Junior Alvarado wins George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award

Junior Alvarado has won the 2024 George Woolf Memorial jockey award via nationwide vote of his fellow riders, capping off one of the most compelling stories in racing history.

The award, which has been 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. 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.

In 2023, Alvarado garnered national attention as the regular rider of horse of the year Cody’s Wish. Over two season Alvarado guided Cody’s Wish to seven stakes victories in nine starts including two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. On a steady upward trajectory at age 37, Alvarado, a Venezuela native, most recently piloted Senor Buscador to victory in the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup (G1).

A son of Venezuelan based jockey Rafael Alvarado, Junior Alvarado was born May 20, 1986 in Barquisimento, Venezuela. He broke his maiden near Caracas at age 19 on Dec. 30, 2005. Alvarado immigrated to the U.S. in 2007 and rode his first stateside winner at Gulfstream Park on 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 career win at Saratoga four years later. In 2016, he was a close fourth in the Kentucky Derby with Mohaymen in his first triple crown race. He registered his milestone 2,000th career victory at Gulfstream Park in January of 2023.

With 2,117 career victories going into March, Alvarado’s top horses include 2022 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Olympiad, 2023 Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner Art Collector, 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I and, of course, fan favorite Cody’s Wish.

Junior Alvarado and his wife Kelly have three children, Adrian, Adalyn and Axel. Alvarado will be honored with the Woolf Award in a winner’s circle ceremony at Santa Anita this spring. A date for the ceremony will be announced soon.

Named for the late hall of fame jockey who gained national acclaim by winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap on Feb. 23, 1935 aboard Azucar, and later by piloting the immortal Seabiscuit to victory over Triple Crown winner War Admiral in 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 history of the sport.

Alvarado was joined on this year’s Woolf ballot by fellow finalists Alex Birzer, Julien Leparoux, Edwin Maldonado and Rodney Prescott.