He won three runnings of the Kentucky Derby and was the first jockey to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at its creation in 1955.

[2] His mother America Murphy worked as a house slave on the Pleasant Green farm owned by David Tanner until the fall of 1864 when records indicate that she became a refugee at the Union Army depot at Camp Nelson.

Isaac's father Jerry had escaped from bondage and enlisted in the 114th US Colored Troops at Camp Nelson in the summer of 1864 and would fight in some of the most decisive battles of 1865.

At the height of his career, Murphy rode Salvator to a dead-heat victory over Tenny and his rival jockey Edward "Snapper" Garrison.

Given Isaac's longstanding reputation as a clean rider, some members of the press defended the jockey and called the accusations unfounded.

Further adding to the scandal, it was found that bettors had uncharacteristically wagered heavily against Firenzi, betting instead on William Lakeland's Tea Tray as the race drew near.

[8] Since 1995, the National Turf Writers Association has given the Isaac Murphy Award to the jockey with the highest winning percentage for the year in North American racing (from a minimum of 500 mounts).