Homeister Jr. retires
Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. officially announced her
retirement from racing on Friday. The 32-year-old rider has
posted 1,726 career victories.
“I made the decision this summer to retire at the end of
the Tropical Park (at Calder) meet,” Homeister said. “Then
a lot of things started happening at one time and I started
thinking more about my future. I want to start a family.”
Homeister followed in the footsteps of her mother, who was a
jockey for a time before turning to train horses, and took out
her first jockey’s license in 1992. She accomplished many firsts
for female jockeys, being the only one to win an Eclipse award,
doing so in 1992 for leading apprentice. Homeister was also the
first female to be leading rider at Hialeah Park (2001) and is
the first to ride, and win, the Clásico del Caribe at El
Comandante Race Track in Puerto Rico (2001).
Last year, Homeister, who is married to jockey Jose Ferrer,
realized her dream of riding in the Kentucky Derby (G1) when she
piloted Supah Blitz (Mecke) in the classic event.
“Nothing can top the experience of going to the Derby –
that week was the best experience of my racing career,” she
said. “It’s the highest race in history and after having
gotten to go through that, it makes it a little easier to leave (racing).”
Homeister underwent a couple of spills a month ago and has
already set herself up in business as a real estate agent.