Belmont History: Edward Brown, from Slave to Jockey to Trainer to Owner in a Lifetime

[Blenheim]

By all accounts, Brown lost his heart to Ben Brush. One turfwriter depicts him outside his training barn one afternoon, carefully overseeing the horse's grazing with a combination of fondness and nerves familiar to any trainer who knows they have something special.

“He's my kind of horse,” Brown told the Louisville Courier-Journal. “I like these steady-headed, sensible colts. You know I don't bet, but don't forget little Ben when he starts. He's one of the best I ever handled.”

Nice and timely article at the Paulick Report by Natalie Voss . . .

Belmont History: Edward Brown Went From Slave to Jockey To Trainero Owner In A Lifetime

[Suff]

THE COURIER-JOURNAL, LOUISVILLE, KY.
Saturday, May 12, 1906
Page 7
"Brown Dick," the most noted colored handler and owner of race horses in the world, is dead. He died at 2:30 o'clock yesterday morning in the home of Bob Campbell, also colored, at 820 West Walnut street.


"Brown Dick's" real name was Edward Dudley Brown, but wherever horses are known or raced in this country he was well known as "Brown Dick." He was fifty-six years old and his death was caused by tuberculosis. His body will be buried Sunday afternoon at Midway, Ky., and six colored trainers will act as pallbearers. The funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. J. K. Polk, of the Midway Baptist church. At the time of his death "Brown Dick" was surrounded by his wife and his son, Lee L. Brown, who is a teacher in the Eckstein Norton Normal School at Seventh and Kentucky streets.


"Brown Dick" was a negro gentleman and it was fitting that this man, who had handled and owned some of the most noted horses this country has ever produced, from Lexington to Ben Brush, should die in the home of another noted colored trainer, Bob Campbell, who handled the horses of the famous "Lucky" Baldwin. He sold horses for many thousands of dollars, but he died practically penniless and yesterday afternoon when word of his death reached Churchill Downs a subscription was at once started among the horsemen to defray the funeral expenses, and Ed Corrigan started off the list with $50.

[Suff]

I doubt that was his birth name or that he was a common slave.

Edward, Dudley & Brown are names of Royal English Aristocrats who sold more capable slaves at premium prices.