| The following was taken from the American Saddlebred Museum website to preserve it beyond the term of the exhibit.
The American Saddlebred Museum, located on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, will be highlighting a seemingly forgotten group of horsemen in its 2007 exhibit. Out of the Shadows: Bringing to Light Black Horsemen in Saddlebred History will feature the many contributions made by African Americans to Kentucky's oldest native breed of horse, the American Saddlebred. The exhibit will focus on the achievements of these horsemen which have largely gone unnoticed, unrecognized and uncredited.
From the days following the Civil War through the 1970's black horsemen played an important, yet often unrecognized role as caretakers, trainers and owners of this fine breed. Forced by social stigma of the times to take a backseat to their white peers, they persevered nevertheless. The work they did behind the scenes put many horses into the winner's circle on both national and world's championship levels for white exhibitors. Not until the late seventies were these men able to claim those victories and more for themselves.
From innovator and racial barrier breaker Tom Bass to notables of today such as Mike Spencer, trainer and rider of the 2004 Kentucky State Fair's World's Champion Five-Gaited Mare, black horsemen have greatly impacted Saddlebred history. Notables such as world heavy weight boxing champion Joe Louis also owned and showed American Saddlebreds. Although he was an ardent lover of horses, Louis' accomplishments in the show ring paled to those in the boxing ring. He was, however, instrumental in organizing the first all Negro horse show outside Detroit, Michigan.
Featured will be a film produced by the Museum also titled Out of the Shadows, that will be shown throughout the course of the exhibit. The exhibit opens February 16, 2007 and will run through December 30, 2007. Information about the exhibition and ticketing can be obtained by calling the Museum at 859/259-2746 or by e-mailing ashm@mis.net. Ticket purchase includes admission to the Kentucky Horse Park Group reservations and pricing available upon request.
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