Patricia Cooksey

Career

In 1985 she became the first female jockey to ride in the Preakness Stakes, finishing 6th aboard Tajawa. In 2004, she became the first ever female jockey to be voted the NYRA"s Mike Venezia Memorial Award, an honor given annually to a jockey who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship. She is retired from racing and currently works for the Kentucky Racing Commission.

In 2006, she was a horse-back riding reporter for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network"s coverage of the 2006 Breeders" Cup.

Achievements

• She won her first race with Turf Advisor at Waterford Park (now Mountaineer Park) in 1979. A four-time Turfway Park leading rider, Cooksey has won 2,137 wins since beginning her career in 1979, and she was the all-time leading female jockey by number of victories before Julie Krone overtook her.