The Clayton Family
Last Modified 4/5/2007

Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton

Alonzo "Lonnie" Clayton in 1892 rallied Azra to an impressive nose victory in a three horse field to become the youngest jockey at 15 to win the Derby. Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1876, Clayton followed his brother into the riding profession. In 1876, 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, who had a string of horses in Clifton, N.J. He rode a horse named Redstone in his first race in 1890 at the Clifton track, and earned his first career victory later that year. Clayton had four Derby mounts in his career with a victory, two seconds and a third. Clayton also guided Azra to victories in the Champagne Stakes, Clark Handicap and Travers. He also won the Kentucky Oaks twice as he rode Selika in 1894 and Voladora in 1895. Clayton also distinguished himself by capturing the 1893 Churchill Downs jockey crown during the fall meet. He is only one of three African-American jockeys to compete in the Preakness as he finished third in 1896.