BIOGRAPHY |
On March 3, 1982 Jill Jellison would load into the starting gate for the first time. Her mount that day at Suffolk Downs, was Mighty Peter, they would finish fifth. After two more races at Suffolk, the stable moved to Finger Lakes and the third time was the charm for Mighty Peter. On April 2nd Mighty Peter carried Jellison for her first victory, it wouldn't be her last.
Over the next thirty one years, Jellison would win another 1,912, to make her the sixth winingest female jockey all time. She would spend most of her career in New England, but early on she rode a lot at Finger Lakes. Jellison quietly went about her business, not getting the press other female jockeys got, but when she finished riding you couldn't ignore her stats.
She had over 15,000 starts, while maintaining a thirteen percent win average. Her best year was 1989 when she took 241 winner circle photos. She was also a multiple stakes winner, over the years winning twenty New England stakes. Her last two came aboard the aptly named Dreamed a Dream. Her final race was November 2, 2013 finishing third aboard Madison Moon. Jellison even had her own trading card.
SCRAPBOOK | ||
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First of Many | ||
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Finger Lakes 1982 | ||
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Rockingham Park July 20, 1991 |