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 March 1, 1965) is a Canadian jockey, which is a person who rides horses in races. He is known for his skill in thoroughbred horse racing, a sport featuring a special breed of fast horses.

A Life with Horses

Stewart Elliott was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, into a family that loved horse racing. His father was a jockey, and his mother was a talented rider and teacher. Even his uncle owned a stable of racehorses. It was clear that horses were a big part of his life from the very beginning.

When Stewart was seven, his family moved to Hong Kong to continue their work with horses. After six years, they moved to the United States. At just 16 years old, Stewart started his own career as a professional jockey. He mostly raced at a smaller track called Philadelphia Park Racetrack.

Over the years, he became the best jockey at that track. He was even named the top rider in Pennsylvania for three seasons in a row. By 2003, he had won his 3,000th race, and by 2009, he reached an amazing 4,000 wins.

The Ride of a Lifetime

Winning the Kentucky Derby

The year 2004 was huge for Stewart Elliott. On May 1, he rode a horse named Smarty Jones in the famous Kentucky Derby. It was his very first time in this major race, and he won! He was the first jockey in 25 years to win the Derby on their first try.

Smarty Jones was also a special horse. He had never lost a race before, making him the first undefeated Derby winner since 1977. The victory came with a huge prize, and Elliott's share was the largest payday any jockey had ever received for a single race.

The Triple Crown Journey

Two weeks later, Elliott and Smarty Jones raced in the Preakness Stakes. This is the second race in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three major races. They won again, setting a new record for the race.

The final race was the Belmont Stakes. A win here would mean they would capture the rare Triple Crown title. During the race, Elliott and Smarty Jones took an early lead. However, another horse named Birdstone caught up and passed them near the finish line. Some people thought Elliott made his move too early, but many racing experts said he did the only thing he could to try and win.

A Career of Success

Elliott at Los Alamitos Racetrack in 2016.

Even without the Triple Crown, 2004 was an incredible year for Elliott. He won 262 races and earned over $14.5 million in prize money. He continued to have a successful career, winning hundreds more races in the years that followed.

On August 9, 2020, Elliott achieved another incredible milestone. He won his 5,000th race, making him one of only a few jockeys in North America to ever reach that number.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Stewart Elliott has been honored for his talent and character.

• 2004: He won the Best Jockey ESPY Award and was named Person of the Week by ABC News.
• 2010: He received the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for his contributions to horse racing.
• 2017: He was given the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. This is a special award voted on by other jockeys. It honors a rider for being a great professional and a good person, both on and off the track.

Yearly Performance

This chart shows how Stewart Elliott ranked among all jockeys in North America based on the prize money his horses won each year. A lower number means a higher ranking.