Horse racing mourns the loss of one of its fiercest pioneers, Diane Crump, who passed away at 77 after a courageous battle with aggressive brain cancer.
Diane Crump was the first woman in history to ride a horse professionally and famously became the first female jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby, forever breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.
Diane Crump’s daughter, Della Payne, confirmed to the Associated Press that her mother, diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in October 2025, died on Thursday, January 1, at a hospice in Winchester, Virginia.
Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs racetrack, lauded Diane Crump as “an iconic trailblazer who admirably fulfilled her childhood dreams.
As the first female to ride professionally at a major Thoroughbred racetrack in 1969 and the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby a year later, she reshaped horse racing history. She will forever be remembered and respected in the annals of the sport.”
Diane Crump’s journey to greatness was marked by grit and determination. In the 1960s, she challenged entrenched gender norms, applying for a jockey license in 1968.
A year later, she earned her permit to ride at Florida’s Hialeah Racetrack, shattering barriers that had stood for centuries. Her historic appearance at the Kentucky Derby cemented her legacy as a fearless pioneer.
Over the course of her celebrated career, Diane Crump amassed 1,682 starts, 228 wins, and more than $1.29 million in earnings, according to Equibase.
After briefly retiring in 1985 to focus on training horses, she returned to competitive racing in 1992 and continued until 1998, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance, courage, and inspiration for generations of female jockeys.
Diane Crump’s life and career remain a testament to breaking limits, challenging conventions, and redefining what is possible in the world of sports.
