Tyler Baze, Leparoux Among 2026 Woolf Award Nominees

Five of the nation's top riders have been nominated for the 77th George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award at Santa Anita Park. Tyler Baze, Alex Birzer, Julien Leparoux, Jareth Loveberry, and Tim Thornton comprise the group that will be voted on by their peers nationwide to determine who will be Santa Anita Park's 2026 Woolf Award winner. 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. North America's champion apprentice jockey in 2000, Tyler Baze, 42, was born in Seattle. The son of a former jockey, Earl Baze, Tyler Baze hails from a legendary racing family that also produced North America's all-time leading rider by wins, Russell Baze (2002 Woolf Award winner). Russell Baze is Tyler's second cousin and a retired member of racing's Hall of Fame. Tyler's uncle Gary Baze was also a top rider, primarily in the Northwest. Tyler Baze has been a Southern California staple and has consistently endeared himself to horsemen and fans alike as a tireless competitor that comes to work ready to ride. Baze has overcome personal adversity and become a true credit to his profession. Baze is close to obtaining another career milestone, as he has won 2,988 races in North America through Jan. 22. Birzer, a native of Council Grove, Kan., won his first race June 24, 1992 at River Downs and has won numerous riding titles throughout the Midwest including Prairie Meadows, The Woodlands, and at Nebraska tracks. He won his 3,000th race at Oaklawn Park Feb. 20, 2017 and currently rides primarily at Delta Downs, Prairie Meadows and Will Rogers. Birzer was inducted into the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame in 2019. Birzer, 52 started off the year by collecting his 4,000th North American Thoroughbred victory Jan. 2026. Leparoux, 42, was born in Senlis, France. Leparoux came to Southern California in early 2003 to work as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone before launching his jockey career in the summer of 2005. Leparoux has been a leading rider at Keeneland 12 times, with his first title coming in 2006. In addition to his successes at Keeneland, Leparoux notably notched seven wins in a single day at Churchill Downs Nov. 11, 2008, tying him with the legendary Pat Day, who first accomplished the feat in 1984. Leparoux won the 2009 Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey and 2006 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice. He is one of only four jockeys to win an Eclipse as both apprentice and journeyman. Loveberry began his career at Great Lakes Downs in his native Michigan where he rode his first winner Aug. 29, 2005. Loveberry, 38, notched his 2,000th career victory in December. A multiple graded stakes-winning jockey, Loveberry has ridden at tracks throughout the Midwest. Loveberry won his 1,000th race at Remington Park Nov. 28, 2015. In 2023, Loveberry finished second in the Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Two Phil's for trainer Larry Rivelli. Thornton, 38, comes from a family of rodeo riders and he himself rode bulls as a young teenager. He began his Thoroughbred riding career at age 16 and earned his first win on June 13, 2003 at Arlington Park. He would go on to win numerous riding titles at Hawthorne Race Course before going back to his native Louisiana in 2017. Thornton continued to show his competitive spirit by setting a track record at Delta Downs when winning seven races in one day in 2021. The 2025 Woolf Award was won by Kendrick Carmouche. The 2026 winner will be announced in March. Regarded as one of the greatest big-money riders of his era, George Woolf was a household name 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 Champion War Admiral in a famed match race at Pimlico Race Course Nov. 1, 1938. 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.