A Black Jockey At The Kentucky Derby, Once Again

The Kentucky Derby's 139th running is this weekend, and it will feature a sight that's been a rarity in the race for much of the past century — an African-American jockey. "Everything that comes with the Derby right now for me is not the same as the majority of the other riders, or any other riders, because I'm the only African-American rider in the race," Kevin Krigger says. Krigger was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but he's been racing in California. He's the first African-American jockey to ride in the Derby in more than a decade. "All my life I grew up watching races and I knew there weren't too many African-American jockeys," Krigger says. "Being African-American is just a part of who I am." Krigger will be riding Goldencents, a favorite in the race. And he's confident about his chances: "I'm going to be the first African-American to win the Kentucky Derby since 1902. And that's a hell of a milestone." Yes, he said the first since 1902. African-American jockeys are rare now,