In the News: ‘Can a woman win the Kentucky Derby?’

That’s the headline from a story in New York Times Magazine about Rosie Napravnik, a tough-as-nails New Jersey jockey who’ll be piloting Mylute at Churchill Downs in May.

Says the article:

“…At 25, she is one of the more provocative figures in racing, heckled at times by critics who don’t think she belongs on the track while being asked for her autograph by fans.”

Snarky “just a girl” comments don’t hold water against Rosie’s record: Last year she amassed more than $12.4 million in earnings, the eighth-best in North America, and finished in the top three in almost half the races she entered. This year, she ranks fifth in earnings and leads all jockeys in wins. She’s not just one of the best “girl” jockeys in the nation–she’s one of the best jockeys, period.

Here she is winning her 1,500th career race aboard Millennium Farms’ Ronda Michelle at Fair Grounds Race Course in March of this year:

And, icing on the cake, she just seems like a nice person who genuinely likes horses:

Read the full story here.

A big thanks to our friend Abbie for the tip.

Go Rosie, and Go Riding!