Not Enough Mules? Lack Of Diversity In Horse Racing A Problem For Some

The horse racing industry is buzzing at the moment. On Saturday will take place the Belmont Stakes. However, some believe that the sport is suffering from a dearth of variety.

The horse racing industry is buzzing at the moment. Although the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday as the final leg of Triple Crown, many people believe that there is a shortage of diversity in the sport.

Jerry Dixon Jr. was the groom for Rich Strike’s 2022 Kentucky Derby victory.

“I was looking at something about the Derby and I saw how there were Blacks in the beginning,” Dixon said. Dixon is a fourth-generation horseman who works with his father — trainer Jerry Sr. — for Eric Reed, who trains Rich Strike.

“And then years afterward, you can see the change, like we were slowly fading away.”

Simply stating that there are no demographics in any sport is an oversimplified observation about a situation likely to be far more complicated than it seems. The situation is not different.

Jim Crow-era laws definitely played a large part in preventing black people from being involved in the sport, but that isn’t the only contributing factor. The lifestyle, poor economic outlook, and grueling demands of the sport make it unappealing to a lot of people, with several horse racing employees admitting that “horse racing is not for everybody.”

This also allows for freedom of choice. People in this age group have many interests. If sports such as basketball, football and baseball offer a more positive outlook on life and are enjoyable, then why not opt for them?

While there are some organizations that are trying to give more black people opportunities to get involved in the sport – like Living The Dream Stables and the Ed Brown Society – it is irresponsible to say that the sport isn’t doing enough to involve black people. There is often more to the story than what is obvious.