Trailblazing Female Jockey Who Broke Kentucky Derby Barriers Passes Away at 77

Diane Crump, a pioneering figure in horse racing, has passed away at the age of 77. She was the first female jockey to ride professionally in a race and notably the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby.

Crump broke significant gender barriers in the male-dominated sport. She earned her jockey license in a time when many still opposed women in the profession. Despite resistance, including threats and boycotts by male jockeys, she raced professionally and won 228 races during her career.

Her trailblazing moment came on February 7, when she rode at Hialeah Park in Florida. The event was historic yet controversial, as security guards protected Crump from an aggressive crowd. Six of the 12 jockeys in that race had refused to ride against her.

One notable detail from that day was the bugler’s altered call, which instead of the traditional signal played a tune called “Smile for Me, My Diane.” Riding a 50-1 longshot named Bridle ’n Bit, Crump finished 10th but made history. The horse later gave her her first victory at Gulfstream Park a month later.

The following year, she made history again as the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby. Crump won the opening race at Churchill Downs but finished 15th on Fathom in the Derby itself. This milestone was not repeated by another woman jockey until 14 years later.

Prominent figures in horse racing have acknowledged Crump’s impact. Churchill Downs president Mike Anderson called her an iconic trailblazer who fulfilled her childhood dreams. Chris Goodlett of the Kentucky Derby Museum described her legacy as one of courage, grit, and progress, noting how she inspired many beyond the sport.

After retiring in 1998, Crump settled in Virginia and started a business helping people buy and sell horses. She also dedicated herself to visiting patients in hospitals with her therapy dogs, primarily Dachshunds. These visits spanned years, and she became well-known in the medical community for her kindness.

Her daughter described Crump as stubborn and determined, never taking “no” for an answer. This resilience helped her overcome numerous challenges throughout her career and life. Crump’s personal mottos, “Kindness” and “Compassion,” were even tattooed on her forearms later in life.

Crump was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer in October and passed away in hospice care in Winchester, Virginia. Her ashes will be interred between her parents in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Front Royal, Virginia.

Her groundbreaking career and the barriers she shattered continue to resonate, securing her place in horse racing history as a pioneer for women in the sport.