Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Shepherdsville native James Turner Morehead , Kentucky’s 12th governor, born in 1797 in Bullitt County. The U.S. Senator was the 1st native-born Kentuckian to become governor. James’s family soon moved to Russellville in Logan County after his birth.
May 24-25, 1840, Kentucky organized a grand celebration of Fort Boonesborough in Madison County. Between 7,000 and 10,000 people attended; 3,000 were ladies. Governor Wickliffe reviewed 11 military companies. Mrs. French, a daughter of Col. Richard Calloway, kidnapped by Native Americans, also participated, along with other pioneers. Unfortunately, a grand torrent of rain caused havoc on the festivities.
Thursday, May 24, 1900, Ildrim won the 34th Belmont Stakes over six others by a head and set a new stakes record . The 1 3/8 miles had a post time of 4:33 and went in 2:21 ¾. He did not run in the May 3 Derby nor the May 29 Preakness.
Wednesday, May 24, 1905, Tanya won the 39th Belmont Stakes, the 1st running at Belmont Park . Tanya became the 2nd filly to win the race. The distance was 1 ¼ miles and she went off as the favorite at 2-1 over six other colts. The winning connections earned $16,240. It would take another century before another filly would win when Rags to Riches won in 2007. As a two-year-old, Tanya won the Hopeful, National Stallion, and Spinaway Stakes.
On May 24, 1935, Springfield (Washington County) native and Reds pitcher Paul Derringer started the 1st night game in major league history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt turned on the stadium lights from the White House, and the Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2–1.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Nicholasville (Jessamine County) native Donald “Don” Alan Brumfield , born in 1938. Brumfield held the Churchill Downs record for the all-time leading rider in races won (925) until Pat Day broke it. Don also won 16 riding titles under the Twin Spires.
May 24, 1951, Army 1LT Randall G. Sammons from Fayette County and Army PFC Willie Beckley from Jefferson County died in the Korean War.
On May 24, 1956, federal agents arrest two men and seized 26 slot machines in Newport (Campbell County). The raids, first in Kentucky since 1952, were among 16 conducted throughout the U.S. Club Alibi, Sportsmen’s Club, and the Copa Club took the hit. Notorious mob figure Frank “Screw” Andrews posted $500 and was out in hours, he had a murder wrap to worry about.
May 24, 1960, Patrolman Delmar Whitworth, Sr., Jefferson County Police Department , died in an automobile accident while responding to a call.
On May 24, 1962, the 2nd American space pilot circled around the world. Scott Carpenter, “Boy, the sunrises and sunsets! They are more beautiful than anything I have ever seen on earth.” John Glenn made the 1st orbit in February.
On May 24, 1971, Glasgow (Barren County) native Denny Doyle hit a home run, as a Philly, against Cincinnati pitcher Gary Nolan; it was the only hit in the game . Doyle has the distinction of having the only hit in three one-hitters during his career. This was the 2nd of his three games.
May 24, 1976, Muhammad Ali (52-2) fought Richard Dunn (33-9) in Olympic Hall , Munich, West Germany. Ali’s skills were waning, and Dunn fought hard. But Ali knocked him down five times in five rounds before the fight stopped. Dunn was the last fighter Ali would knock down. After the fight, Ali donated his gloves to a British boxer who had lost his eye. Inside the gloves it was written: “Ali wins” in one, and “Round five” in the other.
May 24, 1981, Louisville surgeon Dr. Walter Hume, Jr. spoke out on the spiraling cost of hospital stays in Kentucky and elsewhere in the U.S. The daily hospital bill of an average patient had doubled in the past five years. To compound the issue, Kentucky Department of Insurance approved a rate hike for Blue Cross to raise plans 25%.
May 24, 1982, Betty Truax from Finchville caught a state record Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) weighing 3.06 pounds in a Shelby County farm pond.
Kentucky Trivia : In 1983, Kentucky had 8,525 people locked up in jails or prisons. In 2015, that number became 33,025, a 287% increase. Black people are 9% of Kentucky’s population; however, they make up 20% of the people locked up. Since 1980, the number of women in jails increased by 1,694%, and in prisons, 2,317%.
May 24, 1997, Affirmed broke his maiden at Belmont Park . He followed up his 1st win by taking the Youthful Stakes on June 15, where he defeated Alydar by eight lengths.
May 24, 2001, preliminary findings pointed to cyanide poisoning from caterpillars which caused losses of foals and fetuses on Kentucky horse farms. The leaves of the Black Cherry trees contained cyanide. The caterpillars would eat the leaves, which have immunity to the poison, and the horses would eat the caterpillars. More than 500 cases of stillbirths and deaths of newborn foals shook the industry.
On May 24, 2007, President G.W. Bush nominated Cardiologist Dr. James W. Holsinger, Jr. as the new U.S. Surgeon General . Holsinger’s nomination became controversial over anti-gay bias, and the Senate never voted on him. Dr. Holsinger served as Kentucky’s Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and was a chancellor at UK Chandler Medical Center for nine years. He graduated with a Biblical Studies Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore (Jessamine County).
On May 24, 2015, Mitch M. told the press he would try one more time to extend three laws that chipped away at Americans’ right to privacy and civil liberties in the name of fighting terrorism. One law would allow the National Security Agency to listen to American citizens’ phone calls. Unfortunately, Mitch and the Obama Administration worked together and made it happen.
On May 24, 2016, Governor M. Bevin scrapped the existing Kentucky Horse Park Commission , including former First Lady Jane Beshear, and appointed a new commission. AG A. Beshear incorrectly claimed he lacked the authority to do so. However, Andy got his mother and friends back on the job after he became governor.
On May 24, 2017, the Koch brothers announced they would target 19-term U.S. Rep Hal Rogers over his wasteful government spending . Americans for Prosperity ran ads against the Kentuckian for his work of the $1.3 trillion budget bill Congress approved in March. Hal would do it again in 2025.
On May 24, 2019, in a humorous twist, the owners of Noah’s Ark in Grant County sued five insurance companies for not covering rain damage. Meanwhile, Transylvania named an interim president a week after President Carcy suddenly resigned days earlier.
On Primary Day, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Northern Kentucky (NK) locals voted out three influential incumbents with important committee seats. “Nobody saw it coming,” said Ryan Salzman of NK University P.S. Department. The winners were from a loose organization called “Liberty” or “Tea Party-adjacent,” who felt the coronavirus restrictions were not fought against hard enough; there were too many taxes, and they wanted school choice.
On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, Glenna Bevin, 58, filed for divorce from ex-Governor Matt Bevin, 56, after 27 years of marriage; they had been separated for a year. Of the nine children, only two were minors. Kentucky’s former First Lady requested payments for herself and the two kids.