Certain female jockeys are perpetually recognized for their pioneering achievements. Diane Crump holds the distinction of being the initial woman to compete in both an officially sanctioned race and the Kentucky Derby. Julie Krone made history as the inaugural female rider to triumph in a Triple Crown event, piloting Colonial Affair to win the 1993 Belmont Stakes. Rosie Napravnik was the first woman to claim victory in the Kentucky Oaks, achieving this feat in 2012 aboard Believe You Can.
However, concerning an Eclipse Award, who holds the distinction of being the premier female recipient?
This question might pose a challenge, unless one consistently followed the Florida racing scene over three decades prior. In that case, observing her consistent, skilled victories and equally adept riding among her peers would likely lead to the correct inference.
In 1992, Rosemary Homeister Jr. marked a milestone for female jockeys by earning the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice.
This pioneering accolade marked the commencement of a highly prosperous riding profession from 1992 to 2015, during which she secured 2,784 victories, often acknowledging television cameras with a kiss post-race. Throughout this period, she garnered admiration as a jockey possessing the ideal blend of proficiency, innate ability, and resolve required to excel on one of North America’s most prominent and demanding circuits.
Born in Hollywood, Florida, on July 5, 1972, Homeister’s path seemed set for a career as a jockey. Her father, James Homeister, was a jockey with over 500 wins, and her mother, Rosemary Homeister Sr., participated in 29 races between 1977 and 1981, achieving her singular victory aboard Winning News at Calder Race Course on January 7, 1978.
Drawing inspiration from her mother, Homeister started working with horses, exercising and breaking them during her teenage years.
Commencing her apprentice riding career at Calder Race Course in 1992, she quickly found considerable success. That year, she secured 172 wins and amassed $1,769,063 in prize money, also claiming the riding championship at the Tropical at Calder meeting. Her performances garnered sufficient national recognition to earn her an Eclipse Award by popular vote.
Her initial summer as an apprentice was spent at Monmouth Park, where she excelled as the leading apprentice jockey for her first two years at that New Jersey track.
Following her remarkable entry in 1992, Homeister achieved 100 or more victories in ten out of the subsequent eleven years. Beyond her consistent wins, her career included over 100 stakes victories, with thirteen of those being graded stakes.
Notable among these prestigious victories were successes in the 2002 Grade 2 Davona Dale riding Ms Brookski, the 2002 Grade 2 La Prevoyante with New Economy, and the 2009 Grade 2 William L. McKnight aboard Cloudy’s Knight.
During 2000-2001, she outpaced all other female jockeys in terms of wins, and in 2001, she achieved the unique feat of being the sole female jockey to secure the riding championship at Hialeah Park.
Her career reached a high point in 2003 when she was assigned to ride Supah Blitz in the Kentucky Derby. Despite Supah Blitz placing 13th behind Funny Cide, Homeister relished the distinction of being only the fifth woman to compete in the prestigious “run for the roses” (Rosie Napravnik joined as the sixth in 2011).
Homeister paused her professional career in 2011 upon announcing her pregnancy, subsequently giving birth to her daughter, Victoria Rose, at 39 years old.
Upon her comeback in 2012, she experienced one of her most successful years, achieving 125 race wins and accumulating $3,280,647 in prize money.
Homeister reduced her racing frequency over the subsequent years, eventually retiring in 2015. However, prior to concluding her career, she secured a final graded stakes victory, triumphing in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park while riding Include Betty.
Her professional journey concluded on September 26, 2015, after she guided Spark Kit to a second-place finish in the eighth race at Arlington Park, a somewhat paradoxical culmination for a distinguished career by a woman meriting recognition for a groundbreaking achievement.
Information: This article initially appeared in February 2018 and has since been revised.
Fun Facts About Rosemary Homeister Jr.
- She adopted the designation Rosemary Homeister Jr. to prevent mix-ups with her mother, who also rode horses professionally and shared identical first and middle names.
- She made history in 2001 as the initial woman to conquer the Clasico del Caribe.
- Her additional stakes successes included the Princess Rooney, Calder Derby, My Charmer, Kentucky Cup Turf, and Florida Oaks.
- She was honored with the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award in 2003.
- Emma-Jayne Wilson became the second female recipient of the Eclipse Award for leading apprentice rider in 2005, following Homeister’s precedent.
