Keeneland’s tribute to the long-overlooked role Black people have played in horse racing is moving beyond Lexington’s historic track. A mobile version of “The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” is on display in the Woodford County Public Library through late July. Roda Ferraro is the director of the Keeneland Library and curator of the exhibit, which went on display there in February of 2023.
“From the Lyric Theater to branches of public libraries in Lexington, the William T. Young Library at UK, local high schools, senior living facilities, the Lexington History Museum. It really has toured to varied locations.”
Ferraro says since its launch, 70-thousand people have viewed the exhibit – which is booked through next May. She says it’s a well-traveled exhibit.
“We took it out of the state for the very first time in late May, early June, I brought the exhibit down and was a speaker at the Black Sports Business Symposium that was housed at their Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and that was just a phenomenal audience.”
Ferraro says related educational programs for young people and adults are available now.
The Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black Pioneers
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