Diane Crump: First Woman To Compete As A Jockey In The United States

In the 1960s when the second wave of feminism was just in action and the idea of equal rights and opportunities had begun drumming the streets of the United States, it was places like American Horse Riding competitions that were filled with just men. Women jockeys /equestrians were looked down upon and neglected from certain institutions  and arenas which publicised and recognised horse riding sports. Diane Crump in 1969 became the first woman to officially compete as a jockey in Florida’s Hialeah Race Track.

Diane had an interest in riding since she was 12-years-old but never thought of becoming a jockey and pursuing it as a full time profession. She would ride on ponies when she was young and later went to Gulfstream to groom and exercise horses. It is a little known fact but Diane was a horse trainer before a jockey. 

Diane was not the first female jockey to apply for a licence, it was actually Kusner, a former member of the US Equestrian Team. While she did get the permit eventually, she succumbed to an injury and couldn't participate in the race, giving Diane the window to ask for a licence as well. The legal institutions were not as competitive as the sports world, while Diane got her licence and checked through the legal formalities it was tough for females to participate in races because very often male jockeys, horsemen and officials would boycott races to prevent female racers from participating. The staunch sexism and misogyny made it difficult for riders to compete. 

“I have one little footprint in history that turned a corner not just for women’s rights, but equal rights. Maybe that opened it up for equal rights, and that’s important to me. Wherever you go now, women have the opportunity to ride and that’s awesome. It gave all of us a chance to do what was in our hearts and that to me was important,” Diane Crump made this statement in an interview with America's Best Racing. 

Diane Crump: First Woman To Compete As A Jockey In The United States

In 1970, Diane Crump became the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby and had to swiftly reach till tracks in order to avoid commotion and howling by large crowds at the stadium. While Diane revolutionised horse riding for women and girls, it was still a challenge for females to make a place for themselves within the industry.

Before the momentous race, Diane explained, “I didn’t care how the male jockeys felt. I figured they had to get over it. I knew it was going to happen, and I knew if I bided my time it was going to work out. I didn’t feel any pressure leading up to the race because I knew I could do it. I was ready. I had been on horses no one else wanted to ride. I galloped horses alongside all of those jockeys. I knew I was capable of riding in a race and had no anxiety about it. I was just so thrilled to get a chance to ride and to give it my best shot.” 

Diane went on to bag a total of 235 wins throughout her career and inspire many riders like Jacqueline Davis, Rosie Napravnik and others. In Mark Shragers book 'Diane Crump: A Horse-Racing Pioneer’s Life in the Saddle' a reader gets a detailed look into Diane's life and her struggles. There are certain excerpts that bring into light how the racing association's bureaucracy created barriers for women intentionally so as to not let them compete.

The reasons that were given by the officials were that women were not fit to participate due to their "physical limitations" and "emotional instability." Diane and a string of other female jockey's made it possible for women to compete, win and be celebrated today. We owe women like Diane for making the world a more courageous and graceful place to live in.