1. George Woolf became known for riding the people's champion Seabiscuit to victories in 1938.
14 Facts About George Woolf
1. 2.
George Woolf was born on a ranch in Cardston, Alberta to horse people - his mother had been a trick rider in a circus and his father rode in rodeos.
3.
George Woolf learned to ride horses as a child and as a teenager he rode in horse races and competed in rodeo events in Alberta and Montana.
4.
George Woolf's mother, Rosina Parker, was born in Wales, and his maternal grandmother was from England.
5.
George Woolf's father, Frank Henry Woolf, was a Utah pioneer born before 1869 and an Alberta pioneer coming to Canada before 1890.
6.
George Woolf were Mormon pioneers, both settlers of Cache Valley, Utah.
7.
Absalom George Woolf was a soldier in the Utah militia serving in the Walkara Indian War and the Utah War.
8.
George Woolf's ancestor, Peter George Woolf, was an early settler of New York, immigrating from Germany.
9.
George Woolf began racing thoroughbreds professionally in 1928 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
10.
George Woolf raced in Tijuana, Mexico before going to Arcadia, California, where he made his permanent home.
11.
George Woolf earned the nickname for displaying the patience in waiting for the right time to have his horse make a move in a race, as well as his calm attitude before major races, when he could take a nap while other jockeys nervously paced about.
12.
George Woolf made history in 1935 when he rode Azucar to victory in the first $100,000 horse race, the Santa Anita Handicap, defeating such greats as Equipoise and Twenty Grand.
13.
George Woolf finished second twice at the Kentucky Derby and won the 1936 Preakness Stakes.
14.
George Woolf is remembered for his tactical performance in the 1938 match race when he rode Seabiscuit to victory over the heavily favored US Triple Crown champion, War Admiral, in the Pimlico Special at Baltimore, based on advice from his friend, Seabiscuit's injured regular jockey Red Pollard.