Oral History Interview with William Maxberry

Partial Transcript: "Mr. Maxberry, would you just give us your full name?"

Segment Synopsis: Mr. William Clay Maxberry talks about growing up in Woodford County and in Lexington, Ky. He describes his early experiences with horses. He talks about shining shoes with a friend at Keeneland as a child. He says that he took a job in Dayton, Ohio, but returned to Kentucky because he was horse crazy.

Subjects: Dayton (Ohio); Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Keeneland (Lexington, Ky.); Kentucky--History; Lexington (Ky.); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky; Versailles (Ky.); Woodford County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: "So, you went away to Dayton but then you had this love for horses so much, you had to get back, right? So, how old were you then?"

Segment Synopsis: William Maxberry talks about his work with horses beginning at age 17. He recounts working for several stables. He started off walking, galloping, and running horses. He recounts traveling for work to New Orleans and Detroit.

Keywords: George M. Chinn; Herb Stevens; hot walker

Subjects: Detroit (Mich.); Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Training; Kentucky--History; New Orleans (La.); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky; Stables--Employees

Partial Transcript: "So, about how long did you stay on the race track then?"

Segment Synopsis: William Maxberry says that he worked until 1983. By the time he stopped working, he had stopped riding years earlier (1969). After he no longer rode, he mostly groomed horses. Maxberry recalls that he has traveled much of the United States for work.

Subjects: Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Grooming; Horses--Training; Kentucky--History; Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky; Stables--Employees

Partial Transcript: "Now, as we go through here, I want you to tell me a little bit about some of the experiences you had on the race track. Who were some of the people you worked with..."

Segment Synopsis: William Maxberry recalls jockeys and other individuals who worked at the race track. He recognizes the talent he saw in those people, as well as the way many of them inspired him in his career. He also talks about his familiarity with the people and the racing scene in Louisville, Ky.

Subjects: African American Jockeys; Horse farms--Kentucky; Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Training; Jockeys; Keeneland (Lexington, Ky.); Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: "Did you ever have an ambition to become a jockey?"

Segment Synopsis: William Maxberry recalls the time that he was offered the chance to become a jockey in Detroit, Michigan. He recounts that, at the time, all of the jockeys were white and expresses that black jockeys were not really welcome. Maxberry says that if you were going to be an African American jockey around that time (the 1940s), you had to be very good. Maxberry agrees with the interviewer, that being black meant that he did not have the opportunity to work as a jockey. Instead, he remained working as someone who would exercise the horses.

Keywords: Fairgrounds; Hazel Park

Subjects: African American jockeys; African Americans in horse racing; Detroit (Mich.); Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Training; Jockeys; Kentucky--History; Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: "So, then the last part of your career on the race track, you just were a groomer? Who did you work for then? "

Segment Synopsis: William Maxberry says that he worked for Herb Stevens until he retired. Maxberry talks about the greatest horses that he worked with during his career.

Keywords: breaking horses; Ellis Park; exercise boys; Herb Stevens

Subjects: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Ky. : Racetrack); Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Grooming; Horses--Training; Jockeys; Kentucky--History; Lexington (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: "If you were going to give some advice..."

Segment Synopsis: Discussion about why there are fewer young African American men involved in horse racing these days. William Maxberry believes that there is less money to be made for black men in horse racing, so they have gone after other careers to find success.

Keywords: advice; sport of kings

Subjects: African Americans in horse racing; Horse industry; Horse owners; Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Grooming; Horses--Training; Jockeys; Kentucky--History; Money; Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky; Women in horse racing

Partial Transcript: "Could you just tell me a little bit about what you think the future of blacks is in the horse business? And, where you are headed?"

Segment Synopsis: William Maxberry says that the role of blacks working in the horse business is dying, and it does not look like it will get any better. Maxberry also talks about working as a horse trainer with a training license during his career.

Keywords: Latonia Racetrack

Subjects: African Americans in horse racing; Horse racing--Kentucky; Horses; Horses--Grooming; Horses--Training; Kentucky--History; Latonia (Covington); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Kentucky