Belle W. Baruch
Belle Wilcox Baruch was an American equestrian, philanthropist, and the daughter of financier Bernard Baruch.
Biography
Belle Wilcox Baruch was born on August 16, 1899, the daughter of Annie and Bernard Baruch. Her paternal grandfather was Simon Baruch, a physician. Her uncle was Herman B. Baruch, also a physician.Baruch was a noted athlete who excelled as an equestrian, sailor and hunter. In 1930 and 1931, she was awarded the President of the Republic's Cup for winning the classic competition in the Paris horse show and, in the 1931 competition, she was the only one of 119 contestants to post a perfect score.
All told, she won more than 300 prizes in competitions in France and other countries.
When the U.S. embassy in France would not issue her a license to ride in international shows because she was a woman, she obtained one from the French. She was, however, unable to achieve her ambition of competing in the Olympics as women could not join the equestrian team before 1956.