Robyn Smith was born Melody Dawn Miller on August 14, 1944. Her biological father deserted her and her mother at her birth. Her mother was 17 when she was born. Melody's mother was declared mentally unstable and Melody was placed in a foster home. She was adopted and renamed Caroline Smith.

Smith became a jockey in 1969, winning the Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct in 1973 riding North Sea. She became the first woman to win a major race in the USA. At 5' 7", she was taller and heavier than most jockeys. She retired from racing in 1980. That same year, she married actor Fred Astaire. She was 45 years his junior. She remained married to Astaire until his death in 1987.

Fred Astaire (born May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and television presenter. He is widely regarded as the most influential dancer in the history of film.

His stage and subsequent film and television careers spanned a total of 76 years, during which he starred in more than 10 Broadway and London musicals, made 31 musical films, 4 television specials, and issued numerous recordings. As a dancer, he is best remembered for his uncanny sense of rhythm, his perfectionism, his innovation, and as the dancing partner and on-screen romantic interest of Ginger Rogers, with whom he co-starred in a series of ten Hollywood musicals.

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