Cheryl White (jockey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheryl White |
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White in 1971
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| Occupation | Jockey, racetrack official |
| Born | October 29, 1953 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | September 20, 2019 (aged 65) Youngstown, Ohio |
| Career wins | 226 (Thoroughbred racing) |
| Honors | |
| Appaloosa Hall of Fame (2011) | |
Cheryl White (October 29, 1953 – September 20, 2019) was a very important person in horse racing. She made history as the first African American female jockey. She was also the first woman to work as a horse racing official, called a steward, in California.
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About Cheryl White
Starting Her Racing Journey
Cheryl White began her career as a jockey when she was 17 years old. She got her license to ride in June 1971 at Thistledown in Ohio. Her first race was on a horse named Ace Reward, where she finished 11th.
She quickly earned her first victory. On September 3, 1971, she rode a horse named Jetolara to win a race. This happened at Waterford Park, which is now called Mountaineer Park in West Virginia.
Cheryl's start in racing got a lot of attention. Newspapers across the country wrote about her first race. She even appeared on the cover of Jet Magazine in July 1971.
A Champion Jockey
Cheryl White had a very successful career. She won 226 races riding Thoroughbred horses. But she also raced other types of horses, like Quarter Horses and Appaloosas. She estimated that she won about 750 races in total!
She set many records for women in racing:
- In 1971, she was the first woman to win two races on the same day in two different states. She won at Thistledown and then at Waterford Park.
- On October 19, 1983, she became the first female jockey to win five races in one day. This amazing feat happened at Fresno Fair.
Cheryl was especially good at riding Appaloosa horses. She was the first woman to win the Appaloosa Horse Club's Jockey of the Year award. She won this award four times: in 1977, 1983, 1984, and 1985. Because of her great achievements, she was added to the Appaloosa Hall of Fame in 2011.
Life After Riding
In 1991, Cheryl White passed an important test to become a racing official. She stopped riding horses professionally in 1992. She then started a new role as a racing steward.
Even after retiring, she sometimes returned to the saddle. From 2010 to 2014, she rode in special races called "Lady Legends for the Cure." These events were held at Pimlico Race Course. Her very last race was in 2014, riding a horse named Macho Spaces at Pimlico.
Her Lasting Impact
Cheryl White was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She passed away on September 20, 2019, at the age of 65, in Youngstown, Ohio. Her brother, Raymond White Jr., spoke about her legacy. He said that Cheryl didn't always realize how important her achievements were. She just focused on doing her best. Her pioneering spirit opened doors for many who came after her in the world of horse racing.
