Female jockeys make their mark during the Kentucky Derby [Video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In 2024, women can be found working across all positions and at all levels of horse racing. But when the Kentucky Derby first began, Kentucky Derby Museum curator of Collections Jessica Whitehead said women weren’t in the spotlight. 

“Horse racing in many many ways was a man’s sport and women were the ornament who came to the races,” she said. 

‘Kathy said ‘I can ride as well as any of these men,'” Whitehead said. 

Just two years later, Diane Crump secured her own place in the record books as the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby. 

“That was an incredible moment because of the visibility of the Kentucky Derby,” Whitehead said. 

In the years since, six women have raced in a total of nine Derby races. 

Three of those highly coveted spots went to now-retired jockey Rosie Napravnik. She raced in the …