Who Is Rosie Napravnik? Age, Biography and Wiki
Rosie Napravnik was born on February 9, 1988, making her 37 years old in 2025. She is well-regarded in the world of horse racing and is celebrated for breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport. Rosie began her career as a jockey at a young age and gained notoriety for her skills, determination, and incredible work ethic. Her passion for racing has not only brought her numerous victories but has also inspired many young female athletes in equestrian sports.
| Occupation | Sports |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 9, 1988 |
| Age | 37 Years |
| Birth Place | Mendham, New Jersey, US |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Jersey |
Popularity
Rosie Napravnik's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Rosie stands at an impressive height of 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) and maintains a weight of about 110 pounds (50 kg). Her petite frame is well-suited for the demands of horse racing, where weight is often a crucial factor for jockeys. While specific body measurements are not widely published, her athletic build reflects years of rigorous training and competition.
Napravnik began 2011 with a win in the Louisiana Derby, riding Pants on Fire, becoming the first woman to win that race. When she was named the leading rider at that track in 2011, with 110 wins, she was also the first woman rider to win the title. She then became only the sixth woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby.
riding Pants on Fire to a 9th place finish, the best placing for a woman rider in the history of the Derby to that date. She also was second in the 2011 Kentucky Oaks, riding a longshot filly named St. John's River. In July of that year, Napravnik fractured her arm again when the horse she was riding broke down on the track and fell.
This time the fracture was just above the plate in her wrist that had repaired her first break, an injury that required a three-hour surgery and replacement of the wrist plate with a larger one.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Rosie Napravnik is married to fellow jockey Joe Talamo, who she wed in 2011. The couple shares a deep bond, both personally and professionally, and they often support each other in their racing endeavors. Rosie and Joe have children together, further solidifying their family ties in an industry they both love. This family dynamic showcases the integration of their personal and professional lives, creating a strong support system.
A native of New Jersey, she and her horse trainer husband, Joe Sharp, have homes in Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the leading rider at the Fair Grounds Race Course every year from 2011 through 2014 and leading rider at Keeneland Race Course in 2013 and 2014.
After her win in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Napravnik announced she was seven weeks pregnant and taking a "retirement" of "indefinite" duration from race riding following the 2014 Breeders' Cup. She continues to assist Sharp in training race horses, including 2017 Kentucky Derby contender Girvin.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Rosie Napravnik's estimated net worth is around $2 million, primarily accumulated from her successful career as a jockey, endorsements, and various business ventures. Her annual earnings fluctuate based on race winnings, but it is reported that she earns anywhere between $200,000 to $500,000 per year depending on her performance in major racing events. Rosie's earnings rank her among the top earners in her field, reflecting her skill and popularity.
Anna Rose "Rosie" Napravnik (born February 9, 1988) is a former American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and two-time winner of the Kentucky Oaks. Beginning her career in 2005, she was regularly ranked among the top jockeys in North America in both earnings and total races won.
By 2014 she had been in the top 10 by earnings three years in a row and was the highest-ranked woman jockey in North America. In 2011, she won the Louisiana Derby for her first time and was ninth in the 2011 Kentucky Derby with the horse Pants on Fire.
In 2012 she broke the total wins and earnings record for a woman jockey previously held by Julie Krone, and became the first woman rider to win the Kentucky Oaks, riding Believe You Can. She won the Oaks for a second time in 2014 on Untapable.
She is only the second woman jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race and the first to win more than one, having won the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Shanghai Bobby and the 2014 Breeders' Cup Distaff on Untapable.
Napravnik's fifth-place finish in the 2013 Kentucky Derby and third in the 2013 Preakness Stakes on Mylute are the best finishes for a woman jockey in those two Triple Crown races to date, and she is the only woman to have ridden in all three Triple Crown races.
Career, Business and Investments
Rosie's journey in horse racing began in her childhood and quickly escalated once she realized her talent on the racetrack. Over the years, she has won multiple prestigious races, including the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup. Beyond racing, Rosie has ventured into training and has been involved in various philanthropic efforts aimed at supporting young riders. She has also invested in equestrian-related businesses, contributing to her financial success and influence within the industry.
In early adolescence, Napravnik, along with her sister, went to work for trainers Lilith Boucher, Bruce Miller and Jack Fisher. By age 13, she worked for steeplechase trainer Jonathan Sheppard. At 15, she decided to take a year off from employment in the horse industry to spend time with friends and to be an ordinary teen.
But at 16, Napravnik went to live with her sister at the farm of trainer Holly Robinson in Maryland, and Robinson sent her to work for trainer Richard "Dickie" Small. Small had a good reputation for mentoring young riders and had helped several other women jockeys get started in their careers. Napravnik began exercising Small's race horses in 2004.
That year, she attended both Hereford High School and night school, but left school before her senior year to begin racing as a professional jockey. She later passed her high school equivalency GED test.
Social Network
Rosie Napravnik is active on social media platforms, primarily engaging with fans and fellow enthusiasts through Instagram and Twitter. With thousands of followers, she shares glimpses of her life as a jockey, training routines, and family moments, providing an authentic look into her world. Her social media presence helps promote the sport and connects her with a broader audience, reinforcing her status as a role model for aspiring female jockeys.
Napravnik is 5ft 2in tall, and as a jockey rode at about 113 lb. In addition to racing, she is very active in efforts to rehome and provide aftercare to retired race horses. In 2014, she began to show her own off-track Thoroughbred Old Ironsides, nicknamed Sugar, in Eventing.
Interviewed for Vogue magazine, she explained how she felt about riding in the American classic horse races, "When you're riding in the Derby, you see all those iconic silks in the same race and it gives it a special feel, like you're part of history."
Education
A passionate equestrian from a young age, Rosie Napravnik did not pursue formal higher education. Instead, she focused her efforts on developing her skills as a jockey. Her dedication to horse racing and hands-on experience provided her with invaluable knowledge and expertise in the industry, proving that practical experience often outweighs traditional educational paths, particularly in specialized fields like horse racing.
Napravnik obtained her jockey license in 2005 at Pimlico Race Course. She won her first race as a licensed jockey on June 9 of that year, riding Small's horse, Ringofdiamonds. She initially rode under the name "A.R. Napravnik" to conceal her gender. In November 2005, she broke her left collarbone and was sidelined for almost six weeks.
The horse in front of her fell and her horse was unable to avoid a collision, creating a four-horse chain reaction that sent Napravnik and one of the other riders to the hospital. At the time of the accident, she was the leading jockey at Laurel Park Racecourse.
