First woman to win the Kentucky Oaks

On May 4, 2012, Rosie Napravnik guided Believe You Can, trained by Larry Jones, to victory in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.[1][4][11][16] With this win she became the first woman jockey ever to win the Kentucky Oaks, the premier race for three‑year‑old fillies and the traditional companion event to the Kentucky Derby.[1][11][16]

Napravnik executed a confident, ground-saving ride, positioning Believe You Can close to the pace before driving clear in the stretch. The Oaks purse and prestige made the victory one of the biggest of her career, and the win capped her rapid rise from regional leader at Fair Grounds to national star.[4][16]

Historically, the Oaks had been dominated by male jockeys, even as more women entered the sport. Napravnik’s breakthrough ride carried symbolic weight beyond the winner’s purse: it demonstrated that a woman could pilot a major stakes favorite under intense pressure and deliver when it mattered most.[11][16] The success also highlighted the trust placed in her by top trainers, who were increasingly choosing her as first-call rider for elite fillies.

The race marked a significant milestone for women’s visibility in Thoroughbred racing television coverage, with Napravnik interviewed nationally as a history-making rider rather than a curiosity. Her win encouraged broader conversations about gender equity in racing and helped dismantle lingering stereotypes about women’s strength and tactical ability.[17] In the years that followed, her status as the first female Oaks winner served as a reference point in profiles and scholarship on women in horse racing, underscoring how a single race can alter perceptions and open pathways for future generations.