Jessica Pyfer, the 2021 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey, has retired from race riding to pursue a position as a racing analyst with XBTV/Santa Anita Park.
Pyfer, 24, made the announcement Sept. 28 on the media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“After an amazing three years as a Jockey, I am officially transitioning my career and have accepted a full-time position with XBTV/Santa Anita Park as a Racing Analyst and couldn’t be more excited to continue working in this role. I am so thankful for the times I have had in the winner circle and the lessons that I have learned while riding for the best,” Pyfer wrote.
After an amazing three years as a Jockey, I am officially transitioning my career and have accepted a full time position with XBTV/Santa Anita Park as a Racing Analyst and couldn’t be more excited to continue working in this role. I am so thankful for the times I have had in the pic.twitter.com/MtjXXXkFRF
— Jessica Pyfer (@jockeyjess) September 28, 2023
The stepdaughter of leading California trainer Phil D’Amato, began riding in the fall of 2020 and rode as an apprentice until last November. She was winless from 10 starts this year.
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Pyfer made history in 2021, becoming only the third female to be named as champion apprentice jockey following Rosemary Homeister Jr. in 1992 and and Emma-Jayne Wilson in 2005. That year, she led all North American apprentice jockeys by earnings and was ranked second by wins. Riding mainly on the Southern California circuit, she finished sixth in the standings during the 2021 Santa Anita Park winter/spring meet.
One of her greatest race-riding feats occurred on May 16, 2021, when Pyfer became the first female apprentice jockey in Southern California to win four races in a single day.
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