Puerto Rican native Luis M. Quinones, America's second leading rider by races won in 2019, has been selected the winner of the 2020 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Given annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the award will be presented to Quinones in a winner's circle ceremony Mar. 22.
Quinones, who competes along the midwest and southern racing circuit–including Ohio's Mahoning Valley Racecourse and Thistledown and Mountaineer Park in West Virginia–outpolled five finalists: veteran riders Tyler Baze, Javier Castellano, Chris Emigh and James Graham.
“It's a great honor just to be on the ballot for this award,” said the 41-year-old. “Winning the Woolf Award is incredible. I'm looking forward to coming out there and I know this is something I will never forget.”
In 2019, Quinones won 314 races from 1,331 mounts, finishing second nationally to Eclipse Champion Irad Ortiz, Jr., who had 324 winners. A married father of three daughters, Quinones has nearly 2,000 career winners.
The Woolf Award winner is selected by a nationwide vote of riders. The award recognizes riders whose careers and personal character garner esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
