Churchill to Honor Recently Retired Napravnik
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Recently retired jockey Rosie Napravnik, a two-time winner of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and only female rider to win the race in its 140-year history, will be honored for her career accomplishments in a special ceremony Nov. 15, at Churchill Downs.
Napravnik will be honored Saturday in the track's every day winner's circle after the day's sixth race, which has been dubbed "The Run for Rosie" in her honor. Post time for the sixth race is scheduled for 3:08 p.m. (all times EST). The first race post time for Saturday's 10-race program is set for 12:40 p.m.
The 26-year-old native of Mendham, N.J. made history at Churchill when she piloted Brereton C. Jones' homebred Believe You Can to win the 2012 running of the Kentucky Oaks, becoming the first woman to win the Oaks, restricte to 3-year-old fillies. She won the race again this year, piloting Winchell Thoroughbreds' Untapable to a commanding victory in its 140th running.
Saturday's ceremony will include a special 4-K Big Board video presentation of some of her most notable triumphs. Other special recognition for Napravnik and a presentation of gifts from the track are also scheduled.
Along with her success in the Kentucky Oaks, Napravnik is the all-time leader in stakes victories and career earnings by a female jockey at Churchill, and ranks third at the track in career wins by a woman. Her 95 career victories at Churchill Downs include 13 stakes, which eclipsed a record previously held by the retired Donna Barton Brothers.
Her mounts at the Louisville track earned $5,706,600, which shattered the record of $4,618,765 in earnings by horses ridden by Barton Brothers between1993-98. Only the retired Patricia "P.J." Cooksey, the track's leading female winner with 214 victories, and Barton Brothers (134), rank ahead of Napravnik in total victories by women at the track.
Napravnik had another record day at Churchill Downs May 25 when she guided five horses into the winner's circle. The five-win day was a record-setter for female jockeys and ranks third on the track's all-time list of single-day victories.