A series of local tributes to legendary 19th century African-American jockey Isaac Burns Murphy continued Thursday at the memorial art garden named in his honor.
"It's been a pleasure to just experience and see what a great jockey he was and see what wonderful things that he did and how he became the best," said eight-year-old David Lee, who will be taking on the role of a young Isaac Murphy in the Frank X Walker-penned play I Dedicate this RideFriday night at the Lyric Theatre.
It's just one of seven events this week centered around the life and accomplishments of a man known by many as "the most successful jockey in the history of Thoroughbred racing." Thursday saw the unveiling of a newly engraved headstone for Murphy at the Kentucky Horse Park and a collection of informative panels at the memorial art garden.
"What we're doing this week is just celebrating Isaac and the fact that Lexington is hosting the Breeder's Cup next week, this was the perfect time to do it," says art garden board member Thomas Tolliver. "Because if Isaac were racing today, he would running in the Breeder's Cup, I like to think anyway."
Rounding out the celebrations will be the dedication of a Murphy Family Memorial at the jockey’s former gravesite in Lexington on Saturday and the start of a gallery exhibition featuring photographs and illustrations at the Lyric on Monday, August 31.
Burns holds the distinction of being the first jockey to win three Kentucky Derbys and the first American rider inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.
