Rosie Napravnik Vying For First Derby Glory

Female Jockey Vying for First Ever Woman to Win Kentucky Derby

25-year-old Rosie Napravnik of New Jersey has succeed at professional horse racing beyond what most men have accomplished. She has won hundreds of victories while earning millions of dollars. However, one competition has eluded her: the Kentucky Derby. Napravnik hopes that 2013 will be her year. She is riding the horse “Mylute” which had 15-to-1 odds of winning at the outset of the derby on Friday. Currently, “Mylute” is ranked seventh in the competition and is technically still within reach of victory.

The horse has won the “Breeders Cup” twice. For her part, Napravnik still contends against gender-bias in this male dominated sport. When asked how she copes with owners and trainers who do not want a woman to ride for them, she replied that she only knows one way to respond to them: beating them on the track. Last year, Napravnik earned over $12 million and was a top-ten ranked jockey. Napravnik likely sees her success as opening the door for other women.

A victory at the Kentucky Derby would go a long way towards achieving gender-equality in this equestrian sport. The feisty jockey said she doesn’t look for confrontations but won’t back down if she’s challenged.

Napravnik said, “I’ve been riding horses since I can remember. It’s something that comes natural for me. I’ve been communicating with horses since I was a little girl, so it’s not intimidating. It’s just what I love to do. I have the best job in the world.”

“You know, she says, “it makes me feel great. It’s not something I really expected or set out to do in my career. I sort of have fallen upon this role of being a role model and it makes me feel great that I can inspire somebody.”

Mylute’s odds are now 15-1.
On The Web:

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/04/29/rosie-napravnik-hopes-to-become-first-female-jockey-to-win-the-kentucky-derby/ http://brokencontrollers.com/horse-racing-post-positions-for-2013-kentucky-derby-t80846071.php