Veteran Midwest-based jockey Corey Lanerie has been named the winner of the 2014 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.
Lanerie, currently competing at Gulfstream Park, plans to venture to Santa Anita Park to accept the award in March or April. The Louisiana native who won his first career race in April 1991 at Evangeline Downs outpolled four other finalists: David Amiss, Dennis Carr, Aaron Gryder, and Scott Stevens.
Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the Woolf Award is one of the most highly coveted honors in all of racing as it recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for both the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Born Nov. 13, 1974, in Lafayette, La., Lanerie, began galloping horses at age 9, and like so many Cajun riders before him, rode at bush tracks prior to officially launching his professional career.
A winner of more than 3,500 races, Lanerie has won multiple riding titles at Churchill Downs and was leading rider at Churchill's 2013 autumn meeting. He has also been leading rider at Ellis Park in Kentucky and at three Texas tracks—Lone Star Park, Sam Houston Race Park, and Retama Park.
Born to ride, Lanerie's grandfather was a trainer who owned horses; his father, Gerald, became a trainer following a career as a jockey.
Held in the highest regard by horsemen and fellow jockeys wherever he has competed, Lanerie currently resides in Louisville, Ky., with his wife, Shantel, and their young daughter, Brittlyn.
The Woolf Award was created to honor and memorialize the legendary jockey Woolf, known as "The Iceman," who was regarded as one of the greatest big money riders of his time.
Last year's Woolf Award was won by Mario Pino.
