The Historic First
In 1971, 17-year-old Cheryl White made history when she became the first Black female jockey licensed to ride in America. Coming from a horse racing family, Cheryl had a passion for the sport from a young age.
On September 2nd, 1971, she rode her father’s trained thoroughbred, Jetolara, to a momentous victory at Waterford Park in West Virginia. This groundbreaking achievement paved the way for other female jockeys of color to enter the sport.
Cheryl was not just a novelty – she went on to have a successful 21-year career with over 750 race wins under her belt. Her talent and determination allowed her to break barriers in a sport dominated by white men. She was truly the Serena and Venus Williams of her time.
An Erased Legacy Rediscovered
Yet despite her pioneering accomplishments, Cheryl White remained largely unknown. As New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin-Nir uncovered when interviewing Cheryl’s family members in 2021, Black jockeys have a long history in the sport that has been erased from the narrative.
In the early days of thoroughbred racing in America, enslaved Africans with exceptional equestrian skills were forced to race the horses owned by their captors. But their legacy and contribution to the establishment of the sport has been ignored.
Cheryl knew none of this hidden history when she broke barriers. She simply pursued her passion despite having no one to model herself after. Her rediscovered story is now being turned into a book and Breyer model toy set to inspire future generations.
Immortalizing An Inspiration
Co-authored by Cheryl’s brother Raymond White Jr. and journalist Sarah Maslin-Nir, the new book “The Jockey and Her Horse” tells Cheryl’s story in a format aimed at middle grade readers.
It was released alongside a Breyer model set featuring Cheryl and her winning horse Jetolara – the first ever product honoring a real Black female jockey in the company’s 75 year history.
The goal is to enshrine Cheryl as the inspiration she should be. As her brother Raymond poignantly stated: “We want to make sure she is once again a household name, an inspiration to others, and that she is placed in the historic records as she should be.”
Donations made in Cheryl’s honor will go towards setting up scholarships and other programs to create opportunities for future generations.
Though she passed away in 2019, Cheryl White’s barrier-breaking journey to become America’s first Black female jockey is finally getting recognized.
With the release of the book and Breyer set immortalizing her legacy, the hope is that Cheryl will take her rightful place in the history of the sport – inspiring the next generation of diverse athletes to take the reins and ride towards their dreams.
