On Saturday evening, at the historic 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, Larry Demeritte will become the first person from the Caribbean, and the second Black trainer since 1951, to saddle a horse.
The last Black trainer to do it was Hank Allen, whose horse Northern Wolf finished sixth at the Derby in 1989.
Having his horse, a gray thoroughbred named West Saratoga, make the Kentucky Derby, especially the 150th event, was a heartstopping moment for Demeritte and owner Harry Verruchi as it was the last horse called.
It was an achievement Verruchi credits Demeritte for.
“[Demeritte] can look to a horse and see more than normal people can see,” said Verruchi.
It’s a talent the trainer, now 74 years old, has developed since he was a young boy in the Bahamas, and his father, also a horse trainer, exposed him to horses.
“My dad was a horse trainer and he put me on the horses back when I was pretty young… I know them before I know myself, and I know I wanted to be in the horse industry,” said Demeritte in an interview with NPR.
While Demeritte will make history on Saturday, the scarcity of Black trainers and jockeys in the sport wasn’t always the norm.
The first Kentucky Derby, which took place in 1875, was won by Aristides. He was ridden by Oliver Lewis and trained by Ansel Williams, both of whom were Black men. In that inaugural race, 13 of the 15 riders were Black.
Black dominance in the sport was a trend that continued for almost three decades as Black jockeys won 15 of the first 28 Kentucky Derbys according to The Kentucky Derby Museum.
Black trainers experienced similar success, winning 7 of the first 17 Derbys (1875 – 1891).
But thanks to Jim Crow, Black participation was essentially eliminated as it was almost impossible for Black people to get licensed in the sport, and so a rich history was stymied from continuing.
Between 1920 – 2000, not a single Black jockey raced in the Derby and the last Black jockey in the race was Kendrick Carmouche in 2021.
While it’s taken 35 years for another Black trainer to reach the Derby, Dermeritte is hoping his accomplishment will re-open the door to future Black participation.
“We need to sell our sport better than we do… We need to form more syndicates because it’s getting pretty costly now to own a racehorse. It’s like any other sport… car racing and all of them, they all have syndicates,” he said. “I feel like that’s what we have to do to let the middle class know in America that it’s not a sport of kings. Anyone can play it, and the reward is so great when you have success in it.”
Considering West Saratoga was purchased for $11,000, way less than Sierra Leone, the most expensive horse in this year’s Derby at $2.3 million, he has a point.
And with West Saratoga earning over $460,000 since joining Demeritte’s 11-horse stable at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, KY, the rate of return for potential Black owners could be a good one.
Demeritte has battled through three separate bouts with cancer to do what he loves. Now he’s in a position all trainers dream of being in and poised to bring Black people back to the sport they used to dominate in.
“I feel like I’m here for a purpose. And I think this is my purpose, the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life,” he said.
Over six decades after first riding a horse, Larry Demeritte has the chance to win the greatest race in his career.
And if he does, he’ll make history and kick the door open much wider for other Black people to follow through.
