Jessica Pyfer, the 2021 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice jockey, has announced her retirement from race riding to work full time as a racing analyst with Santa Anita/XBTV.
Pyfer, 24, announced her career change Friday via X: “After an amazing three years as a jockey, I am officially transitioning my career and have accepted a full time position with XBTV/Santa Anita Park as a Racing Analyst and couldn't be more excited to continue working in this role. I am so thankful for the times I have had in the winner circle and the lessons that I have learned while riding for the best.
“Thank you to the trainers, owners, my fellow riders, agents, and most importantly the horses who have carried me through the successes in my career–including winning the 2021 Eclipse Award for leading apprentice jockey. I will still be riding in the mornings because if you know me, I could never spend more than a day off the back of a horse.”
Pyfer, a stepdaughter of leading Southern California trainer Phil D'Amato, started her professional career in fall of 2020 and rode as an apprentice until November 2022.
During her Eclipse Award-winning season, Pyfer won 59 races and $2,856,833 in purses en route to becoming one of three women to garner the honor, joining Rosemary Homeister Jr. (1992) and Emma-Jayne Wilson (2005).
This year, Pyfer has gone winless on 10 mounts. Overall, her career line stands at 88-89-106 from 819 mounts and $4,210,897 in purse earnings.
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