Wells Brown students would cheer with delight when we arrived at their school saying together, “UK, UK.” Some of my UK students saw themselves in their young mentees including a first generation UK student who would run to William Wells Brown, on her own time, to dispense tough love to her mentee so that he would end up in college like her.” said, Rosie Moosnick, former LEXengaged Program Director, at the University of Kentucky.
Artist Julie Struck, worked with students from the University of Kentucky and William Wells Brown Elementary, the latter, which stands on the land that was formerly the Kentucky Association Racetrack and many of the jockeys featured in this project lived and worked in that area.
The print is available for $50 (postage included) with all net proceeds going to William Wells Brown Elementary.
To learn more about The Jockey Silks Project, click HERE.
To learn more about the African American jockeys that have won the Kentucky Derby, click HERE.
To order a limited edition, “The Color of Silks” print; email, brittany@horseswork.com
About the KEEP Foundation
The mission of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), established in 2014, is to support the economic success of Kentucky’s signature industry by ensuring its continued economic viability, making the industry accessible for all who want to participate, introducing more young people to the industry and its opportunities, and educating the people of the Commonwealth about the importance of horses to the state, its economy, its heritage, and its people.
To learn more about the KEEP Foundation or support our work, visit www.thekeepfoundation.org
— Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation