Riders gear up for Female Jockey Challenge, Lady Legends
for the Cure
Fillies and mares, both equine and human, will be in the spotlight for the
third consecutive year on Friday as The People’s Pink Party takes over Pimlico
Race Course.
A joint effort between Pimlico and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s
largest breast cancer organization, the annual springtime event was created in
2010 to help raise money and awareness in the fight against the disease.
Seventy-five percent of the funds raised will go to the Komen Maryland
Affiliate to use for community outreach programs in Maryland. The remaining 25
percent will go toward breast cancer research.
In addition to the Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan for three-year-old
fillies and Grade 3, $300,00 Pimlico Special, Friday’s 13-race card is
highlighted by the Lady Legends for the Cure III race, featuring an elite group
of eight retired female champion jockeys, and the second annual Female Jockey
Challenge, which brings together seven of the sport’s top active lady riders.
Carded as the 4TH race, the Legends race is a $45,000 allowance on the main
track at six furlongs that includes four also-eligibles. The 9-to-5 program
favorite is Bellagio, to be ridden by Mary Russ-Tortora, who finished eighth
last year.
The first female to win a Grade 1 stakes race, Russ-Tortora is one of six
Legends that return from the inaugural event, which was the first pari-mutuel
race featuring retired female riders. Profiled on NBC Sports, it was also filmed
as the climatic ending to the feature length documentary in production, JOCK,
chronicling the story of the first generation of lady jockeys.
Mary Wiley-Wagner, who rode Mass Destruction to a 6 1/2-length victory last
year, is back to defend her title. Married to Maryland Jockey Club starter Bruce
Wagner, she ranked among the country’s top five apprentice riders in 1983 and
briefly returned to competitive riding in 2010.
A breast cancer survivor, her win in 2011 came 18 months to the day after
finishing her final chemotherapy treatment. She ran fourth in 2010.
“I’m very excited,” Wiley-Wagner, 48, said. “I’m extremely competitive.
Having won it last year, the non-competitive side of me, if there is one, thinks
it would be very nice to see someone else win it. Then, the real me says, ‘Uh,
no.’
“I’m sure every other rider out there feels the same way. We root each other
on and say a prayer together before we go down to the paddock, but as soon as we
throw a leg over our horse, it’s each woman for herself. Ride safe, but
everybody’s out there to win.”
Also back are Patti “PJ” Cooksey, a breast cancer survivor and one of only
two women to ride in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness; Barbara Jo Rubin,
the first female to win a pari-mutuel race in the United States; Cheryl White,
the first African-American female rider; and Jennifer Rowland Small, the top
pioneer female rider in Maryland during the 1970s.
New to the competition this year are Jill Jellison, who ranks seventh among
female riders with 1,853 victories between 1982 and 2010, including a
career-high 241 in 1989; and Zoe Cadman, who won 311 races from 2000-04 and now
works as an analyst for HRTV.
“I’m more excited about it than I thought I would be,” Wiley-Wagner said. “I
kind of thought that maybe the third time, you know, it’s been done. I’m excited
that we’re going to have a couple of new riders; that’s going to be fun. It
looks like it’s going to be a really, really good race. I’m very excited.”
Wiley-Wagner is pleased with the way the event has grown, both for the
charity and the industry it represents.
“The first year I think no one really knew what to expect,” she said. “I
think a lot of us riders were concerned whether everyone was going to take it
seriously enough and really do what it takes to be fit enough. While we’re only
riding one race, you have to be pretty darn fit, and you have to keep in mind
that anything can happen out there. Everyone has stepped up to the plate each
year, and I think they are all looking forward to it as much as I am.
“Not only is it for a great cause, but I think it’s also great for racing. I
have so many friends and associates that came out the first year, people who had
never been to the races before. They came out to support me and the other
legends and some came out just for the cause, and they told me after the fact
that they had such a great time. Almost all of them came back last year and are
coming back again this year. It’s a great day and a great celebration of
Maryland racing and of what people can do when they pull together for a great
cause.”
The Female Jockey Challenge has been expanded for 2012. Rosie Napravnik, who
leads all female riders this year in wins and purses, and Emma-Jayne Wilson, the
Canadian-based defending champion, both return for Pimlico’s second annual
edition. They are joined by fellow returnees Forest Boyce and Vicky Baze, and
newcomers Rosemary Homeister, Tammi Piermarini and Greta Kuntzweiler.
The challenge was expanded from six to eight riders this year, but will be
without Abby Fuller, who dropped out following the death of her father, Peter
Fuller, on Monday. Peter Fuller bred and owned Mom’s Command, who Abby Fuller
rode to the New York filly Triple Crown in 1985.
In the challenge format, riders will earn points for finishing first (12
points), second (6), third (4) and fourth (3) in four designated races: the 2ND,
3RD, 5TH and 7TH. The jockey with the most points at the end of the competition
will be crowned champion and take home top prize of $10,000.
“This is the best female jockey challenge, not only that I’ve ever been in,
but probably one of the best female jockey challenges there’s ever been,”
Napravnik said. “They really have done a great job of picking out the elite
female riders in the country, which makes it more competitive. It’s fun to get
together with the girls that really have been successful, and it’s great to be
included in what they call the elite riders in the country.”
On May 4, the 24-year-old Napravnik became the first female rider in its
138-year history to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks when she guided Believe You
Can to a three-quarter length victory. Eight days later, she was the first woman
to ever win the 58-year-old Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont Park, aboard Mark
Valeski.
Runner-up to Julien Leparoux for the 2006 Eclipse Award as top apprentice
rider, Naparavnik tied Baze for fourth in last year’s challenge.
“I’ve been in a few of these jockey challenges before, and I seem to have the
worst luck,” Napravnik said, “but, I still like to do it. It’s really fun, and
I’m looking forward to being back.”
Participants from both the Challenge and the Lady Legends race will take part
in an autograph session on the first floor grandstand trackside starting at 10
a.m. (EST).