Anna Lee Aldred
Encyclopedia
Anna Lee Aldred was the first woman in the United States
to receive a jockey
's license.
She was born Anna Lee Mills in Montrose, Colorado
in 1921. After officials at Agua Caliente Racetrack
in Mexico
were unable to find a rule that would bar women jockeys, she was given a license in 1939. She lost her first professional race by a nose, but went on to win many races in state and country fairs. Six years later, having grown too tall at 5'5" and weighing in at 118 pounds, she retired from horse-racing and began a second career as a trick rider in rodeos. She married cattleman Wayne Aldred; that marriage later ended in divorce. Aldred was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas
in 1983 and the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2004. She continued riding until breaking her hip in 2001 and died in June 2006 in Montrose at the age of 85.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to receive a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
's license.
She was born Anna Lee Mills in Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
in 1921. After officials at Agua Caliente Racetrack
Agua Caliente Racetrack
The Agua Caliente Racetrack is a greyhound racing and former horse racing track in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. It opened in December 1929 at a cost of $2.5 million.One year before, the Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel opened in June 1928....
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
were unable to find a rule that would bar women jockeys, she was given a license in 1939. She lost her first professional race by a nose, but went on to win many races in state and country fairs. Six years later, having grown too tall at 5'5" and weighing in at 118 pounds, she retired from horse-racing and began a second career as a trick rider in rodeos. She married cattleman Wayne Aldred; that marriage later ended in divorce. Aldred was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
in 1983 and the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2004. She continued riding until breaking her hip in 2001 and died in June 2006 in Montrose at the age of 85.