`` The Russians were colorblind , you had jazz players and heavyweight boxers like Jack Johnson -- it was basically the last place black American sportsmen could go , '' Drape said . First black American sports ##men were n't ##uck - -- they were jockeys . Many became skilled horse handlers while working as slaves in the South . Today , just a few black riders compete on U.S. race tracks . Horse racing now dominated by Latino riders .
First black American sports ##men were n't ##uck - -- they were jockeys . Many became skilled horse handlers while working as slaves in the South . Today , just a few black riders compete on U.S. race tracks . Horse racing now dominated by Latino riders .