Stewart Elliott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stewart Elliott
Elliott in 2016
Occupation	Jockey
Born	(1965-03-01) March 1, 1965 (age 60) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Career wins	5,687 (ongoing)
Major racing wins
Melaleuca Stakes (1990) Demoiselle Stakes (1999) Arkansas Derby (2004) Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (2004) Maryland Million Classic (2004) Remsen Stakes (2004) Sorority Stakes (2004, 2005) Tempted Stakes (2004) Acorn Stakes (2005) Fantasy Stakes (2005, 2006) Blue Hen Stakes (2006) Azeri Breeders' Cup Stakes (2006) Essex Handicap (2006) Southwest Stakes (2007) Affectionately Handicap (2008) Astoria Stakes (2008) Long Branch Stakes (2008) Woodbine Oaks (2009) Turf Monster Handicap (2013) Smarty Jones Stakes (Parx Racing) (2013) American Classic Race wins: Kentucky Derby (2004) Preakness Stakes (2004)
Racing awards
ABC NEWS Person of the Week (2004) Best Jockey ESPY Award (2004) Avelino Gomez Memorial Award (2010) George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2017)
Significant horses
Smarty Jones, Round Pond, Teuflesberg, Milwaukee Appeal

Stewart Elliott, born on March 1, 1965, is a famous Canadian jockey in the exciting world of thoroughbred horse racing. A jockey is a person who rides horses in races.

Stewart grew up surrounded by horses. His dad was a jockey, his mom rode show horses and taught people how to ride. Even his uncle owned a racing stable in Canada! When Stewart was seven, his family moved to Hong Kong for six years, then came to the United States.

Stewart started riding horses professionally at age 16. He mostly rode at Philadelphia Park Racetrack in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For many years, he was the most successful jockey there. He was even named Pennsylvania's top rider for three seasons! Stewart reached a big goal on May 13, 2003, when he won his 3,000th race. On January 18, 2009, he won his 4,000th race at Philadelphia Park.

Winning the Triple Crown Races

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes

On May 1, 2004, Stewart Elliott made history. He became the first jockey in 25 years to win the Kentucky Derby on his very first try! His horse, Smarty Jones, was amazing. Smarty Jones was the first horse since 1977 to win the Derby without ever losing a race before.

This victory was huge for Stewart. He earned 10% of the nearly $6 million in prize money and bonuses. This was the biggest payday ever for a jockey and horse in racing history!

Just two weeks later, Stewart and Smarty Jones won again. They set a new record in the Preakness Stakes, which is the second race of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

The Belmont Stakes Race

The third and final race of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes. Stewart and Smarty Jones were hoping to win this race too, which would have made them Triple Crown champions.

During the race, Stewart rode Smarty Jones out in front early. But another horse named Birdstone passed them near the end. Some people thought Stewart might have pushed Smarty Jones too hard too early. However, other racing experts said he was doing the best he could to try and win the race. Even though they didn't win the Triple Crown, their journey was still incredible!

Stewart Elliott's Career Highlights

A Breakthrough Year: 2004

The year 2004 was a huge success for Stewart Elliott. He won 262 races out of 1,363 starts. His horses earned over $14.5 million that year!

More Wins and Awards

Stewart continued to achieve great things. On January 11, 2008, he won four races in one day at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In 2010, Stewart received the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. This award is given to jockeys who have made a big difference in thoroughbred racing.

In 2017, Stewart Elliott was honored with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. This is a very special award voted on by other jockeys in North America. It recognizes a jockey who shows high standards of good behavior, both on and off the racetrack.

On August 9, 2020, Stewart reached another amazing milestone. He became the 36th jockey in North America to win more than 5,000 races in his career!

Year-end Charts

Elliott at Los Alamitos Racetrack, 2016

Stewart Elliott has consistently ranked among the top jockeys in North America for his earnings. Here's how he placed on the National Earnings List for Jockeys: