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In 1968, a small group of women, dismissed by the press as “jockettes,” began demanding the right to apply for jockey licenses under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Most were rejected, with racing officials claiming women were unfit to ride, and those who tried faced boycotts from male jockeys.

At just 20 years old, Diane Crump broke through that resistance. After thousands of workout rides, she made history on February 7, 1969, riding at Hialeah Park under police protection. A year later, she became the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby, shattering a 95-year tradition. Crump went on to earn 235 career wins.

In Diane Crump: A Horse Racing Pioneer’s Life in the Saddle, veteran turf writer Mark Shrager tells her remarkable story through Crump’s own words, contemporary coverage, and firsthand interviews.

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