Abraham Perry

Last updated
Abraham Perry
OccupationRacehorse trainer
Bornc. 1842
Midway, Kentucky,
United States
Died1908
Resting place African Cemetery No. 2, Lexington, Kentucky
Major racing wins
Colts Stakes (1876)
Colt and Filly Stakes (1876)
Belle Meade Stakes (1876)
Clark Handicap (1877)
Phoenix Hotel Stakes (1877)
Phoenix Hotel Fall Stakes (1877)
Coney Island Derby (1885)
Saratoga Cup (1885)
Tennessee Derby (1885)
Tidal Stakes (1885)

American Classics wins:
Kentucky Derby (1885)

Significant horses
Joe Cotton, McWhirter

Abraham Perry (c. 1842-1908) was an American thoroughbred horse trainer born in Midway, Kentucky best remembered as the winner of the 1885 Kentucky Derby with Joe Cotton. [1] He was the first African-American trainer of a classic race winner to be mentioned in post-race reports. [2]

Contents

Racing career

Abe Perry began his career training for Gen. Abraham Buford at his Bosque Bonita breeding farm in Woodford County, Kentucky. From 1876 through 1878 he conditioned the colt McWhirter to several stakes race wins. He ran fifth to Baden-Baden in the May 22, 1877 Kentucky Derby but came back less than a week later to defeat Baden-Baden in the May 28 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Among his other wins with Joe Cotton, in 1885 Abe Perry won the important Tennessee Derby in Nashville and Coney Island Derby at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn, New York. [3]

Perry is buried in African Cemetery No. 2 in Lexington, Kentucky. [4] [5]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Derby</span> American stakes race for Thoroughbreds, part of the Triple Crown

The Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+14 miles, the first time horses in the field race that distance. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Oaks</span> American Thoroughbred stakes horse race

The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1+18 miles (1,800 m) at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year. The winner gets $750,000 of the $1,250,000 purse, and a large garland blanket of lilies, resulting in the nickname "Lillies for the Fillies." A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is presented to the winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churchill Downs</span> Thoroughbred racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first Kentucky Derby, a Thoroughbred sweepstakes and part of today's horse racing Triple Crown, and the first Kentucky Oaks were held in the same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders' Cup on nine occasions, most recently on November 2 and 3, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Baffert</span> American horse owner and trainer

Robert A. Baffert is an American racehorse trainer who trained the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Baffert's horses have won a record six Kentucky Derbies, eight Preakness Stakes, three Belmont Stakes, and three Kentucky Oaks. He has been the subject of significant controversy regarding repeated incidents of his horses failing drug tests or dying under his care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alysheba</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Alysheba was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won two legs of the Triple Crown in 1987. A successful sire, he produced 11 stakes winners.

Monarchos was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2001 Kentucky Derby in the second fastest winning time and overall third fastest time in the race's history.

Graustark (1963–1988) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was a favorite to win the 1966 Kentucky Derby until an injury prematurely ended his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calvin Borel</span> American jockey

Calvin H. Borel is an American jockey in thoroughbred horse racing and rode the victorious mount in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, the 2009 Kentucky Derby and the 2010 Kentucky Derby. His 2009 Derby win with Mine That Bird was the third biggest upset in Derby history,, and Borel's winning margin of 6+34 lengths was the greatest in Derby history since Assault won by 8 lengths in 1946. On May 1, 2009, Borel won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Rachel Alexandra, only the second time since 1993 that a jockey has won the Oaks-Derby combo, and just the seventh time overall a jockey has accomplished this feat in the same year. On May 16, 2009, Borel won the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico with thoroughbred filly Rachel Alexandra. In doing so, Borel became the first jockey to win the first two jewels of the Triple Crown on different mounts. Borel's nickname is "Bo'rail'" due to his penchant for riding close to the rail to save ground.

Go for Gin was an American thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. He was ridden in the Derby by Chris McCarron, who had previously won the race on Alysheba.

Little Current was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the final two legs of the 1974 U.S. Triple Crown both the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

Cannonade was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1974 Kentucky Derby.

Burgoo King (1929–1946) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown series but who did not run in the final race, the Belmont Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarava</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (1999–2023)

Sarava was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2002 Belmont Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Kentucky Derby</span> 135th running of the Kentucky Derby

The 2009 Kentucky Derby was the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. The value of the race was $2,177,000 in stakes. The race was sponsored by Yum! Brands and hence officially was called Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. The race took place on May 2, 2009, and was televised in the United States on the NBC television network. The Atlanta-based Southern Tourism Society named the Kentucky Derby Festival, which was April 11 to May 1, as one of the top tourist attractions in the Southeast for the first half of 2009. The post time was 6:24 p.m. EDT. The official attendance at Churchill Downs was 153,563.

Joe Cotton was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that is best known as the winner of the 1885 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by King Alfonso who also sired the 1880 Derby winner Fonso. The horse was reportedly named after a bookie.

Double Jay (1944–1972) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by John W. Stanley in Lexington, Kentucky, he was purchased as a yearling for $19,000 by Wilmington, Delaware businessmen James V. Tigani and James Boines who raced them under their newly formed partnership, Ridgewood Stable.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a points system by which horses qualify for a position in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. It features dozens of stakes races for 2 and 3-year-old Thoroughbreds – the number and specific races have changed slightly over the years. The point system replaced a previous qualifying system that looked at earnings from all graded stakes races worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Kentucky Derby</span> 142nd running of Kentucky Derby

The 2016 Kentucky Derby was the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby. The race was run at 6:51 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on May 7, 2016, at Churchill Downs. The race was broadcast in the United States on the NBC television network. The second largest attendance of 167,227 was on hand for the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Kentucky Derby</span> 146th running Kentucky Derby

The 2020 Kentucky Derby was the 146th Kentucky Derby, and took place on Saturday, September 5, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is one of the three legs of the American Triple Crown, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The Kentucky Derby was originally scheduled for the first Saturday of May, but the 2020 running was rescheduled to September 5, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky. It was won by Authentic.

Rich Strike is an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 2022 Kentucky Derby, racing at 80–1 odds.

References

  1. "1885 Joe Cotton". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 1885-05-14. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  2. Richard Sowers (February 25, 2014). The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes: A Comprehensive History. McFarland. p. 32. ISBN   9780786476985 . Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. Katie Pratt and Carl Nathe (September 16, 2010). "UK Highlights African Americans in Equine". uknow.uky.edu. University of Kentucky. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. Katie Pratt (September 11, 2011). "Soil Scientist Works to Preserve Early Equine History". thehorse.com. The Horse Media Group LLC. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. "Men of the Thoroughbred Industry". africancemeteryno2.org. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.