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Taylor cares only about winning races
John Whisler
Express-News Staff Writer
Larry Taylor couldn't help but be aware of racial issues in horse racing. At 39, Taylor is one of the country's few successful African-American jockeys.
But he has a bottom-line perspective on the topic.
"I've found it doesn't really matter what color your skin is," he said, "as long as you win."
Winning is something Taylor has done a lot of over the years — he's ridden more than 1,000 thoroughbred winners since his first victory 22 years ago in Enid, Okla.
Taylor would prefer to talk about the time he brought home a 53-1 long shot, his mount aboard Gold Storm in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, or his chances to win a second-straight jockey title at Retama Park.
Taylor will be one of the favorites at Retama, whose 2006 thoroughbred meet opens tonight and runs through Nov. 4.
His black jockey peers include Kerwin John, who won more than $2 million in purses in 2004; Deshawn Parker, who has won more than 2,000 races; and Marlon St. Julien, a close friend of Taylor's who rode in the Kentucky Derby in 2000. St. Julien was the first black jockey to do so in 79 years.
Taylor was born in Oklahoma City and moved to Wichita, Kan., as a young boy.
Taylor grew up around horses, and he says his mother and father were always involved in rodeos.
"I was on a horse before I could walk. I was competing in fun shows at age 5 or 6," Taylor said. "It's that exposure. A lot of (black) kids who grow up in the city don't have the opportunity to be around horses."
Taylor said he generally has dealt with trainers who want him to ride their horses, so his race hasn't been an issue.
But Travis Church, Taylor's agent from 2003-05, recalled "five or six" incidents of discrimination from trainers when he represented Taylor.
"They'd always say they'd love for Larry to ride for them," Church said, "but their owners didn't want a black guy."
He said he never told Taylor about the incidents. He added that some trainers and owners had similar misgivings about female riders he represented.
But most of the time, Church said, a rider's record and ability took precedence over anything else.
"The owners have too much money tied up in these horses," he said. "They want the best chance to win."
Black jockeys dominated as the sport emerged in the United States in the 1800s. Most were black slaves, riding for their owners.
The most successful ones became stars. One slave rider named Charles Stewart earned so much money, he hired an agent to manage his funds.
Oliver Lewis, the winner of the first Kentucky Derby in 1875, was black. Black jockeys won 15 of the first 28 Derbys.
The last black jockey to win the Derby was Jimmy Winkfield, who won it in 1901 and 1902.
But as purses grew, the number of white riders increased, and black jockeys began to disappear. Most ended up as stable boys and grooms.
Taylor, who lives in north Houston, said he didn't know much of that history. His focus, he said, has been on winning races.
"You know a good jockey when you see one," he said. "Besides, this is the only job I've ever had. It's all I know how to do."
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