Sandy Hawley

Sandy Hawley, born on April 16, 1949, in Oshawa, Ontario, is a celebrated Canadian Hall of Fame jockey whose illustrious career spanned three decades. At the tender age of seventeen, he discovered his passion for horse racing while hotwalking and grooming horses at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto. By nineteen, he had made his debut as a jockey at the same track, quickly establishing himself as a formidable competitor.

Hawley's remarkable talent shone brightly as he became the first apprentice jockey to lead the Canadian standings in a full season. In 1969, he rode an impressive two hundred and thirty winners, the highest for any apprentice in North America that year. His success continued as he transitioned to the United States, where he dominated the racing scene, leading all jockeys in victories in the years 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1976. Notably, in 1973, he shattered records by becoming the first jockey to win five hundred races in a single year, surpassing the previous record held by Bill Shoemaker.

Throughout his career, Hawley amassed career earnings exceeding eighty-eight million dollars, solidifying his status as one of the most successful jockeys of his generation. His accolades include the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award and the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1976, a year in which he also broke the all-time money-winning record for a single year in thoroughbred racing. In addition to his racing achievements, he was honored with the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete in both 1973 and 1976, and he was named a Member of the Order of Canada for his outstanding contributions to the sport.

Hawley's racing prowess is further highlighted by his victories in Canada’s most prestigious thoroughbred race, the Queen's Plate, which he won four times. He also holds the record for winning the Coronation Futurity Stakes five times, showcasing his exceptional skill on the racetrack. Despite facing a life-threatening diagnosis of skin cancer in 1987, Hawley demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, ultimately overcoming the disease.

After retiring on July 1, 1998, Hawley continued to contribute to the sport as a Public Relations Ambassador for Woodbine Entertainment Group. He resides in Toronto with his wife, Kaoru Tsuchiya, whom he married in 2019. Together, they are dedicated to supporting the community, working with retired jockeys to aid the permanently disabled Jockeys fund and the Community Association for Riding for the Disabled.