Born Wantha Lorena Bangs near Liberal, Kansas, she married horse breeder Lendol Davis. After graduating from high school, Bangs rode a freight train to Texas, where she found work in the stables at a thoroughbred racetrack. A year later she was back in Kansas, where she began her career as a jockey. Competing in a male-dominated sport, over the next twenty-plus years Davis won more than one thousand races at a time when women were refused licensing.
Her success was such that many major sports writers considered her to be among the top jockeys in the United States. In 1949, she defeated the great Johnny Longden in an exhibition match race at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico, prompting Longden to immediately demand a rematch.[1] A few months later, on April 30, 1950, Davis followed up with a similar match race victory over another future National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey, Jack Westrope.
She died peacefully on September 18, 2012, surrounded by her family.[2][3]
References
^"Longden Beaten by Woman Rider In Match Race at Agua Caliente; Johnny Issues Challenge for Return Meeting With Wantha Davis After His Mount Is Carried Wide in Betless Event". The New York Times. 19 December 1949. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
^"Q-Racing: Wantha Davis Dies". Aqha.com. 1917-01-03. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
^"Wantha Lorena Davis Obituary: View Wantha Davis's Obituary by Austin American-Statesman". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
External links
Wantha Davis website
Wantha Davis at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
This American horse racing biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
wantha, davis, january, 1917, september, 2012, american, female, jockey, thoroughbred, horse, racing, born, wantha, lorena, bangs, near, liberal, kansas, married, horse, breeder, lendol, davis, after, graduating, from, high, school, bangs, rode, freight, train. Wantha Davis January 3 1917 September 18 2012 was an American female jockey in thoroughbred horse racing Born Wantha Lorena Bangs near Liberal Kansas she married horse breeder Lendol Davis After graduating from high school Bangs rode a freight train to Texas where she found work in the stables at a thoroughbred racetrack A year later she was back in Kansas where she began her career as a jockey Competing in a male dominated sport over the next twenty plus years Davis won more than one thousand races at a time when women were refused licensing Her success was such that many major sports writers considered her to be among the top jockeys in the United States In 1949 she defeated the great Johnny Longden in an exhibition match race at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana Mexico prompting Longden to immediately demand a rematch 1 A few months later on April 30 1950 Davis followed up with a similar match race victory over another future National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey Jack Westrope In 2004 Davis was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth Texas She died peacefully on September 18 2012 surrounded by her family 2 3 References Edit Longden Beaten by Woman Rider In Match Race at Agua Caliente Johnny Issues Challenge for Return Meeting With Wantha Davis After His Mount Is Carried Wide in Betless Event The New York Times 19 December 1949 Retrieved 28 January 2021 Q Racing Wantha Davis Dies Aqha com 1917 01 03 Retrieved 2013 05 23 Wantha Lorena Davis Obituary View Wantha Davis s Obituary by Austin American Statesman Legacy com Retrieved 2013 05 23 External links EditWantha Davis website Wantha Davis at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame This American horse racing biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wantha Davis amp oldid 1058885076, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
