A year ago, it would not have surprised too many if Emma-Jayne Wilson retired from riding.
One of North America’s leading women riders, Wilson returned to the saddle in June 2025 after incurring serious injuries to her back after her mount Ready Shakespeare collapsed and died under her in October 2024. She was in the ICU, and then on a walker and later, had a cane, while being house-ridden for many months. Her comeback was remarkable and she managed to win 12 races during the last half of the year.
This season has improved a lot for Wilson in recent weeks, picking up mounts for the leading stable, Mark Casse. It was a Casse runner, the filly Vanity, who provided the Canadian woman with her 2,000th career win on October 9 at Woodbine.
“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.”
Currently, Wilson is winning at an 18 percent clip, the highest of her career.
And Wilson has had other hurdles to overcome in addition to the serious injuries. She surprisingly parted with her longtime agent Mike Luider, who started Wilson from point zero, letting him go late in 2024 after more than two decades together. When Wilson received a Special Sovereign Award for lifetime achievements from the Jockey Club of Canada in April of 2025, Luider was not mentioned. That decision, made away from the track with family, didn’t sit well with others. Any reports on her injuries in the media were frowned upon.
However, since hiring Leroy Trotman for 2026 Wilson has battled her way back with her well known, strong finish,
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