- George Woolf
Horseracing personalities infobox
name = George Woolf
caption =
occupation =Jockey
birthplace =Cardston, Alberta ,Canada
birth date = birth date|1910|5|31|mf=y
death date = death date and age|1946|1|4|1910|5|31
deathplace =Arcadia, California , U.S.
career wins = 721 (19.1%)
race =Arlington Handicap (1932)Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (1932)Turfway Park Fall Championship (1932)Agua Caliente Handicap (1933)Santa Anita Handicap (1935)Preakness Stakes (1936)San Felipe Stakes (1937)Bay Meadows Handicap (1937, 1938)San Gabriel Handicap (1937, 1945)Havre de Grace Handicap (1938, 1939, 1940)Hollywood Gold Cup (1938, 1939, 1940)Pimlico Special (1938, 1940, 1942)Dwyer Stakes (1938)Whitney Handicap (1940)Carter Handicap (1940, 1943)Hollywood Derby (1941)Aqueduct Handicap (1942)Jockey Club Gold Cup (1942)Brooklyn Handicap (1942)Lawrence Realization Stakes (1942, 1944)Saratoga Special Stakes (1942, 1944)American Derby (1942, 1943, 1944)Belmont Futurity Stakes (1942, 1943, 1944)Metropolitan Handicap (1943)Toboggan Handicap (1943)Coaching Club American Oaks (1943)
Hopeful Stakes (1944)Beverly Handicap (1945)Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (1945)Santa Anita Derby (1945)
awards =
honours =George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
United States Racing Hall of Fame (1955)Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1976)Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1956)
Life-sized bust atSanta Anita Park
horses =Seabiscuit ,Kayak II , Bold Venture,Challedon Alsab ,Pavot ,Whirlaway ,Devil Diver
updated = August 13, 2008George Monroe Woolf (
May 31 ,1910 –January 4 ,1946 ) was a Canadian-bornthoroughbred race horse jockey and the namesake of the annual jockey's award given by theUnited States Jockeys' Guild .Born on a
ranch in Cardston,Alberta , his mother had been a trick rider in acircus and his father rode inrodeo s. As such, Woolf was taught to ride horses as a child and as a teenager he rode in horse races and competed inrodeo events in Alberta andMontana . He began racing thoroughbreds professionally in 1928 inVancouver, British Columbia before going toTijuana, Mexico and then toArcadia, California where he would make his permanent home.Using
Santa Anita Park as his home base, George Woolf became one of the premier jockeys of his era known by fellow jockeys and fans as "The Iceman." He earned the nickname not just because of his renowned patience in waiting for the right time to have his horse make a move, but also because of his totally calm attitude even before major races when he would often take a nap while other jockeys nervously paced about.Because he was diabetic, Woolf had to regulate his weight so as never to be in a position where he would be forced into rapid
dieting . His racing success allowed him to accept only a few mounts each week and for years that kept him in the best possible physical condition. Despite his limited number of races and the fact that he had a relatively short career, George Woolf won ninety-seven majorstakes race s around the United States including theHollywood Gold Cup Stakes , theAmerican Derby and theBelmont Futurity Stakes three years running. He made history in 1935 when he rodeAzucar to victory in the first $100,000 horse race, theSanta Anita Handicap , defeating such greats as Equipoise andTwenty Grand . Woolf finished second twice at theKentucky Derby and won the 1936Preakness Stakes . He is also remembered for his tactical performance in the famous 1938match race when he rodeSeabiscuit to victory over the heavily favored U.S. Triple Crown championWar Admiral in thePimlico Special .During the running of the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on January 3, 1946, George Woolf fell from his horse as he rounded the clubhouse turn. Suffering from a concussion, he was taken to hospital where he died the following day. Both the jockeys in the race and the track stewards reported that they had not witnessed any incident that would have caused such a fall and it is generally believed his diabetic condition may have resulted in him suffering a dizzy spell or
fainting .The shocking death at the age 35 of one of the country's best and most respected jockeys, and a favorite of fans, led to the creation of the
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award . During his career (1928-1946) Woolf had 3,784 mounts, 721 wins (19.1%), 589 seconds and 468 thirds. Following its creation, George Woolf was an inaugural inductee into theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1955 andCanada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1956. He was voted into theCanadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1976.When asked which was the best racehorse he'd ever ridden, Woolf answered immediately, "Seabiscuit."
A bronze statue of George Woolf was erected in his honor in the European-style paddock at
Santa Anita Park . He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery inGlendale, California .In the 2003 film, "Seabiscuit", Woolf was portrayed by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Stevens had won the
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1996.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.