Diane Crump, famed jockey and the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby, dies at 77
Diane Crump, who in 1969 became the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race and a year later became the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby, has died. She was 77.
TL;DR
- Diane Crump died at age 77 after being diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer.
- She was the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race (1969) and the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby (1970).
- Crump won 228 races during her career, which ended in 1998.
- She faced significant resistance, including boycotts from male jockeys, when she began her career.
- After retiring, Crump settled in Virginia, started a horse business, and volunteered with therapy dogs.
- Her mottos, 'Kindness' and 'Compassion', were tattooed on her forearms.