Francine Villeneuve
- January 8, 2024
- Jockey
Quick Facts
Francine Villeneuve Biography
| Name | Francine Villeneuve |
| Birthday | Jul 22 |
| Birth Year | 1964 |
| Place Of Birth | Ottawa |
| Home Town | Ontario |
| Birth Country | Canada |
| Birth Sign | Cancer |
Francine Villeneuve is one of the most popular and richest Jockey who was born on July 22, 1964 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Francine Marie Alicia Villeneuve (born July 22nd 1964) is a Canadian retired thoroughbred jockey as well as a racing pioneer.
On the 31st of October, 2011, during one of her last races she rode Red Hot Doll to victory in the $30,000 Fan’s Cup at Fort Erie Race Track to earn her career-best winning number one thousand. She was the most successful Canadian woman in winnings, places as well as shows, and was just behind Sealock in the number of starts she has made. In June 2012, she was admitted into the Fort Erie Sports Wall of Fame. Villeneuve has a farm for horses located in central Florida which is where she was a trainer for a while and bred rare Akhal- Tekes. Due to her connection to this breed of horse, she was granted the privilege of being invited to compete in the International Akhal-Teke Association meeting held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in late April 2012. She was the sole female jockey on the field. Villeneuve is also a long-time patron for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In August, it was announced 2012 that Villeneuve will also be one of the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in a ceremony that took place in November.
With over 25 years “in the irons” she rode more than 8,100 mounts and was also the first Canadian woman to reach the milestones of 1,000 seconds, 1,000 thirds, and the first to show a combined 3,000 times. All of this was achieved despite losing time in the saddle because of several serious injuries and taking two personal hiatuses from the sport; the first, a one-year break during her peak years to give birth to her son Aaron, and the second, a three- year sabbatical to better tend to her family. Her pioneering spirit and unassuming nature made her a fan favorite that would forever kick in the door of the historically male-dominated sport and help to clear a path for other great Canadian women like Chantal Sutherland and Emma-Jayne Wilson. It was Wilson that would eventually overtake her record for most career victories in mid-September 2012. Sutherland would not pass her until 2017.
She is sometimes referred to by the nickname “The Queen of Fort Erie” because of a long affiliation with the border oval. With 1,001 victories and 3,065 combined wins, places and shows, she retired “for good” in April 2012 as the winningest female Canadian jockey of all time and was the first Canadian woman to achieve the 1,000 wins milestone.
In the following two decades, the wins and “first woman in history” …” milestones” began to increase in number. In May 2002, when she won her 600th win and a resounding victory over her fellow first Regina Sealock as the winningest female jockey in Canadian history (a crown she wore for more than 10 years, before she was surpassed by her). Her racing career was full of successes, culminating in 2004 in which she was the first woman to win the highly coveted Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. The following year, it was her first female that finished “in the money” at the 2005 Prince of Wales Stakes, just missing out on the win by a hair to take second place on an outsider with a 16:1 rating known as Autumn Snow.
Francine Villeneuve Net Worth
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Source Of Income | Jockey |
| House | Living in own house. |
Francine Villeneuve is one of the richest Jockey from Canada. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Francine Villeneuve 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)
The sole daughter of Ron as well as Eleanor (nee Broderick) Villeneuve, Francine grew up around horses on the farm of the family located in Winchester Springs, Ontario and attended North Dundas District High School in the town of Chesterville. While she was at Humber College for equine studies She landed the summer job as a hot walker at Woodbine Racetrack as a hot walker in 1984. in 1987, she was licensed to be a race jockey.
In the month of June in 1991 Villeneuve completed the of the race second at the Queen’s Plate, riding Wilderness Song which made history by becoming the first female to ever finish second in Canada’s oldest and most important race. Additionally, she was one of the very first Canadian woman to take part in the race and it was a double-special occasion. In August, she was the first (of just four females) to be a participant in all three Canadian Triple Crown races; the Queen’s Plate, the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders’ Stakes which will not be repeated by a woman for the next 16 years. On November 2nd 1991 Villeneuve made history as the only female to compete in the Breeders”Cup” Distaff and was the second woman in every Breeders’ cup race because American Julie Krone had previously raced in the Breeders’ Cup both in 1988 and 1989.
After galloping horses for Nick Zito at Saratoga in the summer of 2012 and then for others at Tampa Bay Downs during the following winter season, Villeneuve received her trainer’s license and like many Canadian trainers splits her year between the Florida and Canada Thoroughbred racing seasons. In 2016, she and fellow jock-turned trainer, Amanda Roxborough, co-founded the Sport of Queens Racing Club. As a racing syndicate, SOQ allows everyday people to experience the thrill of thoroughbred horse ownership for as little as $200 a share, plus fees.
Height, Weight & Body Measurements
Francine Villeneuve height Not available right now. Francine weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.
Who is Francine Villeneuve Dating?
According to our records, Francine Villeneuve is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Francine Villeneuve’s is not dating anyone.
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Facts & Trivia
Francine Ranked on the list of most popular Jockey. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Canada. Francine Villeneuve celebrates birthday on July 22 of every year.