+george Woolf Memorial Jockey Award – Who Was This “iceman”?

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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Perhaps behind every great racing horse is a great owner, trainer and also an incredible jockey who knows the horse as good as itself. The horse racing arena has been laced with jockeys from all walks of life, some who started from scratch, being a lumberjack and ended up riding the greatest horses of all times, and some who were born to race and just that. In either case, there is almost no role a jockey’s origin played in how they performed on the racing tracks, as there can’t be a more fickle situation at hand than racing on a horseback surrounded by a similar aggression from all directions.
Not just the capricious outcomes, a horse racing event, characterizes most closely with, it also has numerous misfortunes of losing its horses or jockeys hidden in it closet. And while the risk is difficult to rid of, the bravery, fame and honour in accomplishing the absolute magnificence in speed and stamina outperforms the rest. This is what defines horse racing and represents the sport in its truest form. Horse racing is not a game for the weak hearted or the pessimist, it’s a sport that demands courage and persistence ...
... from the contestants and their connections as well.
Horse racing as a subject would be literally incomplete had the greatest of his times, the finest jockey world racing recognizes with, George Woolf, been not mentioned. Woolf, the Canadian born jockey, also referred to as “The Iceman” is a name synonymous with the timeless and invincible thoroughbred of all times, the Seabiscuit. Woolf had ridden his favourite mount to a memorable victory in the Pimlico Special match race held to test Triple Crown winner, War Admiral’s capabilities over Seabiscuit’s.
Woolf was hard wired to be a jockey, legend has it that before every race while other jockeys would pace around, Woolf would stay calm and relaxed as if he was aware of the outcomes and the fine co-ordination he would soon exhibit on the racing track with his mounts. Even though George had his share of health limitations that would require him a strict diet and the need to be extremely cautious about his health, the discipline he followed offered him a rapidly growing success despite his short lived career. Woolf was the American star of graded stake races. He won the Belmont Futurity Stakes for three consecutive years and also brought victory to Azucar in the Santa Anita Handicap during 1935 against dreaded contenders like Twenty Grand and Equipoise.
George Woolf led a racing career that set off in 1928 and lasted till 1946, a career cut short due to his untimely death from an accident during the fourth running of the Santa Anita race. Woolf may have led a brief racing tenure compared to the regular jockeys but he had an incredible count of 721 wins out of 3,784 mounts. His second finishes counted 589 and closed at 468 thirds. It wasn’t just impressive given his health and discipline, it was remarkable. The events related to his sudden and unexpected death right on the racing tracks led to the conception of George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award which in itself is a great honour to achieve.
The ranch born Iceman cant now be experienced on the racing tracks of horse racing games on horseracegame.com. The players get an absolute advantage to experience what he did aboard the excelling mounts including the great Seabiscuit. Players can explore the wonderful features on the games for free and also win real prizes in return for excellent performances. Download free racing games and discover the real passion and determination that drives this sport, share and learn on the game and much more. These 3D simulated games with leave you craving for more. Get your ticket to racing like Woolf now!