Mary Russ

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Mary L. Russ (born c. 1953 in Tampa, Florida) is a retired jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. She is a trailblazer for women in the sport. In 1982, she became the first female jockey in North America to win a Grade 1 race when she rode Lord Darnley to victory in the Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park. That year she also won the New York City Big Apple OTB Handicap and the Albany Stakes on Majestic Cat, part of the Big Apple Triple. She was the first woman to earn more than $1 million in purse money in a single season.

Her career includes many other big wins, such as the Sunny Isle Handicap (1982), Gulfstream Park Handicap (1982), Criterium Stakes (1983), Appleton Handicap (1985), Phoenix Stakes (1985), Brave Raj Stakes (1993), Calder Derby (1993), Carry Back Stakes (1993), Dr. Fager Stakes (1993), and Memorial Day Handicap (1993). She earned Tropical Park Champion Jockey honors in 1982 and 1992. In 2003 she was inducted into the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame. She is married to Rick Tortora, son of trainer Manny Tortora. Notable horses she rode include Lord Darnley, Majestic Kat, and Smart and Sharp.