PA Derby Called By Horse Racing's First Female Announcer In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —America's only female horse racing announcer is set to break a new record Saturday.

She'll become the first woman to ever call a Grade 1 Horse Race in the world when she calls the betPARX Pennsylvania Derby & Cotillion Day —the biggest horse racing day in Pennsylvania —on Saturday, Parx Racing officials said.

Jessica Paquette made international headlines as the first female horse racing announcer in the United States when she joined Parx Racing at Parx Casino in November 2022.

Her signature Converse sneakers are ready, along with her binoculars, as she is ready to flip the switch and send the horses on their way with, "Now they are all in..off and racing."

"It is a huge honor to be part of Pennsylvania's biggest day of racing and to get to showcase some of the best horses in the country alongside our great horse men and women," Paquette said. "I am excited to get to carve out a small piece of history in a sport I have devoted my life to."

With nearly 20 years of experience in the horse racing industry, Paquette has served as a racing analyst at Suffolk Downs, Colonial Downs Racetrack, and Sam Houston Race Park.

She most recently worked as the director of communications for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Prior to that, she was the vice president of marketing at Suffolk Downs in Boston

Paquette also competes in equestrian show jumping, and is a passionate advocate for equine safety and welfare, and owns two retired racehorses.

The 37-year-old New England native became the only full-time female track announcer in North America when she was hired by Parx Racing.

For Saturday's big day, racing fans will flock to Parx for the $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby (GI) and the $1 million Cotillion Stakes.

A stakes-laden card featuring some of the top horses, jockeys, and trainers from across the country, will serve as a last major prep for the Breeders' Cup World Championships this year at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 3-4.

The $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby will feature some of the best 3-year-old horses in the country while the $1million Cotillion Stakes highlights some of the sports elite 3-year-old fillies.

Eight additional stakes races on both turf and dirt highlight the undercard.

In addition to five graded races, there are two new stakes races restricted to 2-year-olds bred and sired in Pennsylvania. Both divisions carry a purse of $200,000.

Gates open at 10 a.m. with the first live post at 11:35 a.m. Festivities will include free family fun, and live music from Fish Out of Water Band, Uptown String Band, plus souvenir merchandise and food and beverage specials.