Mary Russ-Tortora retired as a professional jockey in 1994, and even though she had ridden in the "Lady Legends for the Cure" the past three years, she was extremely nervous in the starting gate for the race at Pimlico.
Chantal Sutherland knows all about the historical barriers she will shatter when Bob Baffert gives her a leg up on Game On Dude in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
Pimlico Race Course and the Maryland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will again partner to raise funds to aid awareness and research to take place on Black-Eyed Susan Day, Friday, May 20.
Hayley Turner, who became the first female jockey to ride 100 winners in a year in Britain on Dec. 30, wants to ride better quality horses in higher-profile races during 2009.
A feature-length documentary about female jockeys is in production and targeted to launch in 2009, the California-based Innerview Entertainment announced Feb. 28.
Jill Jellison booted home Bobby Raymond's Halo Skywalker in the third race at Tampa Bay Downs March 4 to win her 1,770th career race and become the third all-time leading female jockey.
For the second consecutive year, Turfway Park will showcase female jockeys in the "Luv Me Luv Me Not" race on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. The program at the Kentucky track will be dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer, and proceeds from all paid admissions will go to the Greater Cincinnati affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Turfway Park regular Jodie Fortner guided Ocean Isle to victory along the rail to win Wednesday's Luv Me Luv Me Not allowance, the Valentine's Day feature restricted tofonly female jockeys. Patricia Cooksey, once the nation's all-time leading female rider by wins, finished second aboard White Hot. Kris Prather, Turfway's leading rider this meet who recently won with a record six horses on one card, was third with Dare About.
Wednesday night's eighth race at Turfway Park has been designated for women jockeys only, with the meet's leading rider, Kris Prather, heading up a list of nine females named on 3-year-old maiden fillies set to go 1 1/16 miles. For that race and other races won by a female jockey on the Valentine's Day program, Turfway is donating $500 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
