Santa Anita Park announces 2025 George Woolf Memorial jockey award nominees
At 0h02, on January 8, 2025 • By Santa Anita Park
Five of the nation’s top riders have been nominated for the 76th George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award at Santa Anita Park. Since 1950, The Woolf Award honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. One of the most prestigious awards in sports, the Woolf Award can only be won once.
Jockeys Kendrick Carmouche, James Graham, Brian Hernandez, Jr., Juan Hernandez and Alfredo Juarez comprise the group that will be voted on by their peers nationwide to determine who will be Santa Anita Park’s 2025 Woolf Award winner.
Regarded as one of the greatest big-money riders of his era, George Woolf was a household word by virtue of winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap aboard Azucar on Feb. 23, 1935, and for his association with the immortal Seabiscuit, whom he rode to victory over Triple Crown Champion War Admiral in a mile and three sixteenths match race at Pimlico Race Course on Nov. 1, 1938. Affectionately known as “The Iceman,” Woolf was revered by his fellow riders, members of the media and millions of racing fans across America as a fierce competitor and consummate professional.
