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5 unusual facts about Penny Ann Early


Kentucky Colonels

They were equally famous for publicity stunts, their most famous coming in 1968 when Penny Ann Early, the first licensed female horse racing jockey, was signed to appear in an ABA game (albeit for a few seconds).

During this season the Colonels fielded the first ever female professional basketball player when jockey Penny Ann Early joined the team for pregame warmups and appeared briefly during a game.

Mike Manganello

Citing safety concerns, in 1968 Manganello was part of a group of jockeys competing at Churchill Downs who signed an informal agreement declaring that they would not compete against Penny Ann Early who was trying to become the first female jockey to ride in a race at a major racetrack in the United States.

Penny Ann Early

Management, including Colonels owners Joseph and Mamie Gregory, ordered coach Gene Rhodes to play Early in a game.

In the Kentucky backcourt she took the ball out of bounds and inbounded it to teammate Bobby Rascoe.



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