Ten years ago, almost to the day, Sandy Hawley, the greatest jockey in Canadian horse racing history, hobbled around on crutches, his battered body the victim of his mount -- Regent's Revenue. The horse reared at first, then fell on the rider, causing him several injuries.
Today, the Hall of Fame jockey who rode 6,449 winners in his career, including four Queen's Plate triumphs, and earned for his owners about $ 90 million in purses, again is on crutches. This time, however, he can't blame a horse for his misfortune.
Looking forward to today's Queen's Plate Trials and the 146th running of the Queen's Plate on June 26, Dandy Sandy told me this about his latest accident:
"I was helping a buddy of mine taking stuff out of his boat," he said. "I tried to jump out of the boat and twisted my ankle. Hard to believe, because I used to jump off horses that were a lot higher than from the boat on the water."
Hawley can't seem to escape the injury bug. There hardly is a bone in his body that hasn't been broken.
He also suffered from cancer at one time and was given four months to live. He beat all the odds the way he used to beat them at the racetrack.
Hawley's entire life story will be published later this month in a book he and my colleague, Perry Lefko, co-authored. It's called A Ride of a Lifetime, a complete life story of this amazing individual.
Hawley will be signing his book at Woodbine on June 25, the day before the Queen's Plate. And speaking of the Plate, Woodbine Entertainment's little goodwill ambassador, who tied Robin Platt's Queen's Plate record of four Plate wins, talked about this year's favourites.
"I think this year's Plate will be a wide-open affair," Hawley said. "I like King of Jazz who won two races at Churchill Downs. The trainer is Carl Naftziger. I used to ride for him, but I retired before he got the horse Unbridled, winner of the Kentucky Derby. Then there is the horse Get Down, undefeated at Woodbine and trained by Nancy Triola. The horse beat last year's Coronation winner, Ablo, by 8 1/2 lengths.
"Another candidate is Enough Is Enough, last year's favourite and fourth in the Marine Stakes. Moreover, you can't write off Samson Farms' Dance With Ravens. There also is a filly, Gold Strike, the daughter of Smart Strike. She won the Selene Stakes."
How about your personal favourite you'd bet on?
"I'll go for Get Down, trained by Nancy Triola. That horse has a good chance. And we shouldn't forget Steve Stavro's horse, Atanas, who won its first start this year."
Then I inquired about Hawley's ankle.
"The ankle is coming along," he said. "I think it should be okay for Queen's Plate Day."
I certainly wouldn't bet against his prediction.
GROSSLY ABBREVIATED
Edmonton's Dr. Susan Nattrass, also known as Canada's Annie Oakley, won a bronze medal at the recently held trapshooting world championships held in Lonato, Italy. The 51-year-old sharpshooter was coached by her mother, Marie. Over the years, Dr. Nattrass has won six gold, four silver and four bronze medals in world championship competition ... Toronto's 11-year-old Christine (Peng Peng) Lee captured two gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the Canadian senior gymnastics championships in Edmonton. The gifted youngster is a shoo-in for Canada's senior national team ... Competitors of Evelyn Koop's Kalev Estienne rhythmic gymnastics group have won 98 gold, 54 silver and 39 bronze medals in 14 events in the 2004-2005 season. Ms. Koop, who hails from Estonia, is the founder of rhythmic gymnastics in Canada ... Belleville's Stephen Spragg has signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier Baseball League. He attended Augusta (Ga.) State University where he went 3-3 in 26 appearances with a 3.30 ERA and seven saves. The Frontier League is an independent pro league operating in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, West Virginia and Kentucky.
