ReportWire

Tag: diane crump

  • Diane Crump, the first woman to race horses professionally, dies. Her first race was in Hialeah

    [ad_1]

    Diane Crump was the first woman to race horses professonally, starting her career in 1969 at Hialeah Park before becoming the first female jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby a year later.

    Diane Crump was the first woman to race horses professonally, starting her career in 1969 at Hialeah Park before becoming the first female jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby a year later.

    Kentucky Derby Museum

    Diane Crump, the first woman to race horses professionally, died Thursday in Virginia months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, her daughter confirmed on social media.

    Crump, 77, debuted professionally at Hialeah Park on Feb. 7, 1969. A year later, she made history again, becoming the first female jockey to race in the Kentucky Derby.

    “I hope my mom’s legacy of following dreams and helping others continues through those that were touched by her amazing life,” her daughter, Della Payne, said in a GoFundMe page announcing her mother’s death. The page was set up originally to help pay for Crump’s medical treatment.

    Mike Anderson — president of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby — said in a statement that Crump “will be forever respected and fondly remembered in horse racing lore.”

    Crump’s race at Hialeah Park was so controversial that six of the original 12 jockeys who were supposed to race against her refused to participate, according to The Associated Press. She had to be escorted to the saddle area by security guards to protect her from the crowd, the AP reported.

    While Crump did not win either of the groundbreaking races, she went on to 228 victories during her professional career, which spanned from 1969 until 1998, according to the horse-racing news site Blood Horse.

    After retiring, Crump began a horse-sales company in Virginia, Diane Crump Equine Sales, which connected sellers and buyers, Payne wrote.

    In recent years, she was also volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes with her three dachshunds, according to Payne.

    “Through this ministry, she has brought joy, comfort, and healing to countless people in the Winchester and Northern Virginia communities,” Payne wrote.

    Crump was born in Connecticut before moving to the Tampa area later in her childhood, according to Blood Horse. She began riding horses at age 4, the news outlet reported, adding she is survived by Payne, three grandchildren and a brother and sister.

    This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 7:43 PM.

    David Goodhue

    Miami Herald

    David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware.

    [ad_2]

    David Goodhue

    Source link

  • Diane Crump, first woman to ride in Kentucky Derby, dies at 77

    [ad_1]

    The first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby, Diane Crump, has died.She was 77.”Mom passed away peacefully tonight. She ended her life surrounded by friends and family. Thank you for being the best support system. We have been truly blessed by your generosity and kindness. I hope my mom’s legacy of following dreams and helping others continues through those that were touched by her amazing life,” said Crump’s daughter, Della Payne, in a GoFundMe post on New Year’s Day.In the player up top: Diane Crump’s Kentucky Derby boots on display at Kentucky Derby MuseumCrump had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.For the first 95 years of the Kentucky Derby’s existence, only male jockeys were allowed to compete. But that all changed in 1970 when Crump became the first woman to ride in the Derby.She received her jockey license just one year prior and would go on to finish 15th in the 96th Run for the Roses.Through 1,682 starts, Crump amassed 228 wins and collected more than $1.2 million in earnings during her jockeying career.“Diane Crump was an iconic trailblazer who admirably fulfilled her childhood dreams. As the first female to ride professionally at a major Thoroughbred racetrack in 1969 and to become the first female to ride in the Kentucky Derby one year later, she will forever be respected and fondly remembered in horse racing lore. The entire Churchill Downs family extends our condolences to her family and friends,” Churchill Downs said in a statement.Following her career as a jockey, Crump started Diane Crump Equine Sales as a way to connect buyers and owners in the sporthorse world. She also volunteered at hospitals and nursing homes with her dachshunds to provide animal-assisted therapy.

    The first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby, Diane Crump, has died.

    She was 77.

    “Mom passed away peacefully tonight. She ended her life surrounded by friends and family. Thank you for being the best support system. We have been truly blessed by your generosity and kindness. I hope my mom’s legacy of following dreams and helping others continues through those that were touched by her amazing life,” said Crump’s daughter, Della Payne, in a GoFundMe post on New Year’s Day.

    In the player up top: Diane Crump’s Kentucky Derby boots on display at Kentucky Derby Museum

    Crump had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

    For the first 95 years of the Kentucky Derby’s existence, only male jockeys were allowed to compete. But that all changed in 1970 when Crump became the first woman to ride in the Derby.

    She received her jockey license just one year prior and would go on to finish 15th in the 96th Run for the Roses.

    Through 1,682 starts, Crump amassed 228 wins and collected more than $1.2 million in earnings during her jockeying career.

    “Diane Crump was an iconic trailblazer who admirably fulfilled her childhood dreams. As the first female to ride professionally at a major Thoroughbred racetrack in 1969 and to become the first female to ride in the Kentucky Derby one year later, she will forever be respected and fondly remembered in horse racing lore. The entire Churchill Downs family extends our condolences to her family and friends,” Churchill Downs said in a statement.

    Following her career as a jockey, Crump started Diane Crump Equine Sales as a way to connect buyers and owners in the sporthorse world. She also volunteered at hospitals and nursing homes with her dachshunds to provide animal-assisted therapy.

    [ad_2]

    Source link