George Woolf’s profession as a jockey was not lengthy by historic requirements.
It lasted simply 18 years, from 1928 till his tragic loss of life in 1946 on the age of 35, and he had simply 3,784 mounts, a determine profitable modern-day jockey Russell Baze surpassed in a three-year span.
However in lower than 20 years, Woolf loved the form of success and earned a degree of respect that was greatest mirrored in his inclusion among the many authentic inductees into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 1955.
To at the present time, practically 80 years after his loss of life, Woolf stays one in every of Thoroughbred racing’s most well-known and revered riders.
Born in Canada on Could 31, 1910, Woolf grew up in a driving household. His mom was a trick rider in a circus and his father was a rodeo rider.
In his teenagers, he started to compete in rodeo occasions in his native Alberta and in addition began to hop aboard racehorses.
He rode his first race in 1928 and inside 4 years turned an everyday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Amongst his breakthrough wins have been the 1932 the Capital Handicap at Laurel Park on Hygro and the 1933 Agua Caliente Handicap on Gallant Sir.
Within the late Nineteen Thirties and early Forties, Woolf turned the dominant jockey in California, successful a lot of the circuit’s main races.
He gained the Santa Anita Handicap in 1935 when it was the nation’s first $100,000 stakes after which captured the Hollywood Gold Cup in three straight years from 1938-1940.
As Woolf’s legend grew, he turned well-known for having an impeccable potential to maneuver his horses at simply the correct second. Stories throughout these days mentioned Woolf, dubbed “The Iceman” for the cool, expert method during which he dealt with his mounts, not often misplaced a photograph end in a stakes throughout his years at Santa Anita.
He rode champions akin to Cavalcade, Challedon, Kayak II, Pompoon, Alsab, Askmenow, Busher, By Jimminy, Satan Diver, Durazna, Mar-Kell, Market Sensible, Pavot, Whirlaway, and, after all, Seabiscuit.
Woolf’s most well-known race got here in 1938 when he stepped in for an injured “Crimson” Pollard and rode Seabiscuit within the Pimlico Particular, which turned out to be a match race with 1937 Triple Crown winner Warfare Admiral.
Earlier that yr, when Woolf first took over the mount, he rode Seabiscuit and rallied from 14th in a subject of 18 and misplaced by a nostril within the Santa Anita Handicap. However Woolf rode subsequent races with Seabiscuit a lot otherwise. In an August 1938 match race with Ligaroti at Del Mar, Woolf and Seabiscuit battled for the early lead and gained by a nostril in a thriller.
Three months later, within the Pimlico Particular, Woolf coaxed sufficient early pace out of Seabiscuit to seize the lead. Warfare Admiral joined him on the backstretch and the 2 dueled till they became the stretch when Seabiscuit heroically pulled away from the favored Triple Crown champ and gained by 4 lengths.
A long time later, the Pimlico Particular, and Woolf’s experience in it, was a central half within the 2003 film “Seabiscuit.” Corridor of Fame rider Gary Stevens performed Woolf within the movie, which was nominated for an Academy Award as Greatest Image.
Within the Forties, Woolf rode for a part of the yr in New York and added races just like the Jockey Membership Gold Cup, Metropolitan Handicap, Belmont Futurity, Saratoga Particular, Hopeful and Teaching Membership American Oaks to his laurels.
But for all of his success on a racetrack, Woolf fought a protracted battle with diabetes that provides much more glitter to his accomplishments. Compelled to observe his weight and protect his power, Woolf rode in roughly 4 or 5 races per week, or about 200 in a yr, for a lot of his profession, limiting his profession win complete to a modest 721.
Whereas insulin helped Woolf battle the illness, there have been unwanted effects because the remedies might go away him dizzy at instances – and on one terrible day it could have value him his life.
On Jan. 3, 1946 at Santa Anita, Woolf agreed to experience a horse named Please Me for a buddy though he was feeling ailing. On the primary flip, he instantly fell off the horse. He hit the bottom with a lot drive that he suffered a deadly concussion and handed away the next day.
Because the racing world mourned the lack of one in every of its best stars, nobody might ever clarify why Woolf fell. Stories say he fainted as his lengthy battle with diabetes resulted in an completely tragic method.
Surprised by Woolf’s passing, the game honored its fallen champion in some ways.
A life-sized bronze statue of Woolf was positioned close to the strolling ring at Santa Anita.
In 1950, Santa Anita inaugurated the annual George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in his honor with the purpose of presenting it to riders whose careers and private character earn esteem for the person and the game of Thoroughbred horse racing. Nonetheless thought of one of many sport’s best honors, among the many many distinguished Woolf Award recipients is Stevens, who portrayed Woolf within the films.
To at the present time, recollections of “The Iceman” nonetheless burn brightly. In lots of corners of the racing business, point out of his identify will nonetheless spark recollections of a gifted rider whose time on the racetrack could have been minimize heartbreakingly brief however was nonetheless completely unforgettable.
George Woolf
Birthplace: Cardston, Alberta
Birthdate: Could 31, 1910
Died: Jan. 4, 1946
Honors: Inaugural inductee into Racing Corridor of Fame, additionally a member of Canada Sports activities Corridor of Fame, Canadian Horse Racing Corridor of Fame. George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award created in his honor to acknowledge a rider whose profession and private character earn esteem for the person and the game of Thoroughbred racing. Life-sized bronze statue erected in his honor close to Santa Anita Park strolling ring.
