Joan’s Biography…

Joan at Exhibition Park in Vancouver, BC (1982)

Joan worked at a photography studio and posed for the photographer. A short-lived modeling career. (15 yrs. old)

“Saskatoon’s own” female jockey and World Champion, Joan Phipps, fell in love with horses at an early age and spent many hours at Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where she dreamt of a career as a jockey. It was here she would hang out as a young girl and do whatever needed doing – mucking out stalls, grooming and feeding the horses.

Barrel racing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (14 years old)

Between the ages 12 to 16, she was active in 4H activities and competed in horse shows and gymkhana events. She played basketball on the school team until a knee injury stopped her. That knee injury would repeatedly return to haunt her throughout her career.

Home life at best was hell. Her father struggled with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) acquired while fighting on the front lines in World War ll. In fact, every day was WWll in the Phipps household. Joan couldn’t wait to escape but dreaded leaving her mother and younger siblings,  and even though saying goodbye would be difficult, Joan knew she had to get out.

At 16 she left Saskatoon to find work in Winnipeg at Assiniboia Downs; at least that was her hope.

Judy Phipps, age: 14

Ironically during her first season as an apprentice, she would have to return home when her sister Judy was suddenly killed in a tragic car accident. She vowed then to dedicate her racing career to Judy, who had always believed in her but sadly never lived to see her ride.

After Judy’s death, Carl Anderson, a Winnipeg trainer, gave her a chance to ride –  in a Powder Puff Derby, which was an all-female jockey race. The rest is history – literally.

(Joan on her 18th Birthday, Marquis Downs, 1972).

She was a leading apprentice jockey in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan her first year out of the gate and 2nd leading apprentice in Canada in 1973.

Joan was 17 years old when she made her riding debut at Fort Erie, Ontario, and it wasn’t long after, she was riding and winning at Woodbine Race Track in Toronto and American tracks in Chicago, Florida, New York and New Jersey.

Joan hanging out with the ‘Vanderbilt Crew’, NYC, USA. (1974)

During her early years, Joan met a woman at the track. The two became fast friends and a mutual attraction grew, but she was fiercely private and Joan’s personal romantic life moved under the radar where she remained a quiet mystery to everyone, save her closest friends. The duality of living a “double life” on and off the track took a toll and was yet another secret Joan tried to keep hidden.  With a low personal profile, she kept her nose to the grindstone and focused on building her skills as a jockey. She knew her reputation was everything.

She went on mid-career to bec0me a pioneer in New Zealand. In 1976 she came in second in the Ladies Quantas Invitational Series and in the 1977 Series she walked away with GOLD. After a long battle with the New Zealand Racing Commission, she broke the first gender barrier, making NZ history as the first female to race against her male counterparts in New Zealand. Not only did she ride, she won that race by a nose on long shot Daphalee against a field of 19 male jockeys. That historical ride would serve to pave the way for all female NZ jockeys who followed. She was also the first woman to ride against men in Trinidad, West Indies – a lot of firsts for a very young gal.

The resurgence of feminism in the 1970s led to the breakdown of many occupational barriers. This cartoon was prompted by a change in racing rules in New Zealand to allow women jockeys to ride in events. The first woman to do so was Canadian jockey Joan Phipps, who won on her horse Daphalee at Te Awamutu Racetrack, New Zealand on a rainy day   November 2^ndin 1977. It also comments on one of the old rules of chivalry – that women should be allowed to ‘go first’ – and hints that this might no longer universally apply.

The Historical New Zealand Photo Finish…

November 2, 1977, Joan’s Historical NZ Ride on Daphalee owned by Sid Munroe.

During those years while busy racing in New Zealand, Joan also represented Canada and won the Ladies International World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil, both in 1976 and 1977).

World Champion 1976 and 1977 – Sao Paulo, Brazil

Things happened quickly for Joan as she juggled the responsibilities of being at the top of her game. Recurring knee injuries devoured her physical reserves daily and threatened to shut down her career.  Though well practiced in separating her personal and private life, by 1982 her knee injuries became so overwhelming it finally forced her into retirement. She was devastated. What else could she do?

Linda Jones ( friend & jockey extraordinaire in NZ) and Joan (1994)

With encouragement from the Saskatchewan Racing Commission,  she became the first female racing steward not only in Canada but also IN THE WORLD.  In 1988, Joan left the world of thoroughbred racing for good.  Her heart was on the racetrack, but not in the stands.

She then turned to the world of finances and became Regional Vice-President for Primerica Financial Services with an office in Saskatoon. It was a tough business as anyone in the financial field knows.

Joan (2000)

Over time, she experienced a downward spiral where she ultimately battled deep personal loss, PTSD, clinical depression, and transiency, yet Joan has always survived.

Joan on Salt Spring Island, BC with her little buddy. (2015)

In the end, her humor, her tenacity, and her spirit led her to a life of simple things: humility, kindness, acceptance and of course, back to horses.

Joan on her property in Salt Spring Island with her favorite 30-year-old mare, Shema. (2012)

The Creative Team

Our creative team working on ‘The Joan Phipps Projects’ is here for one reason, and one reason only. We share a vision of what’s to come. We’re Dreamers. We believe that if you do what you love, everything will follow. We all believe deeply in this project. Again, it makes our brains hurt.  That’s the glue that keeps us together. Currently, we are all working pro-bono, and busy with our other full-time jobs, except for Gaye who hangs out in the Caribbean and eats “bonbons” in her retirement.

We are proud of the fact that we all hail from Joan’s home, Saskatchewan, and are all Women! We are sure we’ll be adding players to our team -both men and women- as we continue to grow. Maybe you’d like to be one of them?  If so, just let us know how you’d like to contribute.  The only pre-requisite is ya gotta love Joan and ya gotta love horses!  As you know, it takes a whole community to raise a child;  We’d like to add that it takes a whole country to publish a book, and an international army to produce a film.  Thank you for being a part of our journey.  We feel very blessed. Together with all your help, in however great or small a way you choose to contribute, we are so grateful for YOU.  If we all simply spread the word, one day at a time, the stands will be packed when Post Parade comes around and we are ready to break out of the gate!

So… Here We Are. The TEAM on the Backside…which is where all the work gets done right?

GAYE BURGESS

CO-AUTHOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS and JACK OF EVERYTHING 

Gaye’s background is in theatre and film where she has worked as a professional director and actor, professor, author, national theatre adjudicator, and entrepreneur who built her own acting studio and provincial young company in Saskatchewan. She has known Joan for over 30 years. Her commitment to sharing this remarkable story has deepened over the years and she is thrilled to be co-authoring with Joan, the story of her life. She really likes dogs.

Did someone say “Treatise”???

In honor of her two fur babies, Scooty and Kailee, she says, ” I’ll see you again one fine day at the Rainbow’s Bridge.”  

 BRENDA SHENHER

FILM DEVELOPMENT OFFICER and PRODUCER

Brenda is an international costume designer in Film and Television, of “award-winning” acclaim and a Saskatchewan gal at heart who returns to the prairies because it’s her home (Assiniboia, SK.) and where she grew up. She however lives and works from various cities in both Canada and the United States. It is hard to keep track of her! This too hurts our brains! We wonder how she does it!! She has designed both nationally and internationally throughout Canada, the USA, and Europe on feature films, series, movies-of-the-week, and commercials. (Those Rough Rider commercials? That’s Brenda. That Gordie Howe Story? That’s Brenda too. Tokyo Trials? Yup… Brenda Shenher).  Her credits would boggle your mind. Truly. We sat down with Brenda one day to explain our project and her response was “I’m in! This Story HAS to get done!” When the book is published, Brenda will be kicking into high gear to help get the film produced and take it from book to screen.  Wherever you are right now Brenda, we miss you!

It’s pretty clear Brenda needs to get herself a pet.  Maybe a turtle that you can take with you wherever you go, Brenda?  A little travel buddy? Ok then… a stuffy?  Here ya go… You’re Welcome!

KATHY JACKSON

MARKETING ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE and JACK OF EVERYTHING VISUALLY CREATIVE 

Kathy is a born and raised farm girl who returned home to Saskatchewan after 20yrs in the Yukon. She has been crafting and making art since 1982 and has been doing it on a larger scale since 2014 when she retired from her 25yr career working with the hearing impaired. Abstract art, clothing design, and photography are her passions.

She met Gaye and Joan by happenstance in 2016 when Gaye arrived in Saskatoon homeless and retired and took up residence in their Airbnb suite.  This is where we (Joan and I) proceeded to record 40 audio tapes.  Count them.  FORTY. She and her husband Chris probably heard us laughing and crying for months in the basement and of course, learned all about our project and Joan’s story. Funny how destiny brings us together and the stars align. She has been passionate about this story ever since.  She feels grateful and excited to be involved and is ready to assist with anything creative.

Ozzie her senior assistant of 14 yrs, is deaf now, but still has a lot to say.  Go, Ozzie!  He is a Jack Russell terrier who lost his sister a few years ago.

To help with his loneliness Kathy became a Rover Sitter so it’s not unusual for her to have 3 to 5 extra fur babies hanging out with her and Ozzie. Here he is with some of his favorite buddies…

We’re off and runnin’ now….

as fast as we can!