Sports Illustrated Studios, a division of Authentic Studios, and Spyglass Media Group (“Spyglass,”) a premier entertainment company, are partnering to produce a documentary on the life of Julie Krone, the most accomplished female jockey of all time and the only woman to ever win a Triple Crown race when she rode Colonial Affair to victory in the 1993 Belmont Stakes (G1). Larissa Bills, director/producer of Apple TV+’s The Super Models, is attached to direct and produce.
The documentary will highlight Krone’s groundbreaking racing accolades as she earned her place as the first woman elected to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., alongside her personal battles and triumphs.
“We are thrilled to bring Julie’s incredible story to audiences across the world,” said Colin Smeeton, President of Authentic Studios. “Her resilience, skill, and passion have left an indelible mark on the sport of horse racing and serve as an inspiration to athletes everywhere.”
Gary Barber, Chairman & CEO, Spyglass said, “Not only is Julie one of the greatest jockeys in horse racing, she also shattered expectations and broke down barriers for all women in Thoroughbred racing.” He added, “We are lucky to have Larissa at the helm, as a passionate horse enthusiast herself, to illuminate Julie’s story for the world. On a personal level, I feel fortunate to collaborate on this documentary, combining my love of film and Thoroughbred racing.”
Krone, who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated twice, is delighted to partner with Sports Illustrated Studios and Spyglass to tell her story in a full-circle moment. “And to have my story in the hands of such wonderful artists as Larissa Bills and Gary Barber is a dream come true,” Krone said. “I look forward to sharing their vision of my adventures in racing and my life-long love affair with horses.”
“I am honored to bring Julie’s story to the screen. Her courage and athleticism on the track was truly groundbreaking”, said director Larissa Bills. “I feel so much of her success was built on her sensitive and soulful relationship with these magnificent equine athletes. The documentary is a great opportunity to explore this dynamic and I’m grateful to Authentic Studios and Spyglass for recognizing Julie’s place in the pantheon of great sports stories.”
Born in 1963, five years before women were legally allowed to race Thoroughbreds, the only way for Krone to break into the male-dominated sport was to curse louder, fight harder, and ride faster than her competitors.
Julie would reach the pinnacle of the sport in 1993 when she became the first and still the only woman to win a Triple Crown race in the 125th running of Belmont Stakes. Later, she was awarded the ESPY as 1993 Female Athlete of the Year.
However, 1993 also would become the most difficult time in Julie’s career when she was thrown during a race and trampled by another horse. The extensive injuries would leave her fighting for her life, let alone a continuation of her singular career.
After nine months of painful rehabilitation, Krone returned to the saddle in 1994. Her career would continue for another decade, marked by more highlights aboard fast horses as well as physical and emotional challenges on the ground. In 2003, she became the first woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race on the championship day of Thoroughbred racing before another injury ended her career in 2004. Across her incredible career, Krone amassed more than 3,700 wins.
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