Born: 1972
EXCERPT: Rosemary Homeister Jr. is a retired American jockey who made history as the first woman to win the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 1992. She achieved great success in the sport, winning over 2,000 races and becoming the leading female jockey in the United States in 2000 and 2001. Homeister also made history as the first and only female jockey to win the prestigious Clásico del Caribe in 2001. Despite facing personal challenges, she continued to display resilience and passion for racing. Homeister retired in 2015, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in women’s history in horse racing.
Biography:
Rosemary Homeister Jr. (born July 5, 1972) is a retired American jockey in Thoroughbred racing. Both of Homeister’s parents were jockeys, and she grew up with a passion for horses. Her mother is now a horse trainer at the Calder Race Course, where Rosemary won her first race as an apprentice jockey.
In 1991, Homeister briefly attended Broward Community College but left to pursue a career in racing. She started her career by working with horses as an exercise rider and breaking yearlings, and in 1992, she began her riding apprenticeship. That year, Homeister made history by becoming the first woman to win the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in the United States. Originally the runner-up, she was awarded the title after the winner, Jesus Armando Bracho from Venezuela, was suspended and surrendered his award for falsifying his racing papers.
Homeister’s talent and determination propelled her to achieve great success in the sport. She has won over 2,000 races at tracks in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to New York. In 2000 and 2001, she was the leading female jockey in the United States in terms of wins.
One of Homeister’s notable achievements came in 2001 when she became the first and only female jockey to win the Clásico del Caribe, a prestigious equestrian event in Panama. Riding the Panamanian filly Alexia, she competed against male riders and horses and emerged victorious.
In 2003, Homeister made history once again by becoming only the fifth woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Although she finished 13th aboard Supah Blitz in a race won by Funny Cide, her participation in the renowned event was a significant milestone for women in horse racing.
After thirteen years of competition, Homeister retired from racing in November 2004. Throughout her career, she won a total of 1,726 races from 12,907 starts. However, her love for the sport and the horses drew her back, and she returned to racing in June 2006. In September of that year, she was inducted into the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame, further solidifying her status as one of the sport’s legends.
Off the track, Homeister faced personal challenges. She divorced jockey José Ferrer in December 2006. The couple had been married for several years but decided to part ways. Despite these difficulties, Homeister continued to display resilience and passion for racing.
On December 18, 2008, Homeister achieved a significant milestone by winning her 2,000th race at Tampa Bay Downs. This accomplishment further cemented her place as one of the most successful and respected female jockeys in the history of horse racing.
In February 2011, Homeister announced that she was pregnant and would take an indefinite break from riding. After a hiatus, she returned to race riding in 2012 and rode the filly Include Betty in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks.
Rosemary Homeister retired from racing on September 28, 2015, marking the end of an incredible career that spanned over two decades. Her contributions to women’s history in horse racing are immeasurable, serving as an inspiration for aspiring female jockeys and breaking down barriers along the way.
Awards:
– 1992 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
– First female jockey to win the Clásico del Caribe
– Leading Apprentice Jockey at Monmouth Park in 1992-1993
– Winner of 102 Stakes races, including four Grade 2s