An outstanding group of five veteran equestrians have been selected as finalists for the 2023 George Woolf Memorial Equestrian Award, presented annually by Santa Anita . Park since 1950. One of American racing’s most prestigious awards, the Woolf Prize, determined by a nationwide vote of jockeys, can only be won once. Once the ballots have been tabulated, the 2023 Woolf Prize winners will be announced in February.
Representing multiple racing jurisdictions, jockeys Daniel Cedeno, Javier Castellano, Terry Houghton, Edwin Maldonado and Willie Martinez will soon be considered through a vote of their peers. With the exception of Castellano, all other finalists will appear on the Woolf Prize ballot for the first time.
Named in honor of the late legendary jockey George Woolf, who rose to national prominence as the winner of the first Santa Anita Handicap in 1935 with the Azucar and later the hand. race of teammate Seabiscuit in the Hall of Famer, whom he rode to victory over the defending Triple Crown Champion of War Admiral in a match race that was broadcast nationally at Racecourse Pimlico on November 1, 1938, the Woolf Prize trophy was a coveted replica of the life-size statue that adorned the Paddock Garden area of Santa Anita.
Affectionately known as “Iceman”, Woolf is considered one of the highest-paid racers of his time and is admired by fellow racers, members of the media and millions of people. Racing fans all over the United States revered as a fierce competitor and outstanding professional.
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, 45-year-old Javier Castellano is America’s top-earning equestrian and winner of the Eclipse Award for four consecutive years, from 2013 to 2016 and featured in the Museum of Racing and National Hall of Fame in 2017.
Castellano became nationally known in 2004, when he instructed Frank Stronach to own and breed and Bobby Frankel to train. Ghostzapper win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Lonely Star Park. Headquartered in New York, Castellano and his wife Abby have three children. The son of an equestrian, Castellano had 5,582 career wins as of November 30. Married and with three children, Castellano’s father-in-law is Terry Meyocks, who served as National Director. member of the Jockeys Association.
Tampa . Bay‘ top racer of all time, Daniel Centeno is also of Venezuelan descent, he was born on December 18, 1971 in Caracas, where he started riding at the age of 18 in 1990. A six-time lead racer in Tampa Flying Downs, he was the top driver of that track for four years in a row, from 2006-2010.
The winner of a record 144 races at Tampa Bay then at their 2007-08 meeting, Centeno has 3,203 career wins through November 30 and is currently running a lap that includes the Tampa Bay Downs, Laurel ParkPimlico, Monmouth Park and Delaware Park. Most recently finishing seventh in Delaware with 39 winners, Centeno is engaged to Brooke Sillaman and has a daughter named Jazmyn.
Despite horrific injuries in recent years, Terry Houghton, 52, a native of Denver, CO, is continuing to go strong with more than 6,000 career wins on record. A longtime mainstay at Michigan State and at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida, Houghton had his 6,000th career win at Thistledown near Cleveland, Ohio on September 15, 2020, and now has 6,135 career wins as of November 30
A top racer at the now-closed Detroit Circuit (DRC) from 1995 until its closure in 1998, Houghton won 300 races a year on four different occasions from 1995-2001 and also won won top racer title at the Tampa Bay Downs, climbing parkPinnacle Racecourse and at Mahoning Valley Racecourse.
The son of a jockey, Houghton was sidelined for more than 15 months after a traumatic brain injury in a spill in 2003. On March 1, 2014, Houghton suffered multiple broken collarbones and broken bones. lived T9 during a horrific spill at Mountaineer Park and was subsequently voted Returning Driver of the Year by the Jockeys’ Guild after his 2014-15 season.
On 10 April 2021, Houghton was again seriously injured in a collision with a tricycle in Mahoning Valley resulting in multiple facial fractures. Supported by daughters Alyssa (20) and Ashley (24), Houghton, one of only seven active racers with more than 6,000 wins, made a full recovery and back in the saddle.
A regular in Southern California since 2010, Edwin Maldonado, who turns 40 on December 1, seems poised to have his best year in the saddle thanks to hard work, reflection, and hard work. think positive and don’t get hurt. Unusually tall for a 5-foot-8-inch jockey, Maldonado, a native of Columbus, Ohio, aborted his daughter at the age of 18 at Assiniboia Downs near Winnipeg, Canada in August 2001.
Though 2012 appeared to be a breakout year for Maldonado, as he replaced longtime tycoon Martin Pedroza to become that year’s top driver at the now-closed Fairplex Park meeting, then snatched it up. Hollywood Park Fall Meet title and continued with Rafael Bejarano as Hollywood Park’s Spring/Summer top driver in 2013.
However, a serious injury occurred during a morning training incident at Del Mar Later that summer, his rise to the top was derailed when he was sidelined for more than six months and struggled to rebuild his growing customer base.
The road back is long and difficult for Maldonado, who has long been considered the leading “gate racer” on the track, but with his first Class I win this past October 1 on Bob Baffert-trained car out of money in The Amazing Stake at Santa Anita, Maldonado, who recently hired veteran agent Tom Knust, is quick to credit his approach to psychology as a key factor in his revival.
“Your mindset is very powerful and write down goals, thinking about what you want instead of focusing on the negative,” Maldonado said in a recent interview with Art Wilson of the Southern California Newspaper Group. “One of the things I wanted was to get an I and I said, ‘Okay, this is going to be one of my goals.’
…I’ve been riding for 20 years and have never won 1st place, so it’s very exciting to do that.”
Nicknamed the “Candyman,” Maldonado is one of the most popular riders on the track and with 1,456 career winners as of November 30 says he wants to keep riding for 10 Another year.
Puerto Rican Willie Martinez, respectfully known as “Chilly Willie” in recognition of his tenacity in the heat of battle, delivered an outstanding career resume to the 2023 Woolf ballot, including a record nine equestrian titles at Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky.
Born on March 3, 1971, Martinez immigrated to the US in 1988 and started working as a model and groom in Finger Lakes Racetrack in Farmington, New York. Quickly switching to the saddle, Martinez earned his first win in 1989 at the Tampa Bay Downs.
One winner of seven races in one day at Race Park In 1993, Martinez also won the equestrian title at Ellis . ParkTampa Bay Downs, Keeneland and Hialeah.
A career winner of 3,606 races, 150 of which are stakes, Martinez has also sought to promote the rights of equestrians, speaking out on issues such as health insurance, weighting, and weight. quality in various racing jurisdictions and other matters.
Ranking high among the 38 graded bet wins in Martinez’s career was his win at the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on the long train Trinniberg who paid $29.40 to win.
Last year’s Woolf Prize was presented to Joe Bravo, who became the 73rd Woolf recipient since the first winner in 1950, Gordon Glisson.
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