Mel Lawson, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, died July 27 in Burlington, Ontario. He was 88.
Lawson, who raced in the name Jim Dandy Stable, campaigned a dozen stakes winners, 11 of which were homebreds. The lone non-homebred, Eternal Search, turned out to be his best runner. She was a three-time Canadian champion.
Lawson also raced Canadian champions Ginger Gold, Ruthie’s Run, and Let’s Go Blue, who finished second in the 1984 Queen’s Plate Stakes (Can-IR). Lawson was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2010.
Lawson was played football in college and professionally. As a quarterback, he led the Hamilton Wildcats to a victory over Winnipeg in the 1943 Grey Cup.
Lawson, whose family owns a lumber firm, is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara, and two sons and a daughter.
