Tenny with Murphy up

Tenny with Murphy up

Photography of horse sports

Photograph of the Thoroughbred Tenny with jockey Isaac Burns Murphy up.

Tenny, known as "The Swayback" to his fans, is often remembered in association with his rivalry with Hall of Famer Salvator. Although Tenny won his first four races in 1890, he lost to Salvator in the 1890 Suburban Handicap. After the loss, Tenny's owner, D. T. Pulsifer, challenged Salvator's owner, James Ben Ali Haggin, to a match race held at Sheepshead Bay Race Track on June 25, 1890. Salvator bested Tenny by half a head.

Isaac Burns Murphy, the first jockey elected into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1955, won at least a third of his mounts each year over the course of his career. Among his many notable wins, Murphy claimed victories at four of the first five American Derbies, three Kentucky Derbies, and five Latonia Derbies.

John C. Hemment

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