The young Sandy Hawley was once described as “a hovercraft on horseback” as he created his own distinctive, winning style. He began as a groom, then progressed to exercise boy. Eventually, he fulfilled his dream to ride in races.

Rating a horse and communication were always Sandy’s strong suits. These skills helped him to 515 victories, breaking a record which had stood for two decades.

During his jockey career, Sandy won the Queen’s Plate four times: 1970, 1971, 1975, and 1978. He is in the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame. To his credit, he has received the Lou Marsh Trophy, as Canada’s best athlete in 1973 and 1976. He was given the Eclipse Award as North America’s top jockey, and the Order of Canada, both in 1976, and the Sovereign Award as Canada’s best jockey, in 1978 and 1988.

Since his retirement from riding, Sandy made plans for a career in broadcasting and public relations with the Ontario Jockey Club.