Athletes - James Winkfield

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	Athletes - James Winkfield

James Winkfield, often known as Jimmy Winkfield, was a jockey from Kentucky, best remembered as the last African American to ride a winner in the Kentucky Derby.

He was born in Chileburg, Kentucky, U.S.A. on April 12, 1882. His career as a jockey began in 1898, and he was suspended for four years after just one race for his involvement in a four-horse accident at the starting gate. However, he returned in 1900 to ride a horse named Thrive in the Kentucky Derby, finishing third. He rode the race again in 1901 and 1902, winning on His Eminence and Alan-a-Dale respectively - in 1901 alone, he won 161 races. He rode his final derby in 1903, finishing second on Early.

Later that year, he emigrated to Russia, and rode all over Europe in the name of the Czar. The Russian revolution caused him to leave Russia in 1917, and he moved to France. He finally retired in 1930 and moved to a farm on the outskirts of Paris, France, and remained there until fleeing the Nazi invasion in 1943. In 1960, he made an appearance at the Kentucky Derby to celebrate 60 years since his historic victories. He returned to the farm in Paris and died there on March 23, 1974.

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