Hall of Fame horseman Mel Lawson, who passed away on Wednesday, was a highly regarded and significant contributor to the thoroughbred racing industry for over 50 years.
Born on February 14, 1923 in Hamilton, Ontario, Lawson was educated at Adelaide Hoodless Public School, Central Collegiate Hamilton and The University of Toronto Faculty of Forestry, where he graduated in 1946.
Throughout his school years, he played as quarterback and punter for the University of Toronto Blues, then quarterback for the Hamilton Wildcats, winning the Grey Cup on November 17, 1943 against Winnipeg. He also played hockey for the Toronto Marlies, then coached by Harold Ballard.
One of his greatest passions was thoroughbred racing.
Lawson decided to get into the sport of kings in the 1960s. His parents introduced him to the world of horse racing, and after buying his first horse in 1964, he was hooked. His red and black silks (the team colours of his Hamilton high school) would become synonymous with success.
He started humbly and remained humble. And, for a reasonably small owner-breeder, he did remarkably well.
Lawson and his wife, Barbara, who married in 1947, named their stable, Jim Dandy, after the names of their three children: Jim, Dana and David.
He was a major supporter of Canadian racing, as a horse breeder, owner and stable yard owner. Lawson’s first stakes winner came in 1966, when Carodana won the Manitoba Derby, held at Assiniboia Downs. Another of Lawson’s early stakes successes came on September 10, 1972, courtesy of Pagala.
Other horses of note included Pottahawk, winner of the 1977 Natalma Stakes, Sovereign Award winners Let’s Go Blue, the runner-up in the 1984 Queen’s Plate after emphatically winning a division of the Plate Trial, Eternal Search, a 15-time stakes winner and Ginger Gold, winner of the 2002 Woodbine Oaks and Canada’s champion two-year-old filly of 2001. Jiggs Coz, Utterly Cool, Ghost Fleet and Smokey Fire have also experienced highly productive careers.
“He was a true gentleman,” said Woodbine-based conditioner Sid Attard, who enjoyed great success with Lawson for many years. “I miss him a lot already. He was a good person. When he won a race, he was so happy. But when he lost, he didn’t have a long face. He was competitive, but he never questioned what you did. He supported you. I’ll remember him as a very, very nice man.”
In May of 2010, Lawson, who worked for 62 years at Lawson Lumber, the family’s company, was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, in the builders’ category. That same year, his Destroy was named Outstanding Broodmare.
The visitation will take place at Smith’s Funeral Home, 485 Brant Street (one block north of City Hall) BURLINGTON (905-632-3333) on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 7-9 p.m.
A private family service and interment will take place on July 29. In lieu of flowers, the family would respectfully ask that donations be directed either to the Toronto General Hospital or the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington.
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