Forgotten from the Top: How Kendrick Carmouche and Brian Hernandez Jr. Are Forcing American Horse Racing to Face Its Flaws

For years, Kendrick Carmouche and Brian Hernandez Jr. have flown under the radar of the mainstream horse racing spotlight — despite consistent performances, relentless dedication, and a level of grit that most headline jockeys could only hope to match. Largely ignored by elite stables, often left out of promotional campaigns, and rarely granted top-tier mounts on the biggest stages, these two riders have been pushed to the margins of a sport that prides itself on tradition but struggles with progress. But now, as cracks begin to show in the very foundation of American horse racing, it’s Carmouche and Hernandez who are suddenly, and powerfully, at the center of a brewing storm that no one saw coming.

The 2025 season has not gone according to script. The usual suspects — the Ortiz brothers, Flavien Prat, and Irad’s dominant reign — have all taken hits in unexpected places. Horses that were supposed to shine have stumbled. Trainers long thought untouchable are being questioned. And in the middle of this disruption, two names have quietly but forcefully risen. Carmouche, with his fierce riding style and unshakable determination, and Hernandez Jr., the Kentucky-born tactician known for his silky precision, have both begun turning up in winner’s circles that had been closed off to them for too long.

But this isn’t just a feel-good story about underdogs having their moment. This is about a sport being confronted by its own failures. For decades, horse racing in the U.S. has been plagued by a caste system — a subtle but undeniable hierarchy that places marketable names above undeniable talent. Carmouche, an African-American jockey in a sport that still struggles with diversity, has repeatedly spoken about the difficulty of breaking into elite barns despite years of proven skill. Hernandez, meanwhile, has been viewed as “regional talent,” a label that has long held him back from being featured in the biggest national conversations — despite major wins in the Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, and even the Breeders’ Cup.

Now the numbers are forcing a reevaluation. Both jockeys have posted win percentages rivaling the top five in the country. Their rides are being rewatched, studied, and — most importantly — respected by bettors and analysts alike. And with each passing week, their success is highlighting a deeper question: why did it take this long? Why have they been consistently overlooked while others with lesser stats enjoyed bigger purses, richer mounts, and national media coverage?

Their rise isn’t just statistical — it’s cultural. In an era where sports fans are increasingly calling out systems of favoritism, exclusion, and outdated power structures, Carmouche and Hernandez have become symbols of what’s possible when talent is finally allowed to speak louder than legacy. Their recent performances have made headlines not just for their athletic merit, but for the message they send: the old system is no longer running the show uncontested.

Horse racing, once viewed as an untouchable institution of hierarchy and tradition, is now facing a grassroots rebellion — one that didn’t come from billion-dollar owners or celebrity horses, but from two riders who simply refused to fade into obscurity. Their rise isn’t just a disruption; it’s a reckoning. The gate is open, and there’s no turning back.

Kendrick Carmouche and Brian Hernandez Jr. aren’t just riding horses — they’re riding a wave of long-overdue change. And as that wave builds, it’s not just racetracks that are watching — the entire system is feeling it. Because when the forgotten start winning, the foundation has no choice but to shift.