Born A Slave—Won Belmont Stakes—History Erased His Name Edward Dudley Brown was born enslaved in Kentucky in 1850. At age seven, he was sold to Robert A. Alexander, proprietor of Woodburn Stud, one of the most prestigious horse farms in America. By age fourteen, Brown was riding Asteroid, one of the greatest sons of the legendary stallion Lexington. He won his first race in May 1864 in St. Louis. A year later, the Thirteenth Amendment freed him from slavery, but Brown continued working at Woodbu

Before modern racing legends, a man born into slavery dominated America’s biggest tracks. His name was Edward Dudley Brown. Born in Kentucky around 1850, Brown rose to elite status in horse racing, winning the Belmont Stakes in 1870 riding Kingfisher. He later trained Baden-Baden to victory at the Kentucky Derby in 1877. In the 19th century, Black jockeys and trainers were dominant forces in American racing — until segregation systematically pushed them out. Brown’s legacy represents that erased