Jockey Junior Alvarado has won the 2024 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, decided by a nationwide vote of his fellow riders.
The award, presented annually by Santa Anita Park since 1950, honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and for the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
"I couldn't believe it," Alvarado said of winning the award. "I was in disbelief. I had to ask two or three times if they were sure I won.
"It's definitely a tremendous honor. I thought it was a tremendous honor just to be nominated. It is probably the best award you can get in our business. It has to be in the top two, top three for sure. I'm very humbled and very honored to have won this award."
It is widely regarded as one of the most cherished honors given to a jockey, as each year's winner is determined by a vote of their peers.
"That's what makes it so special, that you have some impact on riders across the country. You have earned their respect," Alvarado said. "We spend at least half the day in the jock's room, sharing time and then racing with all our fellow riders. It's definitely very, very gratifying."
In 2023 Junior Alvarado garnered national attention as the regular rider of Horse of the Year Cody's Wish . Over two seasons, Alvarado guided Cody's Wish to seven graded stakes victories in nine starts, including two runnings of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). On a steady upward trajectory at age 37, Alvarado, a Venezuela native, recently piloted Senor Buscador to victory in the world's richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).
A son of Venezuelan-based jockey Rafael Alvarado, Junior Alvarado was born May 20, 1986, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He won his first race near Caracas Dec. 30, 2005, at age 19.
Alvarado immigrated to the United States in 2007 and rode his first stateside winner at Gulfstream Park Feb. 17 of that year. After being Arlington Park's leading rider in 2009, he relocated permanently to New York in 2010. He registered his 1,000th North American win at Saratoga Race Couse four years later. In 2016, he was a close fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Mohaymen in his first ride in a Triple Crown race. He registered his milestone 2,000th North American victory at Gulfstream in January 2023.
With 2,117 career victories going through March 15, Alvarado's top horses include Olympiad , winner of the 2022 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1); Art Collector, winner of the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1); Just F Y I, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita Park this past fall; and of course, fan favorite Cody's Wish.
Junior Alvarado and his wife, Kelly, have three children: Adrian, Adalyn, and Axel.
When he heard he had won the Woolf Award, Alvarado said he immediately called his wife to share the news.
Alvarado will be honored with the Woolf Award in a winner's circle ceremony at Santa Anita this spring with a presentation date to be announced soon.
Named for the late Hall of Fame jockey who gained national acclaim by winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap Feb. 23, 1935, aboard Azucar and later by piloting the immortal Seabiscuit to victory over 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a match race at Pimlico Race Course in 1938, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award has been won by some of the greatest names in the sport's history.
Alvarado was joined on this year's Woolf ballot by fellow finalists Alex Birzer, Julien Leparoux, Edwin Maldonado, and Rodney Prescott.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
