Woodbine’s own Emma-Jayne Wilson started Saturday just one victory away from her milestone 2,000th career win and got the job done in the day’s Race 7 aboard D. J. Stable’s Vanity at the Toronto-area racetrack.
Vanity won the 1 1/16-mile optional claimer by 1 3/4 lengths as the 2-1 favourite in the field of seven fillies and mares. The 3-year-old Vekoma daughter is trained by Mark Casse.
Wilson is the all-time leading female jockey in purse earnings in the world with nearly $95 million in earnings and counting.
But coming up on her milestone of 2,000 wins, Wilson reflected on the significance.
“Milestones are significant, you have to acknowledge what they are and, you know, I’m not one that does the counting,” said Wilson. “I’m out there to ride, and that’s the focus every day.”
But even if Wilson does not focus on the number of wins per se, she does not dismiss this achievement either.
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“I think the significance of it for me is, I mean, it wasn’t that long ago that I was in the ICU at Sunnybrook with what could have been career ending injuries,” said Wilson. “And I had another setback after a morning training accident, which gave me some more serious fractures in my shoulder and whatnot. So, 2025 was a write-off to me.”
Last season Wilson collected 12 wins from only 126 starts, but she had a clear goal going into this season.
“I was and am full of so much intent for the season. So, it means… to showcase this milestone, it means that I’m back at my best. Actually, I would almost say I’m better.”
With a win percentage of 18, Wilson is winning at the highest levels of her 23-year long career.
Additionally, she is in the money in 42 percent of her races.
“I have a fantastic agent and loyal and supportive clients, so to take that moment and sort of encapsulate it into what it means for counting or career wins of 2000 when it could have ended, it means a lot.”
When asked the nearly impossible question of which win stood out to her the most, Wilson, who won the 2007 Queen’s Plate with Mike Fox, opted for a 2025 triumph.
“I’d say the Grade 2 Canadian [Stakes] with Ready for Shirl last year was significant,” she said. “It showed that I was back in top form and Roger Attfield demonstrated such loyalty and confidence in me. That one stands out to me in the recent year or so, considering what I’ve had to go through to return back to that top form.”
Wilson had six mounts Saturday, including her second aboard Secretly Delighted in Race 8, and ended the day with career line of 2,000-2,114-2,008 from 15,008 mounts.
