By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer staff writer

A ghostly jockey's longest ride finally has ended with a Hall of Fame finish.

RELATED STORIES

• 2002 profile of Winkfield

Jimmy Winkfield, more than a century after being the last African-American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, was posthumously named Wednesday an inductee of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

Racing historians celebrated the addition of Winkfield to this year's class - to be enshrined Aug. 9 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. - but the most joyous reaction came from 79-year-old Walnut Hills resident Liliane Casey, Winkfield's daughter.

"It really was a shock," she said. "I wasn't expecting it or thinking about it. It was out of the blue. I know my father would be very proud. This is a dream that became a reality, and it's very deeply appreciated."

Winkfield is the third African-American jockey, following Isaac Murphy and Willie Simms, to gain induction. Murphy was inducted in 1955, the Hall's first class, and Simms in 1977. Winkfield was selected by the Hall's 12-member historical review committee.

Winkfield, who won more than 2,600 races, died in 1974 at age 91.

He was the last of the great African-American jockeys, who populated the sport in the 19th century.

His saga, detailed in a 2002 Enquirer article, was perhaps the sport's greatest:

The story of a self-taught jockey who won back-to-back Derbys in 1901 and '02.

One who escaped the Bolsheviks during World War I and the Nazis during World War II. One who rode in Russia, Poland, France, Austria, Hungary, England, Spain and Italy, ultimately winning every race of consequence on the continent. One who trained in France for 35 years, finding his legend at home all but forgotten.

Winkfield was the last of 17 children, born in 1882 in Chilesburg, Ky. He lived in Cincinnati in the late 1890s, getting his first work at Latonia Race Track in Covington, and later rented an apartment when he rode at Latonia and at Queen City Race Track in Newport.

By the turn of the century, black jockeys were already being pushed from the sport, and in 1903 Winkfield signed a deal to ride for an oil magnate in Russia. He later rode for a Polish prince and a German baron.

He had to flee Russia during the Communist Revolution, embarking on a 13-week, 1,000-mile journey. During lean times, he survived by eating horse meat.

He went to France, first riding and then training horses, but then fled to America in 1941 after the Germans invaded Paris. In 1953, he moved back to France, where he stayed until his death.

Winkfield's story essentially was rediscovered two years ago, when Casey was invited to the Derby to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his last win there. Winkfield is the subject of two upcoming books, Wink by racing historian Ed Hotaling, and Black Maestro, by Joe Drape of the New York Times.

"I think it's wonderful for the family, and really for African-American history in general, and for the sport," Hotaling said of Winkfield's induction. "I think it will help bring about a larger base in the long run for the sport."

The last time an African-American won a major stakes was 1908. Just one African-American has ridden in a Triple Crown race in the last 83 years: Marlon St. Julien, who finished seventh in the 2000 Derby.