Isaac B. Murphy: Inducted in 1955
Isaac Murphy’s intuition for racing, which began in 1876, brought him acclaim and wealth during his career. The son of a Union soldier, Murphy rose to prominence thanks to his undeniable talent when saddled on a horse. He became the first rider to win the then-fledgling Kentucky Derby three times, two of those wins consecutively, and held that record for almost four decades. As his career wound down, Murphy continued to work with horses, becoming a trainer until his death in 1896. His career is still a shining example in the racing world: the Isaac Murphy Award, established in 1995, is given to jockeys with the most wins for the year. Murphy’s praise for being “unquestionably the greatest jockey” is well-deserved in the Kentucky Derby’s formative years.
