06/19/2026
As we celebrate Juneteenth and reflect on the stories that have shaped our community, we are honored to share this remarkable photograph of an African American Sulky Driver.
African American Sulky Driver, Boonville, Missouri, ca. 1900–1925
An unidentified African American horseman drives a trotting horse and sulky on a local racetrack or training course. Harness racing was a popular sport throughout Missouri in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This photograph, taken by Boonville photographer Max Schmidt, provides a rare glimpse into the participation of African Americans in the region’s horse-racing traditions.
African Americans played a major role in horse racing from its earliest days. Many enslaved and later free Black horsemen became highly skilled as trainers, grooms, drivers, and jockeys because they were responsible for caring for and training horses. By the 1800s, African Americans were among the most respected horsemen in the country.
Unfortunately, as horse racing became more profitable around the turn of the 20th century, racial discrimination and Jim Crow laws pushed many African Americans out of prominent racing roles. Black jockeys, trainers, and drivers were increasingly excluded from competition and relegated to lower-paying jobs around stables and racetracks.
This Juneteenth, we celebrate freedom, honor resilience, and recognize the many African American men and women whose contributions helped shape our community and our nation.
If anyone recognizes this individual or has information about local African American horse racing traditions in Boonville, we would love to hear from you.
