"At the age of 12 she and her family moved to Florida. Growing up in Oldsmar close to the track she had an amazing open door to the life in the equestrian world. She started at an early age breaking yearlings on the farm. Later she started getting on the young horses when they went to the track to train. From the moment when first she learned to gallop, she was absolutely in love" (Evans)
She first started racing professionally in 1969. In February of 1969 she raced at Hialeah Racetrack, becoming the first women to ride in a professional gambling race. She may not have won the race, but she had definitely been noticed. After her race at Hialeah, Diane Crump received invitations to ride from all over the world.
"It was a whirlwind of excitement and challenges! For a 19-year-old kid who had only been riding for one year, I couldn't believe I was flying all over the country and to Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico to race against the boys" (Varolli).
The next year she got the opportunity to ride in the Kentucky Derby on a horse called Fathom. She didn't win, but she became the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and her career continued on from there. She "scored more than 230 victories on tracks before retiring 1985" (Evans).
She had many injuries over the years but one injury was by far the most severe and threatened to end her riding career. The injury happened when a horse that she had been riding reared up, and fell over backward, pinning her under its weight. The injury left her leg broken in six or seven places. The doctors told her she would never ride again. While she was in the hospital, she received an overwhelming amount of support from well wishers, and a generous foundation offered to pay all of her medical expenses. Motivated by all of the support she gradually worked on recovering and getting back to riding.
After her recovery, she rode for a few more years, but eventually the injuries she got over the years had taken their toll, and she made the decision that she could no longer race. While she could no longer race, Diane Crump wanted to contribute her extensive knowledge of and experience with horses to help others. To accomplish this she created her own website. Through her website she assists riders in selling their horse or finding the perfect horse to mach their preferences.
"Now a grandmother-of-two, Crump still receives hundreds of letters from children every year asking her how it felt to make history that day. 'It was great for me as a rider, as a female and as a person,' Crump said.'For someone to think I was capable of riding in the Kentucky Derby was a huge step forward' (McKenzie).
She first started racing professionally in 1969. In February of 1969 she raced at Hialeah Racetrack, becoming the first women to ride in a professional gambling race. She may not have won the race, but she had definitely been noticed. After her race at Hialeah, Diane Crump received invitations to ride from all over the world.
"It was a whirlwind of excitement and challenges! For a 19-year-old kid who had only been riding for one year, I couldn't believe I was flying all over the country and to Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico to race against the boys" (Varolli).
The next year she got the opportunity to ride in the Kentucky Derby on a horse called Fathom. She didn't win, but she became the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and her career continued on from there. She "scored more than 230 victories on tracks before retiring 1985" (Evans).
She had many injuries over the years but one injury was by far the most severe and threatened to end her riding career. The injury happened when a horse that she had been riding reared up, and fell over backward, pinning her under its weight. The injury left her leg broken in six or seven places. The doctors told her she would never ride again. While she was in the hospital, she received an overwhelming amount of support from well wishers, and a generous foundation offered to pay all of her medical expenses. Motivated by all of the support she gradually worked on recovering and getting back to riding.
After her recovery, she rode for a few more years, but eventually the injuries she got over the years had taken their toll, and she made the decision that she could no longer race. While she could no longer race, Diane Crump wanted to contribute her extensive knowledge of and experience with horses to help others. To accomplish this she created her own website. Through her website she assists riders in selling their horse or finding the perfect horse to mach their preferences.
"Now a grandmother-of-two, Crump still receives hundreds of letters from children every year asking her how it felt to make history that day. 'It was great for me as a rider, as a female and as a person,' Crump said.'For someone to think I was capable of riding in the Kentucky Derby was a huge step forward' (McKenzie).