Cooksey (born February 25, 1958, in Youngstown, Ohio, United States) is a retired jockey from American Thoroughbred racing.
In 1985 she became the first female jockey to ride in the Preakness Stakes, finishing 6th aboard Tajawa.
[3] Seriously injured during a race at Keeneland on April 12, 2003, Cooksey did not return to riding until March 2004.
[4] Suffering from severe pain as a result of a rod in her leg from the injury, she retired permanently in late June of that year, ranked second all-time in wins by a female jockey.
[5][6] Cooksey has been a commenter for Louisville, Kentucky television stations and did reporting for ESPN on horseback during the 2006 Breeders' Cup broadcast.