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First female Kentucky Derby jockey Diane Crump dead at 77
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Diane Crump, the first woman to compete in the Kentucky Derby as a jockey, died this week at the age of 77.
Crump was diagnosed in October with an aggressive form of brain cancer and died Thursday night in hospice care in Winchester, Virginia, her daughter, Della Payne, told The Associated Press.
In 1969, she became the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race and, a year later, she became the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby. It would be 14 more years before another woman would ride in the event.
Only four others have raced in it since then.
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Crump won 228 races before her last race in 1998, a month shy of her 50th birthday and nearly 30 years after her trailblazing ride at Hialeah Park in Florida Feb. 7, 1969.
Crump was among several women to fight successfully at the time to be granted a jockey license, but they still needed a trainer willing to put them in a race and then for the race to run. Others were thwarted when male jockeys boycotted or threatened to boycott if a woman was riding.
The president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, Mike Anderson, said in a statement Friday that Crump “will be forever respected and fondly remembered in horse racing lore.”
He noted that Crump, who had been riding since age 5 and galloping young thoroughbreds since she was a teenager, “was an iconic trailblazer who admirably fulfilled her childhood dreams.”
FAMED HORSE RACING JOCKEY WHO RODE THE LEGENDARY SECRETARIAT TO TRIPLE CROWN DIES AT 84
The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Chris Goodlett of the Kentucky Derby Museum said, “Diane Crump’s name stands for courage, grit and progress. Her determination in the face of overwhelming odds opened doors for generations of female jockeys and inspired countless others far beyond racing.”
After retiring from racing, Crump settled in Virginia and started a business helping people buy and sell horses.
In later years, she took her therapy dogs, all dachshunds, to visit patients in hospitals and other medical clinics. She visited some with chronic illnesses regularly for years.
Payne said when her mother went into assisted living a month ago, she was already “quasi-famous” in the medical center because of how much time she had spent there, and a “steady stream” of doctors and nurses came to see her. One of the last people to visit her was the man who mowed her lawn.
Her daughter said Crump would never take “no” for an answer, whether it was becoming a jockey or helping someone in need.
“I wouldn’t say she was as competitive as she was stubborn,” Payne said. “If someone was counting on her, she could never let someone down.”
Late in life, Crump had her favorite fundamental characteristics tattooed on her forearms — “Kindness” on the left, “Compassion” on the right.
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Diane Crump keeps up with Mike Sorentino who’s on Born In A Trunk, and Craig Perret on Shir-Tee, during the seventh race at Hialeah. Diane, 20, became the first woman to compete in a regular event in U.S. thoroughbred racing history. She finished tenth in a field of twelve. (Bettmann/Getty Images)
Crump will be cremated, and her ashes interred between her parents in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Front Royal, Virginia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Notre Dame head coach goes ballistic, rushes after official in wild scene following controversial loss
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A wild scene unfolded following a 72-71 loss by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as head coach Micah Shrewsberry and sophomore guard Cole Certa appeared to charge after an official at the end of the game.
Fighting Irish players and coaches had to hold them back, as the broadcast picked up on the moment and speculated on what led to the frustration.
“It looked like he was going after one of the officials. My guess? His frustration on the and-one, four-play by Dai Dai Ames,” the broadcaster commented.
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A disappointed Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cole Certa (5) reacts after losing to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons during a men’s college basketball game between the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Dec. 21, 2025 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN. (Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)
This game came down to the final seconds, as Certa’s layup made it a 67-63 lead, but the Cal Golden Bears responded quickly to cut the lead to two points.
The game ultimately came down to a crucial possession for the Golden Bears, where Ames shot a three-pointer, and as he made it, a foul was called — a massive mistake that allowed a free throw for Cal to take the lead.
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Officials initially reversed the call, but upon review, the reversal was then reversed, allowing Ames to head to the free throw line.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cole Certa (5) dribbles the ball down court during the game between the Idaho Vandals and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Dec. 10, 2025 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. (Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)
Notre Dame had the final shot of the game, but it fell short and the Golden Bears came back to victory.
In the heat of the moment, though, Certa was clearly walking after one of the officials, but Shrewsberry came barreling in as the official turned around to see the commotion. The official walked off the court without getting involved in the confrontation.
Certa is in an expanded role in his second season in South Bend, playing 20.3 minutes per game compared to 8.1 last season. He’s averaging nine points and 1.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.9% from the field.
Shrewsberry has been coaching the Fighting Irish since the 2023-24 season, owning a career 38-43 record over parts of three seasons. He has yet to lead them to a NCAA Tournament bid.
Head coach Micah Shrewsberry of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on Dec. 2, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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The Fighting Irish are 10-5 on the season, including 1-1 in conference play.
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Two playoff spots and the two No. 1 seeds will be decided on the NFL’s final weekend of the regular season, along with four division winners and other seeding issues.
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Sports
Mississippi State QB avoids disaster after appearing to suffer gruesome leg injury in Duke’s Mayo Bowl
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Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor appeared to avoid serious injury after suffering what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury in the final minutes of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night.
Taylor, a freshman and Mississippi native, was scrambling for extra yards in the final minutes of the game with Wake Forest leading by 14 points when he took an awkward hit to the legs as he was being tackled.
Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) runs the ball against Wake Forest during the first half of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl NCAA college football game. The game took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
He had broken free from several tackles before being brought down.
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Several videos shared on social media appeared to show Taylor’s left knee bend at an unnatural angle as he went down.
Taylor remained on the ground in obvious pain as medical staff rushed to his assistance. He was eventually carted off the field to the locker room.
Initial fears of a serious injury were eased when Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby expressed optimism following the Bulldogs’ 43–29 loss. Lebby declined to provide specifics about the injury sustained by the promising young quarterback.
Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) barely gets a pass off before being tackled during the college football Duke’s Mayo Bowl game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bank of America Stadium. The game took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 2, 2026. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“Initial reports have been good, so we’ll continue to evaluate and get more information,” he said. “I feel good about getting in the locker room, being able to talk, talk to our medical staff, and being able to see Kamario again.”
Taylor’s mother, LaQuandra Conner, said in a post on Facebook after the game that he sustained an ankle injury.
“Thanks everyone for the prayers it was his ankle but NOTHING is torn or broken GOD had MY BABY covered and for that I say THANK YOU LORD,” her caption read.
Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) grabs his leg after an awkward tackle during the college football Duke’s Mayo Bowl game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bank of America Stadium. The game took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 2, 2026. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Making his second career start for the Bulldogs, Taylor completed 13 of 22 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, while adding 63 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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