Charles Town Dedicates Tribute To First Black Female Horse Trainer

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and the city of Charles Town, W.V. has announced the dedication of a commemorative panel of images and milestones honoring Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop, the nation’s first Black female horse trainer. Bishop was a lifetime resident of Charles Town. An unveiling ceremony took place on April 12 and included members of her family, officials from the city of Charles Town including Mayor Bob Trainor and City Councilmember Priscilla Rodd, and representatives from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The 42”x36” tribute is permanently affixed between 111 and 109 N. Charles Street in Charles Town.

“This sign means the world to me and my family. It’s just wonderful to have my mother’s accomplishments memorialized and celebrated by her hometown and racing community, both of which she loved so much,” said LaVerne Bishop, daughter of Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop. “I can picture her beautiful smile and gratefulness to everyone.”

In 1934, one year after the Charles Town track opened, Bishop began working there at the age of 14. She learned on the job through various duties including mucking stalls, grooming the horses and hot walking them. Bishop began training horses in the 1940s. In 1954, Bishop was officially granted a trainer’s license from the state of West Virginia, making her the first Black woman in the country to become an official Thoroughbred trainer. Another milestone was accomplished in October of 1959, when she officially became the first Black woman to train the winner of a Thoroughbred race.

"We are honored to recognize Sylvia Bishop's pioneering contributions to the horse racing as a whole, and to our track,” said Charlie McIntosh, director of racing at Charles Town Races. “This serves as a testament to her lasting impact on our community and industry."

Outside of racing, Bishop also managed the restaurant inside Charles Town’s landmark Payne’s Hotel, later owning the hotel and restaurant from 1962-1999 after Lavinia Payne willed it to her.

Bishop left horse training for more than a decade as financial strains caused her to pick up work with the Doubleday publishing house in Virginia. From her return to the track in 1987 until 2000, it is estimated her horses won 44 races and earned $166,633. Bishop won her final race in 2000 and retired from training horses that same year. She died in Charles Town in 2004. Charles Town Races inducted her into their Hall of Fame in 2008. Following this recognition, the “Sylvia Bishop Memorial” race was introduced into the track’s annual stakes schedule and continues to this day.