Historic display

‘The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers’ will be on exhibit in Ocala through Oct. 31. [Photo courtesy The Keeneland Library]

The Keeneland Library in Lexington, Kentucky, established in 1939, is a reference and research library and the world’s largest repository of the thoroughbred industry that is open to the public. The library is home to more than 30,000 books dating from the late 1500s, 5 million photographic negatives and prints dating from the late 1800s and millions of newspaper and magazine articles about all aspects of the industry from the early 1700s to today.

The Keeneland Library launched “The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” in the library from February 23 to Dec. 8, 2023, before traveling the exhibit to numerous other locations.

“The groundbreaking exhibit that follows the lives and contributions of Black horsemen and women from enslavement to today engaged visitors with exhibited interpretive panels and never-before-displayed photographs, artwork, artifacts and video interviews. More than 100 photographs from Keeneland Library collections captured moments across their varied careers, while commissioned artwork by LaVon Williams and loaned artwork from the Kentucky Derby Museum, the International Museum of the Horse and private collections honored their lasting legacies,” notes the library’s website.

According to materials provided by Tammy Gantt, VP of Member Services for the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association in Ocala, the exhibit will be on display locally through Oct. 31.

Following a stint at the On Top of the World communities through August, the traveling exhibit will move in September to the Marion County Black History Museum inside the Howard Academy Community Center at 306 NW 7th Ave. where it may be seen from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. From Oct. 6-31, the exhibit may be viewed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the FTBOA museum and gallery at 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala.

“Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” is sponsored by the Keeneland Association and supported with funding from the Kentucky Historical Society. Big Lick Gives, the charitable arm of the Big Lick LLC Family of Companies, funded a portion of the Ocala installation.

The Master the Possibilities educational program at OTOW and the Marion County Black History Museum at Howard Academy supported the FTBOA’s initiative to host the Ocala leg of the history exhibit.

“I am thrilled FTBOA can now showcase ‘Heart of the Turf’ throughout the entire county with these locations,” Gantt said. “From racetrack superstars to behind-the-scenes caretakers, there are more than 125 stories told in this exhibit.”

Additional programming will include a meet and greet reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the history museum, with Melvin Jones, the first trainer of Triple Crown winner Affirmed, and Gus Gray, a member of the Marion County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

To learn more, go to keeneland.com/keeneland-library/heart-turf-racings-black-pioneers and ftboa.com