Winning Ponies

Patricia (also known as Patti or P.J.) Joen Cooksey (born February 25, 1958 in Youngstown, Ohio) is an American horse racing jockey. She first won with Turf Advisor at Waterford Park (now Mountaineer Park) in 1979. She is a four-time Turfway Park leading rider. Cooksey has won 2,137 wins since beginning her career in 1979. She was the all-time leading female jockey by number of victories before Julie Krone overtook her. In 2004, she became the first ever female jockey to be voted the NYRA's Mike Venezia Memorial Award, an honor given annually to a jockey who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship. Patricia now lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her daughter, Chelsea Neal. She is retired from racing and currently works for the Kentucky Racing Commission. In 2006, she was a horse-back riding reporter for ESPN's coverage of the 2006 Breeders Cup. Our host will also go over the 141st running of the Travers Stakes to be run this Saturday, August 28, at Saratoga. Dating back to 1864, this one-and