Horse racing has remained a male-dominated sport since it first began, despite women playing an active role in many different elements. However, women make up only a very small percentage of jockeys working in the sport today which is quite a disappointing figure, considering women are just as capable of possessing the skills to be a great jockey.
Yet less female jockeys isn’t always a bad thing. In this instance, this allows us to shine a light on the sheer talent, dedication, and note-worthy achievements of some of horse racing’s greatest female jockeys (so far).
Whatever type of interest you have in horse racing, whether that’s betting on tvg carryover pools or simply observing the sport itself, it’s good to educate yourself about key figures in the history of the sport.
Here are the top 5 jockeys of all time for you to take a look at.
Born in 1963, Julie Krone followed in her mother’s footsteps and grew up showing horses. Krone went on to become one of the most successful American horse racers that the sport has ever seen. She is also renowned as the best female jockey in the history of the US which is quite an accomplishment!
Julie Krone made her professional debut on January 30, 1981, at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida. She won her first race only a month later and continued to achieve impressive success for the remainder of her career, winning notable races including the Belmont Stakes, and those at Monmouth Park, Atlantic City Race Course, and Gulfstream Park.
Krone boasts an incredible total of 3,700 wins and has amassed a staggering total of over $90 million in earnings throughout her career. It’s easy to see why she was such a popular choice with bettors!
Julie Krone was also the first female jockey to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Born in 1983, Hayley Turner is considered to be the most successful female jockey in the UK in flat racing with over 1,500 wins. Many experts have said that Turner remains one of the greatest and most powerful female jockeys of all time!
Turner made her professional debut in 2000 and saw lots of success from the get-go. She has managed to secure major wins like the Nunthorpe Stakes and July Cup during her career and as of 2008 also holds the record as the first woman to win 100 UK flat races in a single year!
Hayley Turner has had a fruitful career that has seen her race in different countries including the UK, Italy, the United States, France, and Germany. After a brief retirement in 2015, she returned to the sport in 2018 and has competed ever since.
In 2016, Turner was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to horse racing.
Napravnik was born in 1988 in New Jersey and began riding horses at a young age. She managed to compete in her first pony race aged just seven and continued to compete in eventing and pony racing for years after.
Inspired by the stellar achievements of Julie Krone, Rosie Napravnik is a world-renowned Thoroughbred jockey with an array of impressive titles under her belt. Over the years Napravnik managed to achieve 1,877 wins and even racked up earnings totaling over $70 million!
Some of her most prominent race wins include the 2012 and 2014 Kentucky Oaks and the 2011 Louisiana Derby. Napravnik is also the only female jockey to have competed in the three Triple Crown races!
Despite retiring in 2014 after announcing her pregnancy, Rosie Napravnik continues to assist her husband with training racehorses and has even competed in some events with an off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB). She has yet to return to competitive racing.
Born in 1985, Michelle Payne was born the youngest of ten children and grew up on a farm. Inspired by her ambition to make something of herself, Payne followed in her siblings’ footsteps in becoming a jockey – and went on to become one of the best female jockeys that the world has ever seen.
Payne competed in her first professional race at age 15 and quickly went on to win her first race at Ballarat. She suffered a serious fall aged 18 but was quick to recover and proceed with her racing career.
As of 2015, Payne holds the title of being the first (and only) female horse racer to win the Melbourne Cup. She managed to win with 100-1 odds and has continued to win over 700 starts so far in her career.
More notable achievements include an induction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021.
Irish National Hunt jockey Nina Carberry was born in 1984. As the daughter of legendary jockey Thomas Carberry, Nina grew up with deep roots in the horse racing industry.
Her father went on to play a significant role in the shaping of Nina’s passion, career, and technique for horse racing, but it was her determination that ensured she’d be destined for success.
Nina achieved 417 wins throughout her career with some incredible titles. Notably, she won the 2011 Irish Grand National and was the second female rider to do so. During this year, she was also crowned Sportswoman of the Year by The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council for her exceptional performance.
Nina Carberry also saw lots of success at the Cheltenham Festival, amassing seven impressive wins — becoming the most successful female rider in the history of the festival. She later retired from horse racing in 2018.
These are the top five female jockeys of all time that you must know about. From their record-breaking achievements to demonstrations of sheer determination on the track, these women are powerful figures who have all left a permanent mark on the horse racing industry.
