SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Former Emerald Downs jockey looks for historical Kentucky Derby win
May 3, 2013, 1:08 PM | Updated: 2:38 pm
In this photo, jockey Kevin Krigger talks about his Kentucky Derby mount, Goldencents, outside Barn 45 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Krigger keeps a photo of Jimmy Winkfield, the last black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, inside his locker at Churchill Downs. (AP Photo/Garry Jones, File)
(AP Photo/Garry Jones, File)
A former Emerald Downs jockey could potentially chase down history this weekend at the Kentucky Derby.
Kevin Krigger, a 29-year-old jockey from the U.S. Virgin Islands, will ride Goldencents in a bid to become the first black jockey to win since 1902. That’s when Jimmy Winkfield won for the second time. Goldencents is co-owned by Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino and trained by Doug O’Neill, who won last year’s Derby with I’ll Have Another.
“[Krigger] was our leading jockey in 2005,” said Joe Whithee, with Emerald Downs, told KIRO Radio’s Luke Burbank.
Whithee said Krigger road at Emerald Downs between 2004 and 2006, before he headed out east. He returned to the local track for a race in 2010.
“He did really well,” Whithee said of his return. “He was just a better rider, a more confident guy, grown up a little bit more.”
Krigger headed down to Northern California where he was discovered by a jockey agent.
Krigger and Goldencents will ride for the win at 1:00 p.m. PST. You can place your bets and the watch big race on TVs at Emerald Downs on Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
