Mark Coyne, PhD, professor of soil biology in the UK College of Agriculture, and David Melanson, in the UK Office of University Relations, are working to bring this long-forgotten history to light through two community-based projects in Lexington’s East End.

Through the Young Equestrian Scholars Initiative and the UK Commonwealth Collaborative project, which began in April and will run through June 2011, Coyne hopes to raise public awareness of the historical importance of the individuals buried at Lexington’s African Cemetery No. 2. The Commonwealth Collaborative project partners UK researchers with representatives from all sectors of a community, including industry, government, education, and health care, to offer solutions to problems that have long plagued the state and stymied economic and cultural progress.

Located on East Seventh Street, the cemetery was built in 1869 by former slaves who were members of the Union Benevolent Society No. 2. This site is the final resting place of at least 80 known African-Americans who held a prominent place in the early years of Thoroughbred racing. Some of the notable individuals include Oliver Lewis, winning jockey of the first Kentucky Derby; James “Soup” Perkins, who is tied as the youngest winning jockey of the Kentucky Derby; and Abraham “Abe” Perry, trainer of the winner of the 1885 Kentucky, Tennessee, and Coney Island derbies. Isaac Murphy, who rode three Kentucky Derby winners and holds the all-time highest winning percentage of any jockey, was originally buried there. His remains are now located at the Kentucky Horse Park