13 Facts About Robyn Smith

Robyn Smith Astaire was born on August 14,1944 and is an American retired jockey.

Active from 1969 to 1980, Smith accumulated 247 wins in California and New York race tracks, and became the first female jockey to win a stakes race in 1973.

Robyn Smith is largely evasive about the details of her early life.

Robyn Smith 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.

The decision of whether or not to award her the license was dependent upon Al Shelhamer, who had not seen Robyn Smith ride in person and would have to consult film of her first two Golden Gate races.

Robyn Smith's 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.

The next year, Robyn Smith secured her first New York victory atop Hill Cloud at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.

Robyn Smith appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on July 31,1972.

On October 3,1975, Robyn Smith became the first female jockey to win three races in one afternoon at a major New York track.

Robyn Smith turned three victories at Belmont Park, riding Lead Line, Slink, and Togs Drone.

On January 1,1973, a friend introduced Robyn Smith to Fred Astaire at Santa Anita.

Robyn Smith went on to marry Astaire on June 24,1980, at the Astaire home in Beverly Hills, California.

In 1997, Robyn 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.