The racing industry seen jockeys transition to new careers before — as trainers, owners, bloodstock agents, and officials — but Ferrin Peterson is something of a different case. Peterson, 27, began riding races last year and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from University of California-Davis in May.
The San Diego Union-Tribune interviewed Peterson about her unconventional career path this week. Peterson said she’s often asked why she doesn’t open a practice now and step up her pay scale, but for now, she said she’s happy to live more modestly and do what she loves.
In her last semester at school, Peterson had to strike the balance between working 12-hour shifts at the school’s teaching hospital, working horses, and riding races. It wasn’t easy, she admitted, but becoming a jockey was a lifelong dream for the girl who grew up riding Arabians.
The Del Mar colony has been a challenging spot to break into for Peterson — she has yet to get a win there — but it has also allowed her to be mentored by some of the best current and former riders in the business, including Mike Smith, Victor Espinoza, Julie Krone and Patrick Valenzuela.
Read more at the San Diego Union-Tribune
New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry.
Copyright © 2019 Paulick Report.
