People, Locations, Episodes

Mon, 03.27.1876

Alonzo ‘Lonnie’ Clayton, Horse Jockey born

*This date celebrates the birth of Alonzo “Lonnie” Clayton, a Black horse jockey, in 1876.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1876, Clayton followed his brother into the riding profession. He launched his career on the track as an exerciser rider for E.J. 'Lucky' Baldwin in Chicago during the summer of 1888. He stayed with Baldwin for about a year before moving on to work for D.A. Honig’s horses in Clifton, N.J. He rode a Redstone horse in his first race in 1890 at the Clifton track and earned his first career victory in 1891.

One year later, at 15, he became the youngest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, rallying Azra to an impressive nose victory in a three-horse field. Clayton had four Derby mounts in his career, with a victory, two seconds, and a third, finishing in the money in all four Derby starts.

Clayton guided Azra to victories in the Champagne Stakes, Clark Handicap, and Travers. He also won the Kentucky Oaks twice, riding Selika in 1894 and Voladora in 1895. Clayton also distinguished himself by capturing the 1893 Churchill Downs jockey crown during the fall meeting.

He was only one of three Black jockeys to compete in the Preakness, finishing third in 1896. Alonzo Clayton died on March 17th, 1917, from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.

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