Isaac Burns Murphy

Lyrics

Ide the beat Prince Jockey – Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy The headstones – cracked chipped and crumpled Scattered sporadically is disregard of his legacy Mold and wind ate away @ the stone w/ The faded inscriptions and wiped away So the names emerge Murphy – in African Cemetery Two – in a Forgotten Kentucky burial for horse trainers And jockeys Where fans flock by the millions eager to watch Thoroughbreds streak down the race track In the 145th Kentucky Derby little attention Is paid to the black equestrians who paved the Way for the industry since the – 1800's After the Civil War, most horse trainers Grooms were black men – as were the jockeys Of 28 winning jockeys in the Derby – 15 were black by the 1900's Jim Crow pushed More brothers out of the sport Beginning in 1922 and the decades following Black jockeys were few and marginalization That continued to – 2000 When Marlon St. Julien rode in the Derby Kevin Krigger finished @ the bottom to the pack In 2013 – In that same cemetery, in a thick clump of grass Stands a red and black old-style burial marker Of Isaac Burns Murphy – Murphy – who competed 11 times in the Derby Died of a heart failure in 1896 winning The Derby in 1884, 1890 and 91 for decades Known as one of the best jockeys and for His honesty offered bribes to lose but He refused – Prince Jockey – Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Prince Jockey – Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Prince Jockey – Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Despite his success, his grave was unmarked For decades for more than 60 years until The 60's on his headstone inscribed – "I am proud of my calling as I am of my Record , and I believe in my life Will be recorded a success, though The reputation I enjoy was earned in a Stable and in a saddle" Isaac Burns – changed it to Murphy to honor His grandfather when @ 14 he became A jockey – Murphy won 628 of his one thousand four Hundred and twelve starts – A victory rate unequaled no chance of his Record of winning surpassed standing Five hundred and thirty wins in – One thousand five hundred and thirty-eight Rides which makes his winning rate At 44 percent Murphy – The first jockey inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame @ its creation in 1953 Ride the beat Prince Jockey Murphy – was the jockey for Kingman – When he won the Kentucky Derby To this date, the only horse owned by Another Afrikan-American, Dudley Allen – In 1884, he won 3 Kentucky Derbys The only jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks Clark Handicap, and the Kentucky Derby In the same year – Isaac Burns Murphy – Died in 1896 at 36 was an Alcoholic who's weight gain forced him into Early retirement – Distinguished – 3 Kentucky Derby Wins 4 American Derby Wins And 5 Latonia Derby Wins Say it again He WINS Say it again He WINS Say it again He WINS He WINS He WINS Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Chorus* - Ride the beat Prince Jockey – Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy *repeat chorus to end of track