Sandy Hawley

Desmond Sandford ""Sandy"" Hawley - ""Member of the Order of Canada"" is a USA & Canada Hall of Fame jockey.

Sandy Hawley became the first jockey to ever lead the Canadian standings in a full season as an apprentice. In 1969, a time when there were no Sovereign or Eclipse Awards for jockeys, Hawley rode 230 winners, the most that year of any apprentice jockey in North America. He went on to race in the United States where he led all jockeys in victories for the years 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1976. In the 1973 season, he became the first jockey to ever win 500 races in one year, breaking Bill Shoemaker's record. Sandy Hawley has career earnings of over $88.6 million and was one of the most successful jockeys of his generation.

In 1976 he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in the United States after he broke thoroughbred racing's all-time money-winning record for a single year.

Hawley developed a love for the game of ice hockey and while riding in California, he got an ice-level job as a penalty timekeeper for the home games of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, giving himself a great view of his favorite game.

Twice, Hawley won seven races in a single day at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack and at Santa Anita Park had six wins in a single day on two occasions which is still a record at Santa Anita Race track. Hawley won the Coronation Futurity Stakes a record five times.

He had 31,456 mounts, garnering 6,450 wins including The Living Legend Race in 2008 at Santa Anita Race Track and won 18 riding titles at Woodbine Racetrack .

He was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1987, doctors only gave him a few months to live but he fought to overcome the disease with experimental drugs.

The Sandy Hawley Award is presented every year by the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame to an individual who best exemplifies a dedication to the community.

He is a Public Relations Ambassador for Woodbine Entertainment Group, and resides in Toronto, Ontario and Lexington KY. He has worked as an analyst for The Score and CKXT-TV's horse racing coverage.

On October 18, 2008 at Santa Anita Park, Sandy Hawley and seven other U.S. Racing 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 6,450th official career victory with a win aboard Tribal Chief, a horse owned by musician/record producer Herb Alpert and his brother David Alpert.