Virginia “Ginny” Lea David (Black)Burlington, KS

Virginia “Ginny” Lea David (Black) 84, longtime resident of Burlington, Kansas passed away Sunday morning, October 4, 2026 at her home.

Virginia was born on October 7, 1941 in Burlington, Kansas the daughter of Harold and Dortha (Alexander) Black. She went to school in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in 1959.

She married Les David on November 27, 1960 in Burlington, Kansas. Virginia and Les had one daughter, Sandra Kay, born June 17, 1962. They later divorced.

When she was younger she loved horses, and when she was 14 she started racing at the county fair. As time went on, she was racing at many races in Kansas and nearby states. She owned a thoroughbred horse named Sis Hutty. Virginia’s brother Jim, helped her train her horse Sis Hutty and Jim had a horse named Knee Pat that she raced. She won many of her races.

Virginia appeared as a contestant on a television show “To Tell The Truth” in New York City, Season 7, Episode 125 which aired January 28, 1963. Two of the four judges guessed her correctly as the female jockey. She was presented as an owner of a race horse, trainer, and a professional jockey. She had an eight year old mare named Sis Hutty. In four years Virginia raced 45 times and won 30 of those races. She was only out of the money three times. She raced an average of 75 races per season all against men. Virginia was named the first sanctioned woman jockey in Kansas.

On July 13, 1963, Virginia was injured during a race in Anthony, Kansas that ended her racing career. Her injury was difficult for her to recover from. After her mother Dortha passed away, she went and lived at COF here in Burlington. For many years she worked at the COF Training Services Program before she retired at 72 in 2013.

Virginia was a member of the House of Praise church in Burlington, Kansas. She loved going to look at horses, dance to music and spend time with her family and loved celebrating the holidays. She loved her jewelry, especially her rings, and her horse shirts. Virginia very much loved her niece Monica, who cared for her, and visited her often at COF. Her favorite saying was “I love you and don’t you forget it”.

She is preceded in death by her parents; Harold and Dortha Black, daughter; Sandy, and brother; Jim and his wife Frances.

She is survived by her niece; Monica (Jeff) Finlayson, nephew; Marty (Pam) Black, and niece; Carmen (Dee) Francis all of Burlington, Kansas. And many other great nephews, and their families, other relatives and friends.

Cremation is planned and memorial services will be at 2pm on Monday, October 19, 2026 at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington, Kansas and inurnment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Family will greet friends and family an hour prior to service time.

Memorial contributions can be made to COF, in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, Kansas 66839.

The family wants to thank the COF Staff for taking such good care of Aunt Ginny for all these years. Aunt Ginny loved living there and she loved all the activities the staff did with her at COF. Aunt Ginny had many friends that were special to her and she loved the staff with all her heart. They shared their time and their hearts with her, and we are forever grateful for them all.