George Woolf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Woolf |
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George Woolf and Seabiscuit
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| Nickname | The Ice Man |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | May 31, 1910 Cardston, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | January 4, 1946 (aged 35) Arcadia, California, United States |
| Career wins | 721 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Arlington Handicap (1932) Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (1932) Latonia Championship (1932) Agua Caliente Handicap (1933) Santa Anita Handicap (1935) San Felipe Stakes (1937) Bay Meadows Handicap (1937, 1938) San Gabriel Handicap (1937, 1945) Potomac Handicap (1937) Havre de Grace Handicap (1938, 1939, 1940) Hollywood Gold Cup (1938, 1939, 1940) Pimlico Special (1938, 1940, 1942) Dwyer Stakes (1938) Los Angeles Handicap (1939) Chesapeake Stakes (1940, 1942) Correction Handicap (1940) Walden Stakes (1940) Whitney Handicap (1940) Carter Handicap (1940, 1943) Bay Shore Handicap (1941) Hollywood Derby (1941) Aqueduct Handicap (1942) Jockey Club Gold Cup (1942) Brooklyn Handicap (1942) Lawrence Realization Stakes (1942, 1944) Philadelphia Handicap (1942) Saratoga Special Stakes (1942, 1944) American Derby (1942, 1943, 1944) Belmont Futurity Stakes (1942, 1943, 1944) Narragansett Special (1942) Metropolitan Handicap (1943) Toboggan Handicap (1943) Coaching Club American Oaks (1943) Hopeful Stakes (1944) Stars and Stripes Handicap (1944) Beverly Handicap (1945) Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (1945) Santa Anita Derby (1945) American Classics wins: |
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| 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) Cardston Sports Hall of Fame Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2004) Life-sized bust at Santa Anita Park Life-sized statue (with Seabiscuit) in Cardston, Alberta |
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| Significant horses | |
| Seabiscuit, Kayak II, Bold Venture, Challedon Alsab, Pavot, Whirlaway, Devil Diver |
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George Monroe Woolf (May 31, 1910 – January 4, 1946) was a famous Canadian thoroughbred race horse jockey. People called him "The Iceman" because he was always calm and patient during races. He is best known for riding the legendary horse Seabiscuit to victory in a very famous race in 1938. After his early death from a racing accident, George Woolf was honored in several sports halls of fame. An important award for jockeys in the United States is named after him.
Contents
George Woolf: The "Iceman" Jockey
Early Life and Horse Riding
George Woolf was born on a ranch in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, on May 31, 1910. His family loved horses. His mother was a trick rider in a circus, and his father rode in rodeos. George learned to ride horses when he was a child. As a teenager, he rode in horse races and competed in rodeo events. He did this in both Alberta and Montana.
A Champion Jockey's Career
Woolf started racing thoroughbred horses professionally in 1928. He first raced in Vancouver, British Columbia, and then in Tijuana, Mexico. Later, he moved to Arcadia, California, which became his permanent home.
He made Santa Anita Park his main racing base. Woolf quickly became one of the best jockeys of his time. Other jockeys and fans called him "The Iceman." He got this nickname because he was very patient. He would wait for the perfect moment to make his horse speed up in a race. He was also known for staying calm before big races. While other jockeys were nervous, he could even take a nap!
Woolf was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This condition meant he had to be very careful with his health. Before insulin was discovered, this diagnosis would have been very serious. Because of his diabetes, Woolf had to manage his weight carefully. He rode fewer races than other jockeys, usually only 150 to 200 races each year. Despite this, he stayed in top physical shape.
Even with fewer races and a shorter career, Woolf won 97 major races across the United States. These included the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes and the American Derby. He also won the Belmont Futurity Stakes three years in a row.
In 1935, he made history by winning the first-ever $100,000 horse race. This was the Santa Anita Handicap, where he rode a horse named Azucar. He finished second twice at the Kentucky Derby and won the 1936 Preakness Stakes.
The Famous Seabiscuit Race
George Woolf is most famous for his ride in the 1938 "match race." This was a special race where only two horses competed. Woolf rode Seabiscuit against War Admiral, a horse that had won the U.S. Triple Crown. War Admiral was expected to win easily.
Seabiscuit's regular jockey, Red Pollard, was injured. He gave Woolf advice on how to ride Seabiscuit. Woolf used his calm and patient style, and Seabiscuit won the race at Pimlico Special in Baltimore. When asked which was the best racehorse he had ever ridden, Woolf immediately said, "Seabiscuit."
His Legacy and Awards
On January 3, 1946, during a race at Santa Anita Park, Woolf fell from his horse, Please Me. He suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital. He sadly passed away the next day. Other jockeys and race officials said they didn't see anything cause the fall. Many people believe his diabetes might have caused him to feel dizzy or faint.
George Woolf was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. His death at age 35 was a shock. He was one of the country's best and most respected jockeys.
To honor him, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award was created. This award is given each year to a jockey who shows great character and sportsmanship. During his career from 1928 to 1946, Woolf had 3,784 rides. He won 721 races, came in second 589 times, and third 468 times. This means he finished in the top three in 46% of his races.
Many honors have been given to George Woolf:
- In 1950, a life-size bronze statue of Woolf was placed at Santa Anita Park. Fans helped pay for it.
- In 1955, Woolf was one of the first people inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
- In 1956, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1976, he was one of the first people inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
- On July 17, 2010, on what would have been his 100th birthday, a life-size statue of Woolf riding Seabiscuit was put up in his hometown of Cardston, Alberta.
George Woolf in Movies
George Woolf is remembered in popular culture:
- In the 1979 movie The Black Stallion, he is mentioned as one of the greatest jockeys of all time.
- In the 2003 film Seabiscuit, jockey Gary Stevens played George Woolf. Gary Stevens is also a famous jockey and has won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award himself.
