Emma-Jayne Wilson made history on Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack by surpassing Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone for all-time purse earnings by a female jockey. Wilson, who was just $11,042 short of Krone’s $90,126,584 (USD) record, achieved this milestone with a thrilling victory aboard first-time starter Perfect Lady Bee, trained by Roger Attfield and owned by Charles Fipke.

“To break this record with a win for these connections is unbelievable,” said an emotional Wilson. “I’m trying to keep my emotions in check, but this means so much to me.”

Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, congratulated Wilson on becoming the highest-earning female jockey of all time. Julie Krone, the first woman inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2000, has long followed Wilson’s career. “I saw her ride and complimented her, and we ended up talking about our love for horses and the challenges she faced. She’s a great jockey, period,” said Krone.

Wilson, who received a special video message from Krone after her record win, reflected on Krone’s influence and the progress women have made in racing. “Julie has supported me from the start. She’s been messaging me non-stop about breaking the record, and it’s an honor to share this moment with her.”

Wilson, a multiple Grade 1-winning champion jockey, started her career in 2004 and quickly rose to prominence, becoming Woodbine’s leading rider in 2005 as an apprentice. She won both the Sovereign and Eclipse awards as Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2005 and repeated her success in 2006. In 2007, she became the first woman rider to win The Queen’s Plate aboard Mike Fox.

Wilson has raced internationally, including in Hong Kong in 2008 and leading the Girls’ Team to victory in the Shergar Cup at Ascot in 2015. A respected ambassador for the sport, she received the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 2018. Over her career, Wilson has amassed 1,903 wins, 129 stakes wins, and 39 graded stakes wins.

Following her record-breaking victory, Wilson was honored in a winner’s circle presentation with Michael Copeland and the connections of Perfect Lady Bee. Woodbine plans to celebrate Wilson’s accomplishment with a special event, details of which will be announced soon.