| Born on April 16, 1949, Hawley was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and became an Eclipse, an Avelino Gomez Memorial (Outstanding Canadian rider), and a Lou Marsh Award winner. He also received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame in 1986, he is truly one of North America's most outstanding athletes.
When Canterbury Downs opened in 1985, Hawley was already an award-winning rider, and he immediately made a lifetime impression on Canterbury fans. He rode his 5,000th winner aboard Mighty Massa at Canterbury on June 27, 1986, and was Canterbury's leading rider in 1985. During that period Hawley developed skin cancer but never stopped riding during his treatment and recovery.
He returned to Canterbury in 1995 to participate in Canterbury Park's Jockey of the Decade promotion, then returned one year later to win the $150,000 Lady Canterbury aboard Camlan.
Hawley started his career as a hotwalker and a groom in Toronto. He became a regular rider in Ontario, and then rode on the East Coast before taking his take to the Southern California circuit in the mid-1970s.
Hockey is Hawley's second love. While riding in California, and when journeying back in the winter, he took a job as a penalty timekeeper for the Los Angeles Kings.
He led North America in victories for the years of 1970,1972, 1973 and 1976. Hawley has won seven races in a day at Woodbine on two occasions, while once bagging six wins on two separate days at Santa Anita in 1976. |
Canada