In the summer of 2014, SAHIN CIVACI, then 20, returned to his birthplace of Vancouver, British Columbia from Ankara, Turkey in his quest to be a top jockey. In the years since then, the soft-spoken young man has had a meteoric rise in Canadian horse racing, highlighted by his first Woodbine racetrack title in 2024.
Civaci was recognized on Sunday, December 15 for his meet-leading 170 victories, 30 more than a previous champion rider, Rafael Hernandez. Another westerner, Fraser Aebly, who began the year as an apprentice, finished third with 73 wins. Civaci rode the winners of 17 stakes races, one less than Hall of Famer Patrick Husbands.
Civaci was 10 years old when his parents returned to their homeland with their son in tow. It was in Turkey that his stepfather suggested that Civaci might want to be a jockey because of his stature. And since horse racing is huge in Turkey, the young man was able to attend jockey school sponsored by the Turkish Jockey Club.
As a lover of traveling, Civaci headed back to Canada ready to try his hand at Canadian horse racing at Hastings racecourse. He learned the ways of race-riding quickly, winning 28 races in his second season and boosting that number up to 48 with purses of $600,000 in 2018.
It was time for the young rider to go east to Woodbine to ride for bigger purses and many more big stables. He won 39 races in 2019, a win percentage of 11, thanks to trainers such as Phil Gracey and Martin Drexler who gave him some good mounts.
“That first year was a little difficult, getting adjusted to a new situation,” said Civaci, whose quiet nature made it hard for him to sell himself. After I got through all of that, I felt very comfortable. I feel very comfortable now and I’m very happy with where I am at.”
His agent. Leroy Trotman, also agent for multiple champion Patrick Husbands, came on board in 2022 and got his new client out to all the barns. One of those barns was that of perennial leading trainer Mark Casse, whose owner Gary Barber took a liking to Civaci.
Last year Civaci won 141 races and over $6.5 million, landing second to champion Kazushi Kimura in the Woodbine standings.
With Kimura riding in California for a lot of 2024, the door was wide open for Civaci to challenge for the championship. His win percentage of 26 is eighth-highest in North America of riders with more than 100 mounts.
Overall Civaci sits 16th on the continent by wins.
Cool hands and nerves of steel are the Civaci trademarks. He can seemingly have his horse out of a race, far off the pace, until he and his mount are suddenly there heading for a win. The married father of one has a smooth style and a bold approach, often guiding his horses through slim spaces on the way to victory.
Civaci could be riding in New York this winter and he should fit in quite well.
MARK CASSE set a record for stakes wins at Woodbine with 33 and won his 16th trainer’s title with 108 wins and purses of $7.3 million. Second to Casse by two wins was Martin Drexler, 82, with Kevin Attard, 80, once again third.
BRUNO SCHICKEDANZ led all owners by wins and purses for the second consecutive year with 65 victories and purses of $1.9 million.
THE METEORIC RISE OF SAHIN CIVACI
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