Kelly, Pearl (1894–1983)

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Kelly, Pearl (1894–1983)

Australian harness driver . Born Pearl O'Brien at Koo-wee-rup, Victoria, in 1894; died in 1983; married Charles Kelly.

Pearl Kelly was a pioneer in the esoteric sport of harness racing, riding and driving harness horses from the age of 16. During the First World War, she married and moved to Melbourne where she continued her unusual career. During the early 1920s, in addition to her own horses, she drove for leading trainer Percy Shipp and finished third on the Melbourne Drivers' Premiership. Despite her talent and success, Kelly had a running feud with the Victorian Trotting and Racing Association who declared the sport unsafe and banned the issuance of driving permits to females in the late '20s. Kelly was forced to give up driving, but continued to train horses until 1961. By the time of her death in 1983, the attitudes of the 1920s had been reversed and a new generation of women was free to pursue the sport.

Barbara Morgan , Melrose, Massachusetts

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