Patricia Cooksey

began in 1978 as a groom at Waterford Park. She quickly became an assistant trainer of a 30 horse stable, but aspired to become a jockey. On August 20, 1979, she rode in her first race aboard “Turf Advisor,” then quickly becoming the track’s leading jockey. In a riding career that has spanned parts of four decades, her phenomenal career provided many highlights and records. Cooksey became the second woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby May 5, 1984 aboard “So Vague” finishing 11th in a twenty-two horse field. She was racing’s all time leading female jockey with 1202 career wins

 

on Feb 28, 1988 and is only the second woman in racing history to win more than 2000 races. Cooksey was the first woman to ride in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the triple crown, finishing sixth aboard “Tajawa.” She was the first woman to win a $100,000.00 stakes race in California with “So Vague” in the 1983 Hollywood Prevue Stakes. She was also the first female jockey to win a stakes race at Churchill Downs with “Bestofbothworlds” in the 1986 Pocahontas Stakes and currently holds the record for most wins by a female jockey at Churchill. In September 2002, Cooksey was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame and in November of the same year

received the Vince Lombardi Symbol of Courage Award from Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Past recipients include seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. Fans, turf writers and jockeys selected Cooksey as the recipient of the 2004 Mike Venezia Memorial Award instituted by the New York Racing Assoc. to honor riders who “exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.” At the 2004 Breeders Cup, Cooksey was honored by the National Turf Writers Association with the “Mr. Fitz” Award for excellence in the thoroughbred industry. She retired from race riding on June 24, 2004 with 2,137 wins from 18,268 mounts,

second only to Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone. Cooksey worked in the Publicity Department at Churchill Downs and has served as commentator for NBC WAVE-3 TV since 1999 during the Breeders Cup, Kentucky Oaks, and Kentucky Derby broadcasts. She is a professional speaker and loves to share the excitement of thoroughbred racing. In September 2005 Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Cooksey Deputy Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority to promote the Kentucky horse industry in the commonwealth and nationally. On August 8, 2006 Cooksey was the recipient of the 2006 Tower Award for Women in Government presented by Presentation Academy of Louisville. Cooksey currently lives on a farm in Shelbyville with

husband John Neal and 14 year old daughter Chelsea.