Robyn Smith

Smith is largely evasive about the details of her early life. She told Sports Illustrated in her 1972 cover profile that she was born in San Francisco, California on August 14, 1944, but the journal could find no birth record of a Robyn Caroline Smith for several years around that time. Claims that she had attended Stanford University as an English major, and that she was under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer were similarly debunked. In 1997, she told the Los Angeles Times that she was "sold" as an infant, and went through a series of foster homes.{{cite news |last1=Lacher |first1=Irene |title=From Ace Jockey to Fred's 'Baby' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-17-ca-23120-story.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 17, 1997 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205195718/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-17-ca-23120-story.html |url-status=live }}

In April 1969, Kjell Qvale agreed to let Smith ride one of his horses, and on April 3, Smith became the first female jockey in Northern California, finishing second at a race at Golden Gate Fields upon Swift Yorky.{{cite news|date=April 4, 1969|title=Robyn Smith Finishes Second at Golden Gate|page=F9|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72331322/}} When Money Road finished last at the same track a week later, however, the decision to grant her an apprentice jockey license came into question. The decision of whether or not to award her the license was dependent upon Al Shelhamer, who had not seen Smith ride in person and would have to consult film of her first two Golden Gate races.{{cite news |title=Robyn Must Wait for Film Reviews |work=The Atlanta Constitution |date=April 11, 1969 |page=73}} Her license was granted, and in her first race as a licensed jockey, Smith and Swift Yorky finished in ninth place at Golden Gate Fields on April 16, 1969.{{cite news |title=Robyn Smith Finishes 9th at Golden Gate |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 17, 1969 |page=G14}} The next year, Smith secured her first New York victory atop Hill Cloud at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.{{cite news |last1=Cady |first1=Steve |title=Robyn Smith Gets First Victory at New York Track |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/23/archives/robyn-smith-gets-first-victory-at-new-york-track.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 23, 1970 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153948/https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/23/archives/robyn-smith-gets-first-victory-at-new-york-track.html |url-status=live }}

Smith's early victories in New York and California were seen as an inspiration to future woman riders.{{cite news |title=This Fledgling Robyn Yearns to Be Among the First at Aqueduct This Spring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/02/08/archives/this-fledgling-robyn-yearns-to-be-among-the-first-at-aqueduct-this.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=February 8, 1970}} In 1973, leading up to the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match, Smith challenged Bobby Riggs to a horse race, while joking that he would turn down the challenge because "He doesn't want to get himself killed."{{cite news |title=Robyn Smith Is Ready for Riggs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/21/archives/robyn-smith-is-ready-for-riggs-muscles-dont-count-horse-did-the.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=September 21, 1973 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153909/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/21/archives/robyn-smith-is-ready-for-riggs-muscles-dont-count-horse-did-the.html |url-status=live }} While many Thoroughbred owners were reluctant to lend their horses to a female rider, Smith found an ally in Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr., the chairman of the New York Racing Association during her jockey career.{{cite news |last1=Cady |first1=Steve |title=A. G. Vanderbilt a Friend indeed to a Working Girl |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/23/archives/a-g-vanderbilt-a-friend-indeed-to-a-working-girl-a-g-vanderbilt-a.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 23, 1971}} Their business connection led to rumors of a romantic involvement between Vanderbilt and Smith.{{cite news |last1=Lilly |first1=Doris |title=Another Vanderbilt Break-up, and a Pretty Robyn Bobs Onto the Scene |url=https://people.com/archive/another-vanderbilt-break-up-and-a-pretty-robyn-bobs-onto-the-scene-vol-3-no-13/ |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=People Magazine |date=April 7, 1975 |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731194641/https://people.com/archive/another-vanderbilt-break-up-and-a-pretty-robyn-bobs-onto-the-scene-vol-3-no-13/ |url-status=live }}

Smith appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on July 31, 1972.{{cite magazine |last1=Deford |first1=Frank |title=Beauty and the Beast |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/07/31/beauty-and-the-beast |access-date=February 12, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=July 31, 1972 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124214550/https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/07/31/beauty-and-the-beast |url-status=live }} Shortly afterwards, it was announced that she would become the first female rider to be honored by the New York Turf Writers Association in Saratoga Springs, New York.{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Michael |title=Personalities: A First for Robyn Smith |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/12/archives/personalities-a-first-for-robyn-smith.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=August 12, 1972 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153907/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/12/archives/personalities-a-first-for-robyn-smith.html |url-status=live }} Retired textile executive Nathan Isaacs named a filly, Ramblin Robyn, after Smith, and she rode the horse to victory at Aqueduct in December 1973.{{cite news |last1=Cady |first1=Steve |title=Ramblin Robyn and Robin Smith a Rip-Roaring Combination |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/13/archives/ramblin-robyn-and-robyn-smith-a-riproaring-combination.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=December 13, 1973 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153909/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/13/archives/ramblin-robyn-and-robyn-smith-a-riproaring-combination.html |url-status=live }}

After starting her 1973 racing season with a spill atop Faithville Ruler at Santa Anita Park, {{cite news |last1=Hebert |first1=Bob |title=Robyn Escapes Injury in Spill |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 23, 1973 |page=E1}} on March 1, 1973, Smith became the first female jockey to win a stakes race, winning the $27,450 Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack on the back of North Sea.{{cite book |last1=Woolum |first1=Janet |title=Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports in America |date=1992 |publisher=Oryx Press |location=Phoenix |isbn=9781573561204 |page=29}} On October 3, 1975, Smith became the first female jockey to win three races in one afternoon at a major New York track. She turned three victories at Belmont Park, riding Lead Line, Slink, and Togs Drone.{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Michael |title=Robyn Smith Rides 3 Straight Winners |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/04/archives/robyn-smith-rides-3-straight-winners-3-winners-for-miss-smith.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 4, 1975 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153908/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/04/archives/robyn-smith-rides-3-straight-winners-3-winners-for-miss-smith.html |url-status=live }}

By 1978, Smith's career had largely come to a standstill, recording only one victory in 55 races, and struggling to find trainers.{{cite news |last1=Rosen |first1=Byron |title=Fallen Fortune Follows Robyn Smith Off Track |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 4, 1978}} Most of her income was provided by television endorsement deals.{{cite news |last1=Cady |first1=Steve |title=It's Easier in the Television Commercial |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/08/03/archives/its-easier-in-the-television-commercial-sports-of-the-times.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=August 3, 1978 |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153908/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/08/03/archives/its-easier-in-the-television-commercial-sports-of-the-times.html |url-status=live }} After a final ride at Saratoga on July 30, 1980,{{cite news |last1=Tuite |first1=James |title=Robyn Smith Dances to Different Music; Continuing Her Career Surprises at Saratoga |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/07/31/archives/robyn-smith-dances-to-different-music-continuing-her-career.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=July 31, 1980}} Smith announced her official retirement from the sport on August 9.{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Dale |title=Robyn Smith riding out career |work=The Sun |date=August 9, 1980 |page=B5}}

On January 1, 1973, a friend introduced Smith to Fred Astaire at Santa Anita.{{cite magazine |last1=Moss |first1=Deborah |title=Robyn Smith, Trailblazing Jockey July 31, 1972 |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/04/17/robyn-smith-trailblazing-jockey-july-31-1972 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 17, 2000 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124161554/https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/04/17/robyn-smith-trailblazing-jockey-july-31-1972 |url-status=live }} She went on to marry Astaire on June 24, 1980, at the Astaire home in Beverly Hills, California.{{cite book |last1=Levinson |first1=Peter |title=Puttin' On the Ritz: Fred Astaire and the Fine Art of Panache, A Biography |date=2009 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=9780312353667 |page=298}} At the time of their marriage, Astaire was 81 and Smith was 35.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-09-ca-6202-story.html|title=Astaire's Last Partner Copes With Life After Fred|last=Champlin|first=Charles|date=June 9, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 6, 2017|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=April 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407055154/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-09/entertainment/ca-6202_1_fred-astaire|url-status=live}} After Astaire's death in 1987, Smith became embroiled in a series of legal battles over the use of her late husband's image. Most notably, Smith prevented the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from using video footage of Astaire during its 1992 televised tribute to his longtime Hollywood collaborator Ginger Rogers.{{cite news |last1=Lacher |first1=Irene |title=Image control for Fred Astaire |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1997-08-21-1997233108-story.html |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 21, 1997}}{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Judy |title=The American Way . . . That's Litigation! : Want to show a clip from a Fred Astaire film? Better ask Robyn first |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-24-ca-49829-story.html |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 24, 1994}} In 1997, Smith agreed to a deal which resulted in commercials in which old footage was digitally altered such that Astaire appeared to dance with Dirt Devil brand mops and vacuum cleaners, over the objections of Astaire's daughter Ava.{{Cite web |last=Archerd |first=Army |date=1997-02-26 |title=Astaire won't deal with the Devil |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/astaire-won-t-deal-with-the-devil-1117863031/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In 1998, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Smith in a decision over whether an instructional videotape manufacturer could use public domain footage of Astaire in the films Second Chorus and Royal Wedding to teach dance steps.{{cite news |last1=Paller |first1=Rebecca |title=Astaire's Widow is a Loser in Legal Battle to Control His Image |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/astaires-widow-is-a-loser-in-legal-battle-to-control-his-image-com-73626 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=Playbill |date=February 24, 1998 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020235917/https://www.playbill.com/article/astaires-widow-is-a-loser-in-legal-battle-to-control-his-image-com-73626 |url-status=live }}

Following Astaire's 1987 death, Smith took up aviation, earning pilot certification in a series of airplanes and helicopters.{{cite news |last1=Schiff |first1=Barry |title=Pilots: Robyn Astaire |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2010/april/01/pilots-robyn-astaire |access-date=February 12, 2021 |work=AOPA.org |publisher=Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association |date=April 1, 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=People&searchType=J&eID=153443&rbt=TB#completeStats Career statistics from Equibase]

{{Fred Astaire}}

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Category:1944 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from San Francisco

Category:Jockeys from California

Category:American female jockeys

Category:American jockeys

Category:Fred Astaire

Category:Aviators from California