Kentucky Derby Memories: Oral History with Jockey Eddie Arcaro

Eddie Arcaro: Courtesy Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries

The Nunn Center’s oral history interview with legendary jockey Eddie Arcaro has been recently uploaded to the Kentuckiana Digital Library.  Arcaro is considered by many as the greatest jockey in horse racing history being the only jockey to have won the Triple Crown twice.  Additionally, Arcaro started as a rider for Calumet Farm in 1934 which is in the news this week.  In honor of this year’s Kentucky Derby, I thought I would point you to two episodes of Saving Stories on WUKY that we recorded featuring Arcaro. 

Listen to the episodes:

Part 1 |   Part 2

If you want to hear the full interview, listen in on Eddie using our OHMS system for searching.

Link to the full interview

To access the rest of the Horse Industry in Kentucky Oral History Project online on the Kentuckiana Digital Library click here.  To read more about Arcaro, check out this article at ESPN.com. 

Saving Stories: Remembering Horse Trainer Mack Miller

The latest edition of Saving Stories on WUKY features a segment from the Nunn Center’s oral history interview with horse trainer MacKenzie “Mack” Miller.  Mack Miller died on December 10, 2010.  Miller was from Versailles, Kentucky and got his start at Calumet Farm.  Considered the “Master of the Turf,” Miller won the Kentucky Derby late in his career with Sea Hero in 1993.  Miller, a Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer, worked for over fifty years with such owners as Paul Mellon and Charles Engelhard.

Listen to Saving Stories

Horse Industry in Kentucky Oral History Project

The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History’s Horse Industry in Kentucky Oral History Project records the firsthand experiences and stories of people who work with horses in Kentucky. Our purpose has been to build a collection that represents the diversity of the equine community and fosters a better understanding of and appreciation for the historical, cultural, and economic significance of the horse to Kentucky. Project staff conducted interviews preserving the history of racing and non-racing breeds in the commonwealth, as well as the numerous and sometime unique occupations supporting the equine industry.

We formed an advisory board that included the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation John Long and the First Lady of Kentucky Jane Beshear serving as an honorary chair.  This board’s role was to assist with developing important partnerships as well as assisting in the process of identifying project interviewees. Initial project partners included:

•KEEP (Kentucky Equine Education Project)

•Kentucky Thoroughbred Association

•Kentucky Downs

•Keeneland Foundation

•Kentucky Derby Museum

•Kentucky Horse Park

As of the end of 2010 we have conducted more than 100 interviews statewide, 50 of which have been placed on the Kentuckiana Digital Library.   Phase two of the project focuses on providing web access to the next 50 interviews and raising additional funding to conduct additional interviews that focus specifically on the thoroughbred industry and its importance to Kentucky. If you are interested in horses and equine history, check out these interviews online.