4 months ago
- Sports
- Published: Jan. 05, 2026, 11:12 a.m.
Diane Crump, nan first female jockey to thrust successful nan Kentucky Derby successful 1970, has died. She was 77.
Crump died connected Jan. 1 successful Winchester, Virginia, her daughter, Della Payne, announced successful a GoFundMe post. Crump’s origin of decease was glioblastoma, a uncommon and fierce shape of encephalon crab which she was diagnosed pinch successful October, her girl said.
“Mom passed distant peacefully tonight,” Payne wrote successful a station Jan. 1. “She ended her life surrounded by friends and family. Thank you for being nan champion support system. We person been genuinely blessed by your generosity and kindness. I dream my mom’s bequest of pursuing dreams and helping others continues done those that were touched by her astonishing life.”
Crump became nan first master female jockey to thrust successful a equine title erstwhile she was conscionable 20 years aged connected Feb. 7, 1969, astatine Hialeah Park successful Florida. That year, she won 24 of her 228 profession victories, which totaled her profession net astatine astir $1.3 million, according to The Athletic.
The pursuing year, she became nan first female to thrust successful nan Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs connected May 2, 1970. Crump and her horse, Fathom, placed 15th of 17 riders. She is 1 of conscionable six women to ever thrust successful nan Kentucky Derby, according to The Associated Press.
“Diane Crump was an iconic trailblazer who admirably fulfilled her puerility dreams,” Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said successful a statement, per Kentucky.com. “As nan first female to thrust professionally astatine a awesome Thoroughbred racetrack successful 1969 and to go nan first female to thrust successful nan Kentucky Derby 1 twelvemonth later, she will everlastingly beryllium respected and fondly remembered successful equine racing lore. The full Churchill Downs family extends our condolences to her family and friends.”
Zach Mentz is Trending Sports and News Reporter for cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. His past acquisition includes clip spent pinch nan Cleveland Guardians, Cannabis Business Times, and North Coast Media. His...
