Riding Against the Odds: Ferrin Peterson and the Women Pushing Racing Forward

The Kentucky Derby is known for its glamour, its traditions, and its speed—but behind the scenes, there’s another kind of race happening. One where the stakes are about access, equality, and opportunity.

Ferrin Peterson is no stranger to challenges. A licensed jockey and a part-time veterinarian, she’s carved out a dual career that blends passion with precision. Working with horses was always Plan A, and she’s never felt the need to back that up with a Plan B.

“It’s always been Plan A to work with horses,” she says. “It’s my passion, and I’m lucky I’ve found a way to pursue both careers at the same time.”

Before she ever stepped into the jockey’s room, Peterson was already used to breaking records—literally. As a former Division One pole vaulter with 11 records to her name, she knows how to defy expectations. But even with a strong athletic foundation, she’s quick to point out that talent and work ethic only go so far in racing.

“It’s not just about who trains hardest or who’s the fittest. It’s about whether you get the ride,” she says. “You can be the most capable jockey out there, but if you don’t get the right horse, your chances of making it to the Derby are slim.”

That’s where the deeper challenges begin—ones that many male jockeys haven’t had to consider. For decades, women have had to fight for the basic right to ride.

Jessica Whitehead, Senior Curator at the Kentucky Derby Museum, reminds us how recent that history is.

“Kathy Kusner had to sue the Maryland Racing Commission just to get her jockey license,” Whitehead explains. “And she used the Civil Rights Act to do it. That was the 1960s.”

It wasn’t a warm welcome. Whitehead describes the early days of female jockeys facing boycotts, smashed windows, and outright intimidation—all aimed at keeping them out of the sport. But they didn’t give up.

“They were tenacious,” she says. “They knew they belonged in the industry, and they fought to stay.”

More than 50 years later, only six women have ever competed in the Kentucky Derby. Ferrin Peterson hopes to be the seventh.

She’s currently sidelined with an injury and spending time at Safari North, a horse farm in Kentucky, but her eyes are firmly on that starting gate. Her motivation? The chance to prove not just that she can ride, but that she can win.

“The real weight we carry isn’t the saddle,” she says. “It’s the assumptions. It’s the people who think we’ll crumble under pressure.”

But if you ask Peterson, pressure is where she thrives. Between her work as an emergency vet and her record-setting sports background, she knows exactly what it means to perform in high-stakes situations.

She’s also been inspired by women who came before her—people like Patti Cooksey, one of the early female riders in the Derby, who she interviewed on The Boundless Podcast.

“They’re strategic. They know how to conserve a horse’s energy, how to read a race and respond. There’s so much more to it than strength alone.”

Her journey is still unfolding. And while she’s realistic about how hard it is to break into the top tier of racing, she’s clear about her goal: she wants a spot in that starting gate, and she wants to win.

“You can knock on a hundred doors,” she says. “But you only need one to open. I want to know I gave everything to give myself that shot.”

It’s not just about chasing roses. It’s about proving that the odds—no matter how stacked—are worth challenging.

Learn more about Ferrin’s journey at www.ferrinpeterson.com/jockey