Diane Crump

A trio of finalists have been announced for the 15th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The three finalists are Diane Crump, A Horse-Racing Pioneer's Life in the Saddle, by Mark Sharger; Good Things Come, by Linda Shantz; and Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop, Had a Way With Horses, by Vicki Moon. "This was the year of debut authors, including the fiction finalist [Vicki Moon]," said judge Kay Coyte, a former Washington Post and racing publications editor. "Part of the mission of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award is to encourage new...

The Kentucky Derby Museum will open the new "Right to Ride" exhibit Friday, Oct. 16. The exhibit features the history-making first female jockeys in the sport, with a spotlight on the stories of women facing gender discrimination as they fought to ride. Specifically highlighted are women riders who broke down the barriers, including Diane Crump, who was the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby 50 years ago. Over 20 hours of oral history video interviews with female riders who had an impact on American racing form the centerpiece...

She knew her horse didn't have a chance in the 1970 Kentucky Derby and so did everyone else, but, still, Diane Crump couldn't avoid the spotlight as the race approached. At least she was used to it. Fifteen months earlier, Crump became the first female to ride in a pari-mutuel race. Now, she was set to make history again, as the first female to ride in the Kentucky Derby. "That whole week, the whole atmosphere, it was just amazing," said Crump. "If this is the sport you love, nothing beats...