Sandy Hawley

Biography

Sandy Hawley took an unusual path to the racetrack, spending time as a plumber before he became a jockey. But once Hawley found his calling, he rapidly ascended to the elite among his profession, eventually earning induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1986 and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1992.

Born on April 16, 1949, in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Hawley rode his first winner, Fly Alone, on Oct. 14, 1968, at Woodbine. The following year, he was North America’s leading apprentice. Hawley quickly found success and led all North American jockeys in wins in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1976. In 1973, he became the first to ride 500 winners in a year.

In 1976, Hawley won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey, as well as the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. He won the Lou Marsh Trophy in 1973 and 1976, which is given annually to Canada’s top athlete, and the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1986. 

Hawley won 12 Canadian Triple Crown events — four editions each of the Queen’s Plate, Prince of Wales, and Breeders’ Stakes — as well as eight renewals of the Canadian Oaks, five Coronation Futurities, five Star Shoot Stakes, five Summer Stakes, and two Canadian Internationals. In the United States, his victories included the Alabama, Ashland, Bing Crosby (twice), D.C. International (twice), Hollywood Futurity, Hollywood Gold Cup, Hollywood Oaks, Man o’ War, Secretariat, Spinster, and Whitney, among others.

At Woodbine, Hawley once rode seven winners on a single card. He also had two six-win days at Santa Anita. Hawley was the leading rider in Canada nine times, won 18 riding titles at Woodbine, 13 at Fort Erie, and nine each at Greenwood and Ontario.

Hawley retired in 1998 with 6,449 wins from 31,456 mounts. He was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame that year. On Oct. 18, 2008, at Santa Anita Park, Hawley and seven other Hall of Fame jockeys came out of retirement for the Living Legends Race that officially counted in their career totals and was specially approved for legalized parimutuel wagering. Hawley earned his 6,450^th official career victory with a win aboard Tribal Chief, a horse owned by musician/record producer Herb Alpert and his brother David Alpert. Overall, Hawley won on 20.5 percent of his mounts and had purse earnings of $88,709,492.

Achievements

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1976
Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1978, 1988
North America's leading jockey in wins — 1970, 1972, 1973, 1976

Canadian Triple Crown highlights

Won the Queen's Plate — 1970, 1971, 1975, 1978
Won the Breeders' Stakes — 1970, 1973, 1975, 1988
Won the Prince of Wales Stakes — 1970, 1973, 1975, 1988

Jockey Profile | Sandy Hawley | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information