In 1971, Kathy Kusner broke through as the first woman to ride the Maryland Hunt Cup. Eight years later, came Toinette Neilson (then Jackson), then Joy Slater (a winner in 1980 and 1981), then Liz McKnight (in 1986). We talked to Neilson, Slater and McKnight about what it was like.

We're talking Maryland Hunt Cup history with two of the best to ever win the great timber race, former jockeys Buzz Hannum and Paddy Neilson. Hannum won it twice on Morning Mac and once on the great Fort Devon. Neilson's success spanned decades with wins aboard Haffaday in 1968, Burnmac in 1974...