Lewis, Garrett Davis
(born: 1862 - died: July 5, 1880)In 1880, Garrett Davis Lewis won the Kentucky Derby riding the horse Fonso, owned by J. Snell Shawhan from Cynthiana, KY. The industry's first foul was claimed after the race. Starting when he was a teen, Lewis had also ridden for Byron McClelland.
Lewis died at his home in Hutchison Station, KY a few weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby. He had been injured in an accident that occurred while he was racing in St. Louis, MO.
Garrett Lewis was the son of Henry and Mary Lewis.
For more see Black Winning Jockeys in the Kentucky Derby, by J. R. Saunders and M. R. Saunders; "Death from accident," Kentucky Gazette, 7/7/1880, p. 3, col. 4; and "Death of Garrett Lewis," Kentucky Live Stock Record, July 10, 1880, p. 25. See also the Garrett Davis Lewis entry in the Chronicle of African Americans in the Horse Industry.
*Death notices and name correction provided by Yvonne Giles.