Kendrick Carmouche Wins 2025 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award From A Nationwide Vote Of His Peers

By Jasmine Torrez —-

Joey Freshwater (5) ridden by Kendrick Carmouche wins the Bayshore Stakes (Grade 3) on Wood Memorial Day at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York on April 8th, 2023. Jason Moran/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM

KENDRICK CARMOUCHE WINS 2025 GEORGE WOOLF MEMORIAL JOCKEY AWARD FROM A NATIONWIDE VOTE OF HIS PEERS

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 3, 2025) – Highly regarded Kendrick Carmouche has won the 2025 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award via nationwide vote of his fellow riders.

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.

“25 years of living as a professional jockey and living as a son to a jockey, this award means that the pavement that I have put down in the industry has been shown to a lot of people and they’ve seen me grow over the years.” Said Carmouche, “I’m just honored, very honored. I just wish my dad would be here to notice. He was one of the biggest influences that got me into the sport. He is well missed. This is one of the things that we accomplish along the way to show our gratitude. Not only to my dad, but my wife and kids, my mom brothers and sisters. Just accomplishing so many things along my career.”

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 starting 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 3,970 winners.

“When you get close to milestones it seems like it slows down. 4,000 wins for a Creole guy from Louisiana, in the most modern age of racing that is pretty tough.” Said Carmouche, “If you would have told me I would have 4,000 wins when I first started I would be ticked pink.”

Carmouche was inducted into the Parx Hall of Fame in 2015. He has made New York his base since 2015. He won riding titles at Aqueduct during its 2020 fall meet and 2023 spring meet. Carmouche currently ranks third at the current Aqueduct winter meet where he has won with 23 percent of his mounts.

Carmouche’s top graded stakes winners include Christophe Clement-trained Pure Sensation, who won the GIII Turf Monster Stakes at Parx three times, twice with Carmouche aboard; True Timber, who won the 2020 GI Cigar Mile for trainer Jack Sisterson; and multiple graded stakes winner Integration for Claude McGaughey III.

Carmouche will be honored with the Woolf Award in a Winner’s Circle ceremony at Santa Anita this Spring.

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 Champion 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 history of the sport.

Carmouche was joined on this year’s Woolf ballot by fellow finalists Brian Hernandez, Jr., Alfredo Juarez, Jr., Juan Hernandez and James Graham.

A date for the Woolf Award presentation ceremony at Santa Anita will be announced soon.

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The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.