Krone, Julie

▪ 1994

      Julie Krone had long established herself as the best female jockey in history before she became the first woman to win the Belmont Stakes on June 5, 1993. She was trying to be the best jockey, period, and her Belmont victory gave her mid-season U.S. rankings of third in victories and sixth in earnings. She had ranked as high as sixth, fourth, and third for total wins respectively in 1987 through 1989, when she had 368 victories, and her career high of more than $9 million in purses for 1992 ranked ninth. "Whether you're a girl or a boy or a Martian, you still have to go out and prove yourself again every day," she said.

      Her Belmont victory, aboard 13-to-1 long shot Colonial Affair, made Krone the first woman to win any of the U.S. Triple Crown races, which also include the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. On August 20 she was the third jockey in 126 years to win five races in one day at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. But 10 days later at Saratoga, her season ended abruptly when her ankle was shattered in 11 places after she was thrown from her mount. She was further injured when another horse stepped on her chest and bruised her heart. Krone's career then paused with over 2,700 victories, more than double the 1,205 that had made her the winningest woman in 1988. She had won purses of $53,557,170 (from which the jockey receives 10%).

      Julieanne Louise Krone was born July 24, 1963, in Benton Harbor, Mich., and grew up on a horse farm in nearby Eau Claire, Mich. Her mother, Judi, was a prizewinning show rider, and Julie was only five when she began winning horse shows in the 21-and-under division. At 14 she watched on television as 18-year-old Steve Cauthen won the 1978 Triple Crown and told her parents she was going to be a jockey. She worked for trainer Clarence Picou in the summer of 1979, and the next summer she won 20 races on Michigan's fair circuit.

      After quitting high school in her senior year, Krone finished second in her first race, on Jan. 30, 1981, and won for the first time on Feb. 12, 1981, aboard Lord Farkle at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida. In 1982 and 1983 she was the leading rider at Atlantic City, N.J., and in 1987 she became the first female leading rider at major racetracks, winning at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands, both in New Jersey. In 1987 she also won six races in one day at Monmouth and five at the Meadowlands, both tying track records. She retained the leading riding title at Monmouth through 1989 and at Meadowlands through 1990, setting the Meadowlands track record with 132 victories in 1988. In 1992 she was the leading racer at Gulfstream Park in Florida and at the Belmont spring meet. (KEVIN M. LAMB)

* * *

▪ American jockey

in full  Julieanne Louise Krone 

born July 24, 1963, Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.

      American jockey, the first woman to win the prestigious Belmont Stakes.

      Krone grew up on a horse farm in Eau Claire, Michigan. Her mother, Judi, was a prizewinning show rider, and Julie was only 5 years old when she began winning horse shows in the 21-and-under division. At age 14 she watched on television as 18-year-old Steve Cauthen won the 1978 Triple Crown and set herself the goal of becoming a jockey. She worked for a trainer in 1979 and the next year won 20 races on Michigan's fair circuit. Krone quit high school in her senior year to focus on riding.

      By 1987 she had become the first female leading rider at major racetracks, winning at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands, both in New Jersey. She won six races in one day at Monmouth and five at the Meadowlands, tying records at both tracks. She retained the leading riding title at Monmouth through 1989 and at the Meadowlands through 1990. On June 5, 1993, Krone made horse-racing history as the first woman to win the Belmont Stakes, one of the U.S. Triple Crown races. Her Belmont victory, aboard 13-to-1 long shot Colonial Affair, made Krone the first woman to win any of the Triple Crown races.

      Following her 1993 Belmont triumph, Krone continued to win titles on the New York–Florida circuit, having particular success at Gulfstream Park in Florida. She retired in 1999, having won more than 3,500 races. In 2000 she became the first woman inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Krone returned to racing in 2002, and in October 2003 she became the first female jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race. She retired from competitive racing again in 2004, but she returned for one non-exhibition race in 2008. Her autobiography, Riding for My Life, was published in 1995.

* * *