Welcome to the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden

Celebrating A Legend

Isaac Burns Murphy (April 16, 1861 - February 12, 1896) was an African-American Hall of Fame jockey. The official Kentucky Derby website and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame say that "Isaac Murphy is considered one of the greatest race riders in American history."

Isaac Burns was born in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. His father served in the Union army in the Civil War, until his death at Camp Nelson as a prisoner of war. After Burns' father's death, his family moved to Lexington, where they lived with Burns' grandfather, Green Murphy. When he became a jockey at age 14, he changed his last name to Murphy to honor his grandfather.

Mission

The Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden (IMMAG) is a community collaboration aimed at commemorating the lives, stories and contributions of African-American horse industry members from Lexington’s East End neighborhood.