Jessica Pyfer (1998—) is a retired American jockey and the 2021 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice jockey. Pyfer was the third woman to win the award.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998 Denver, Colorado, US |
| Education | Azusa-Pacific College |
| Occupation(s) | Jockey, trick rider |
| Years active | 2020–2023 |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
| Weight | 110 lb (50 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Horse racing |
| Turned pro | 2020 |
| Retired | 2023 |
Riding career
editPyfer competed in her first riding event at age 4. At 16, she got her racetrack license and began galloping horses for Phil D'Amato and other trainers. After being asked by Hall-of-Fame trainer Richard Mandella to gallop some of his horses, she began her riding career.[1] She began riding races at Santa Anita in September of 2020 and won her first race on October 9, 2020.[2] She set a likely-record in Southern California as the first female apprentice rider to win four races in an afternoon on May 16, 2020 at Santa Anita.[3][4]
Pyfer won the 2021 Eclipse Award at age 23, leading all North American apprentices by mount earnings and finishing second in wins. She was the third woman to win the award and one of six Santa Anita-based riders to be named Champion Apprentice.[2][5] She rode 56 winners out of 535 mounts through the end of her apprentice allowance and earned $2,738,863.[3]
Pyfer retired from race riding in 2023 to take on a position as a full-time racing analyst with Santa Anita/XBTV.[6] Her career record was 88-89-106 from 819 mounts and $4,210,897 in purse earnings.[6]
Personal life
editPyfer's father Roger was a jockey. Her mother Sherri Alexander is an exercise rider who gallops horses for her husband, trainer Phil D'Amato.[2] She graduated from Azusa-Pacific College with a degree in political science.
References
edit- ^ Wesch, Hank (14 November 2020). "First Del Mar Victory By Apprentice Pyfer A Family Affair". Paulick Report. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Willman, Mike (13 February 2022). "JESSICA PYFER NAMED ECLIPSE CHAMPION APPRENTICE JOCKEY FOR 2021; A GRADUATE OF AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, SHE BECOMES THIRD WOMAN TO WIN AMERICA'S HIGHEST HONOR FOR FLEDGLING JOCKEYS". sporthorseworld.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b King, Byron (10 February 2022). "Pyfer Wins Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice". Bloodhorse. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Rollins, Molly (29 September 2023). "Jockey Pyfer Retires From Race Riding". Bloodhorse. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Harold, Luke (7 August 2023). "Jockey Jessica Pyfer featured as guest speaker at RSF Golf Club women's event". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b Staff, Paulick Report (30 September 2023). "Jockey Pyfer Announces Retirement To Become Racing Analyst". Paulick Report. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.