
A little-known aspect of the frieze is that, in one of the panels, a jockey is depicted falling off a horse (see photo below). It is said that the falllen jockey was meant to depict the great George Woolf, who died at the age of 35 following a spill at Santa Anita.

Known as "The Iceman" becuase of his renowned cool and patience while waiting for his horse to make the right move in a race, George Woolf was one of the premier jockeys of his era. In 1935, he made history when he rode Azucar to victory in the Santa Anita Handicap - the first horse race worth $100,000.
When asked what was the best racehorse he ever rode, George Woolf answered immediately, "Seabiscuit." In the 2003 film, Seabiscuit, jockey Gary Stevens played the famed Woolf. Stevens was the 1996 recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, an award that has been given annually since 1950 to a North American jockey who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct both on and off the racetrack.
A bronze statue of George Woolf was erected in his honor, and stands in the paddock at Santa Anita Park. A photo of the statue is shown below.
The Iceman's Derby
George Woolf bought a restaurant on Huntington Drive in Arcadia, in 1938, and renamed it in honor of the Kentucky Derby. He promptly decorated the walls of "The Derby" with racing memorabilia, most of which remains to be enjoyed by patrons at The Derby today. Woolf lived on the second floor above the restaurant, and many believe that his ghost haunts the restaurant.
3 comments:
This is so interesting Mary - great work. What's next on the history tour?
I just love, love, love all the historical stuff you do!
I saw the ghost one evening. I think I was on my third martini.
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