MANCHESTER, Ky. — When the Manchester City Council approved the change from Bridge Street back to Jockey Street, many residents immediately asked the same question: Why Jockey Street?
The answer, local historians say, lies not in a new name—but in an old one.
According to documents gathered during the downtown revitalization planning process, Jockey Street is actually the original historical name of what modern residents have long known as Bridge Street. As part of the ongoing transformation of downtown, spearheaded by 1 Clay County (1CC) and supported by the area’s new designation on the National Register of Historic Places, the group felt the timing was perfect to return the street to its roots.
“Changing the name eliminates the negative connotation associated with Bridge Street,” said Mike White, 1CC member and President of the Clay County Historical Society. “This reflects a new direction for our city and hopefully makes that area the bustling, vibrant part of town that it used to be.”
A Street With a Story to Tell
Though no one knows the exact date the name changed from Jockey Street to Bridge Street, researchers believe it may have occurred sometime after the 1947 flood, possibly when the swinging bridge was built in the 1950s.
But long before that, Jockey Street played a central role in Manchester’s identity.
In the early 1900s, the landscape looked nothing like today’s buildings and pavement. Instead, a rolling hillside, a single barn, and the natural bend of Town Branch shaped the area. Jockey Street was the only route into East Manchester—and it was bustling.
Each Saturday was known as trading day, when locals bought, sold, and swapped everything from knives and cows to coon dogs. But horses were the star attraction. Traders gathered to showcase their animals along a straight makeshift track, racing them to demonstrate strength and value.
As recently as 2023, numerous horse and mule shoes were unearthed along Bridge Street, offering tangible reminders of its past.
Home of a Local Legend
The street’s name also honors the region’s connection to professional horse racing. In the 1930s, young Beverly “Tuffy” Hacker, son of Lumber Dan Hacker, gained recognition for showcasing horses for traders.
Standing just 5’1” and weighing 108 pounds, Hacker went on to become a professional jockey, riding for the John H.C. Forbes Stable at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore. He served in World War II, later riding in the 1949 Preakness Stakes and becoming a respected thoroughbred trainer. Hacker trained numerous stakes winners—including for Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney—and retired after more than three decades in the sport. He died in 2007 at age 85, remembered as one of Maryland’s finest trainers.
Reclaiming a Vibrant Past
For many younger residents, Bridge Street has long carried a rough reputation. Yet even after the horse-trading era ended, the area flourished with clothing shops, shoe stores, furniture businesses, and even Manchester’s only recording studio, the iconic Acme Records located in the upper floor of the Keith building.
Now, with support from 1CC and Senator Robert Stivers, leaders see the renaming as part of restoring energy and pride to the district.
In the coming years, the new Jockey Street will host the Farmer’s Market, the Manchester Distillery, and a growing collection of local vendors and foot traffic.
What was once the center of trade in early Manchester is poised to become a thriving marketplace once again.
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