Interview with Joseph "Butch" Murrell, July 28, 2008

Interview Summary

Butch Murrell began his lifelong career as a groom on Thoroughbred farms when he was sixteen years old and was hired by Bluegrass Heights Farm in 1963. In this interview, he shares stories of working for King Ranch and later for E.V. Benjamin at Big Sink Farm for seventeen years. Murrell explains how he stayed with Big Sink Farm after it was purchased by Bert and Diana Firestone and then eventually purchased by Three Chimneys Farm. Murrell discusses working with veterinarian Dr. Ed Fallon and caring for yearlings by such stallions as Bold Ruler, Raise a Native, and Secretariat. Murrell, an African American, reflects on how fewer blacks are now working on the Thoroughbred farms.

Interview Keyword

African American horsemen E.V. Benjamin Ed Fallon Grooming Childhood Horse industry Women--Employment. African Americans--Social conditions Families. African Americans--Segregation Race discrimination Genuine Risk (Race horse)

Interview LC Subject

Benjamin, E. V. Big Sink Farm (Ky.) Bold Ruler (Race horse) Fallon, Edward Hagyard, 1931- Horse grooms--Interviews King Ranch (Ky.) Murrell, Joseph "Butch", 1943- Murrell, Joseph "Butch", 1943- --Interviews Raise a Native (Race horse) Secretariat (Race horse) Thoroughbred horse Thoroughbred horse--Grooming Horses Horse farms. Horses--Care Horses--Breeding

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries.