Emma-Jayne Wilson, First Female Jockey to Win Queen’s Plate

Posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

TORONTO (AP) — Emma-Jayne Wilson became the first female jockey to win the Queen’s Plate when she rode 15-1 longshot Mike Fox to victory Sunday in the first leg of the Canadian triple crown at Woodbine Racetrack.

Wilson made her move after the turn, zipping between first Alezzandro and then 6-5 favorite Jiggs Coz to win by half a length.

“History is made. Reading some articles leading into this I read how I wasn’t on the best horse and things like that,” Wilson said. “As far as I was concerned I was very much on the best horse and he proved that today. I’m just so happy that we can say that. First female rider. Girl power, go for it.”

Wilson won the 148th running of the Queen’s Plate for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds a year after Josie Carroll became the first female trainer to win it, with Edenwold. Mike Fox captured the 1-mile race in 2:05 4/5. Alezzandro was second, a length ahead of third-place finisher Jiggs Coz.

The previous best Plate finish by a female jockey was Francine Villeneuve’s second aboard Wilderness Song in 1991.

In 2005, Wilson won 175 races and earned more than $6.9 million in purses en route to being named North America’s top apprentice rider. The following year she led all Woodbine riders with 144 wins and finished second in earnings with more than $6.5 million to again be named Canada’s top apprentice.

“To be honest, the first day I got to ride my first race was glory for me,” Wilson said. “I was happy to ride five races and finish last in all of them.

“As far as I was concerned my dreams had come true, I was a jock. This is different in that you go big or you go home. This is the beginning of going big as far as I’m concerned.”

Mike Fox returned a mutuel of $32.40, $13.10 and $5 for a bet of $2 Canadian. Alezzandro returned $16.30 and $5.60. Jiggs Coz paid $2.40.

Leonnatus Anteas was scratched due to a foot infection, leaving the field at eight horses, the smallest for the Queen’s Plate in 30 years.

Tags: Emma Jayne Wilson, Queen’s Plate, Woodbine Race Track,

"Emma-Jayne Wilson, First Female Jockey to Win Queen’s Plate" was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 at 9:15 am and is filed under Canada Horse Racing, Horses, Jockeys, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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