Mel Lawson Honored
Since its inauguration in 1976, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has paid tribute to horse trainers, horse racing industry builders, standardbred horses, thoroughbred horses, jockeys and sulky drivers every year. It has made its home at the Woodbine Racetrack. This year, inductees to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame will be honored at a ceremony at the Mississauga Convention Center, with the master of ceremonies being Jim Bannon. And the time has also come for Mel Lawson to be inducted as a builder into the hall of fame.
Mel Lawson’s contributions to the horse racing industry has spanned over fifty years, even though he began his sporting career in a completely different industry. With a keen interest in the sporting world, Mel Lawson was always trying his hand at something new, such as hurling, baseball and football, but his real love was found in the sport of kings. Always remaining active, Lawson played for the Hamilton Flying Wildcats in 1943, graduated from the University of Toronto, and only retired from the family lumber business in the year 2008. Since the Woodbine Racecourse opened its doors in 1956, Lawson has been a constant supporter as horse breeder, owner and stable yard owner. His parents introduced him to the world of horse racing, and after buying his first horse in 1964 he has never looked back. Lawson found his first stakes winner in 1966, when Carodana won the Manitoba Derby, which was held at Assiniboia Downs. Running under the recognizable black and red silks of his Jim Dandy Stable, Lawson has enjoyed many victories with horses such as Let’s Go Blue, Ginger Gold and Eternal Search.
At the age of 87, Lawson is known to be an owner that never concentrates on more than three horses in a season, and enjoys both the highs and lows of the sport. His unmatched dedication to the sport, and his horses, has won over the hearts of spectators and the respect of other members of the horse racing industry. His induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a well deserved honor and his contributions will be remembered for years to come.