Five of the nation’s top riders have been nominated for the 76th George Woolf memorial jockey award at Santa Anita Park. Since 1950, The Woolf Award honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. One of the most prestigious awards in sports, the Woolf Award can only be won once.

Jockeys Kendrick Carmouche, James Graham, Brian Hernandez Jr., Juan Hernandez and Alfredo Juarez comprise the group that will be voted on by their peers nationwide to determine who will be Santa Anita Park’s 2025 Woolf Award winner.

Regarded as one of the greatest big-money riders of his era, George Woolf was a household word by virtue of winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap aboard Azucar on Feb. 23, 1935, and for his association with the immortal Seabiscuit, whom he rode to victory over Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a 1 3/16-mile match race at Pimlico Race Course on Nov. 1, 1938. Affectionately known as the Iceman, Woolf was revered by his fellow riders, members of the media and millions of racing fans across America as a fierce competitor and consummate professional.

Born in Vinton, Louisiana on January 18, 1984, Kendrick Carmouche began riding at age 16 and won his first race at Evangeline Downs in his home state. The son of jockey Sylvester Carmouche Jr., Kendrick in 2008 became a dominant force at Parx in Pennsylvania where he won four straight riding titles and seven overall. Carmouche is known for his positive attitude and consistent ability to produce with any kind of horse at any price.  Married with two children, Carmouche is in the prime of a career that has seen him boot home more than 3,900 winners.

James Graham knew he wanted to be a jockey since attending high school in his native Ireland. Born May 17, 1979, in Dublin, Graham attended Ireland’s jockey’s school where he learned all facets of horsemanship, from cleaning stalls to grooming and tacking up horses. He came to the U.S. in the fall of 2002. He rode his first stateside winner at River Downs in July 2003. Two decades into his career, Graham consistently ranks among the nation’s top jockeys. He rides regularly at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Keeneland and Ellis Park, where in 2019 he led all jockeys in wins. He is recognized by his peers as a determined yet humble competitor.

From a line of horsemen, Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on Nov. 3, 1985. He began his riding career at Delta Downs in Louisiana in November 2003. Hernandez would exercise horses before school and ride races at night. After graduating high school, he started his apprenticeship. He captured his first riding title at Evangeline Downs. In 2004, he won the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey after winning 243 races and more than $4.4 million in earnings while winning stakes races at such tracks as Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Remington Park and Delta Downs. Fast forward 20 years and Hernandez, Jr. added a classic victory to his resume when winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby aboard Mystik Dan. Also in 2024, he won the Kentucky Oaks and a second Breeders’ Cup race, both aboard Thorpedo Anna, who is a leading candidate for horse of the year honors.

Juan Hernandez was born on Mar. 7, 1992, in Perote, Veracruz, Mexico. Known as a great tactician, Hernandez is fiercely competitive in the saddle yet maintains a steady demeanor that’s consistent with his reputation as a devoted family man and tireless worker. The son of a quarter horse jockey, Hernandez moved with his family to Mexico City when he was 10 to facilitate his father’s career objectives. Earning his jockey license in 2008, Hernandez became Mexico City’s leading apprentice in 2009. He transitioned to the Bay Area following that where he became a dominant force at Golden Gate fields and other Northern California tracks. He then shifted his tack to Santa Anita where he has since won seven riding titles.  In 2022, Hernandez ranked ninth among all North American in purse earnings with $15,021,265 and 11th in wins with 211.

One of New Mexico’s top jockeys, Alfredo Juarez Jr., 43, began his riding career at Hipodromo de las Americas in his native Mexico City in 1992. Juarez’s best season came in 2014 when he won 218 races from 958 mounts and earned more than $4 million.  Juarez, who regularly rides at Albuquerque, Ruidoso, Sunland Park, Sun Ray Park and Zia Park, rode his 3,000th winner in 2019. Juarez has won more than 20 riding titles at Albuquerque, Ruidoso, Sunland Park, Sun Ray Park and Zia Park, from 2004 to 2024.

The 2024 Woolf Award was won by Junior Alvarado. The 2025 winner will be announced in February and will become the 76th jockey dating back to Gordon Glisson in 1950.