Leparoux receives Woolf Award

ARCADIA, Calif. – A gracious Julien Leparoux was honored at Santa Anita on Sunday with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, which recognizes a rider’s accomplishments and personal character.

Leparoux was joined in the brief ceremony by fellow riders, including past recipients Mike Smith and Patrick Valenzuela, as well as friends and family.

The Woolf Award, which can be won once, is determined by a national vote by jockeys.

“It’s a big honor,” Leparoux said in an interview after the ceremony. “I’m very grateful to receive it. We compete pretty much every single day of the year. For them to vote for me, it’s an honor.”

Leparoux, 42, had won 3,068 races in North America through Sunday and is currently based in Kentucky. He was honored with the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding apprentice jockey in 2006 and won the Eclipse as outstanding jockey in 2009. Leparoux is one of four riders to win Eclipse Awards in both categories.

:: Santa Anita Classic Meet! Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more.