Canadian Hall of Fame rider Donnie Seymour dies

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Donnie Seymour, one of the most successful jockeys in Canadian racing history, died at his home north of Toronto on Friday at age 59.

Seymour rode two Canadian Triple Crown winners, With Approval in 1989 and Izvestia in 1990. Owned by Kinghaven Farm and trained by Roger Attfield, With Approval and Izvestia both earned Canadian Horse of the Year honors. Seymour also piloted another Canadian Horse of the Year for Kinghaven Farm and Attfield, Play the King in 1988, the year they finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

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Seymour was voted the Sovereign Award for outstanding jockey in 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1990. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1999 and was honored with the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1995 after retiring in 1994.

Seymour was a leading rider in Alberta in the 1980s before moving his tack to Ontario. The native of Hamilton, Ontario, registered 2,141 career wins, including 171 stakes, and his mounts earned over $31 million.

A private family service will be held and will be followed by a public celebration of Seymour’s life at a later date. In his memory, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.skwarchukfuneralhome.com