Barbara Jo Rubin (born November 21, 1949) is an American jockey. She was the first woman to win a professional horse race.[1][2][3][4] [5]

Barbara Jo Rubin
BornNovember 21, 1949 Edit this on Wikidata

Early life

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Barbara Jo Rubin was born on November 21, 1949, in Highland.

Licensing

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Women had been riding racehorses in assorted races for decades, some openly, others disguised as men. Once licensure became required for riding in recognized parimutuel races, women were generally discouraged from applying or denied licensure, even in locations where women were not explicitly barred.

The "modern era of female jockeys" began when Olympic equestrian and show jumping competitor Kathy Kusner, who had also ridden as a jockey, successfully sued the Maryland Racing Commission for a jockey's license in 1967 under the Civil Rights Act.[6] She won her case in 1968 and became one of the first women to be licensed in the United States, though an injury prevented her from racing at the time.[7] In late 1968, Penny Ann Early was the first woman to earn a mount as a licensed Thoroughbred jockey in the U.S., but when she entered three races at Churchill Downs in November, the male jockeys announced a boycott of those races, and so she could not ride. On 7 February 1969, Diane Crump was the first licensed woman rider to ride in a parimutuel Thoroughbred race in the United States at Hialeah Park Race Track in Florida. She required a police escort to get to the paddock.[8] Two weeks later, on 22 February at Charles Town in West Virginia, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first licensed woman to win a race in the modern era.[8] She went on to win 11 of the next 22 races she rode.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Pioneer Jockey Barbara Jo Rubin To Mark 50th Anniversary Of Charles Town Ride". Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  2. ^ "'Right to Ride' exhibit features stories of trailblazing female jockeys". 18 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Barbara Jo Rubin Archives". Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  4. ^ "50 Years After First Win in New York, Jockey Barbara Jo Rubin To Be Honored At Aqueduct". TAPinto. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  5. ^ "Charles Town to Celebrate Anniversary of Rubin's Ride: Barbara Jo Rubin will attend the races and be recognized in the winner's circle". BloodHorse. January 29, 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  6. ^ "HORSE EXPERT WITNESS - KATHY KUSNER".
  7. ^ "Kathy Kusner". MAKERS. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  8. ^ a b "The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News".
  9. ^ "Characters |> Jock the movie". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.