Sylvia Bishop, African American Race Horse Trainer

Miss Bishop passed away

Sylvia Bishop, among first black horse trainers, dead at 84--ERIK SCHELZIG

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Sylvia Bishop, who may have been the country's first black woman licensed to train thoroughbred horses, has died. She was 84. Bishop, who died Dec. 27 at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson, was an owner and trainer of thoroughbred racehorses for more than 60 years until retiring in 2000, citing her worsening arthritis.

"When I began training back in 1938, men were definitely shocked and surprised to see me," Bishop told the Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, of which she was a member, in 2003. "The fact that I was a woman, and on top of that a black woman, was almost too much for some of the fellows. "But I loved horses and horse racing far too much to let my dream go," she said. "I knew from the beginning I would have to take the bitter with the sweet."

Webb Snyder, a 91-year-old former jockey who exercised Bishop's horses, said that while horse racing was a male dominated world in the 1940s and 1950s, he never "heard anybody say anything bad about her." "Back in those days you'd never see a woman around the stable area at all," Snyder told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Today it seems there are more women around the tracks than men, but back then it was something else."

Bishop's horses won 44 races between 1987 and 2000, earning a total of $166,633, according to Equineline.com, the Jockey Club of America online racing information system. Earlier electronic data was not available.

Dickie Moore, general manager of racing at Charles Town Races & Slots, remembered Bishop as "just one of the group." "She was a very good horseman," he said. "She was well-respected by everyone." Survived by one daughter, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Bishop was buried at the Pleasant View Memory Gardens in Martinsburg on Saturday.

Comments

[chrissie smith]

Just to let everyone know there's a book being published in the Honor of her. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with me or her daughther, LaVerne Bishop at 208 Cottage Road Martinsburg, Wv 25401
And as for any corrections she was born in Charles Town, West Virginia where she resided.

Thank you
The Family

[Kathy Mehrtens]

My Father in law was Warren Mehrtens, he won the triple crown in 1946, would love to speak, e-mail sometime. Very sorry to hear about your mothers passing.

Kathy

[Student]

I am a middle school student. One of my projects is to pick a person who has made a differance in America and I choose Sylvia Bishop. I chose Miss Bishop because she inspires me as I one day hope to train horses. My project requries that I give a 5 minute speech and I do not have enough information to do so. If you could please email me more information about Miss Bishop so that I can make my speech as detailed as possiable about this equestrian. Thank You

[Charles Hall Jr.]

When I read the article about Ms. Bishop I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride being that I am an African-American male who owns and trains horses. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for someone such as she in what she must have had to endure to be able to pursue her craft. My life experience has been enriched by the legacy she has left. Charles Hall Jr.

[Catherine Zink]

Each year in my classroom we do a month long Black History Unit. I assign each child a famous Black American to research and "become." One of my students is very interested in horses and I would like to assign Sylvia to her. However, I will need more information on Sylvia Bishop to do this. Can you provide me with some information on her life, successes, struggles, etc.? Thank you so much.

[Darryl S. Jones]

Its an honor & a pleasure just to have access to the life of Sylvia Bishop. I take tremendous pride in her accomplishments, and would be remiss not to leave these brief words as my token of respect & gratitude.

[Shirley Gee]

I am one of her sisters, Shirley Rideoutt [Gee]. I loved, her and miss her very much.

[tina rideoutt]

she was aunt and we all loved her

[BILL BERRY]

I'M THE NEWPHEW OF SYLVIA BISHOP BILL BERRY MY SISTER WAS NAMED AFTER AUNT SYLVIA SHE WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN FEB.1985.MY MOM IS HER SISTER AND THEY WERE CLOSEST OF ALL FAMILY MEMBERS SHE LIVES WITH ME AND MY WIFE NOW .I'M ALSO A TRAINER OF RACE HORSES .I MISSED HER SO MUCH WE WOULD TALK EVERYDAY IF I DIDN'T CALL HER SHE WOULD CALL ME AND GIVE ME HELL FOR NOT CALLING HER FIRST .IF I COULD BE OF HELP TO ANYONE JUST CALL ME I LIVE IN CHARLESTOWN,WV.MY NUMBER IS IN THE BOOK.

[frank x walker]

I love it when worlds collide. Sylvia Bishop, an Affrilachian and horse person. I'm currently writing a book about Isaac Murphy who predated her, but I find her story inspiring all the same. I'm sure there's a story here. A family of horse people.
frank x walker, editor of PLUCK! the Journal of Affrilachian Arts & Culture.

[D.W. Fries]

I grew up in Charles Town mostly at the races my father Denny Fries was a trainer there,having moved away in 1995 to Kentucky Ms.Silvi was one person my wife (Melony) and myself always went to visit when home.She was a great and one of a kind person that I will never forget,I would like to know if the book was ever published as I would like a copy.

[Michelle Bishop-Basey]

Hello D.W.,

This is Sylvia's grandaughter and I was just typing in her name to see what would show up and I never knew this page was even on here!!I only remember you all vaguely,but I can remember her plain as day talking about you all especially around this time of year!!As for the book we never heard back from the lady who had been interviewing her or anything,but it would be nice to see it completed since she touched the lives of so many!Well I hope your family is well and tell your wife the the Bishop's say hello.God bless and have a wonderful holiday

[tina]

yes she was a good lady to me she is my great aunt she my grandmother sister

[LAVERNE BISHOP PURNELL]

HELLO. THIS IS LAVERNE BISHOP,DAUGHTER OF MRS.SYLVIA BISHOP.JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNWO THAT THE BOOK WAS PUT ON HOLD,DUE TO DATES IN QUESTION FOR MY MOTHER'S LICENSE IN WV.THE CHARLES TOWN RACE TRACK COULD NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION,RESEARCH IS BEING DONE AND HOPE TO HAVE THE BOOK COMPLETED SOON.

LAVERNEAP@HOTMAIL.COM
14 CRABAPPLE CT, MARTINSBURG,WV 25403

[Alisha Berry]

WoW I guess I'm doing just what Chell did. I googled my aunt's name just to see what showed up and well here I am.

[Vicky Moon]

Greetings I am the writer doing the book on Sylvia. I have been working for a long time on masses of research and I would love to hear from everyone. Please write to me at
vickyannmoon@aol.com
I look forward to hearing from you.

[DEVIN WALKER]

i AM THE NEPHEW OF sYLVIA bISHOP, dEVIN wALKER.
sHE WAS A WINNER AND AN INSPIRATION TO EVERYONE SHE TOUCHED. I STILL REMEMBER WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT AND BOUGHT A HORSE NAMED HALF QUACKED. AUNT SYLVIA WOULD YELL FOR ME TO COOL THE HORSE OUT FOR HER. I WOULD SAY AUNT SYLVIA WHEN ARE YOU GONNA RUN THIS HORSE SHE IS READY . AUNT SYLVIA WOULD SAY BE PATIENT WHEN SHE RUNS SHE WILL WIN BECAUSE SHE WILL BE A RACEHORSE. GUESS WHAT SHE WAS RIGHT SHE WON THE FIRST TIME SHE RAN HER! THAT WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON AND HORSEWOMAN SHE WAS.