Eclipse Awards 2025: Yedsit Hazlewood

Yedsit Hazlewood continued Maryland’s rich tradition of showcasing young riding talent, as the Laurel Park title winner has been voted an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2025.

Hazlewood ranked as North America’s second-leading apprentice in both wins and mount earnings last year. He compiled a record of 131 wins from 570 starts, earning $4,263,751.

The 17-year-old native of Panama had an exceptional amount of success in Maryland. He won the Laurel fall title with 73 wins, which was 38 more than the second-leading jockey. At one point, Hazlewood won at least one race on 23 consecutive cards.

Hazlewood also celebrated a trio of four-win days on the Maryland circuit. They included the Maryland Million program at Laurel, on which he won both the Nursery with Big Cuddle and the Distaff with Onyx Ten.

:: Full list of 2025 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

“This is my house,” Hazlewood said last year. “I like it here.”

The accomplishments led to Hazlewood being named the year’s leading jockey at tracks operated by the Maryland Jockey Club. Hazlewood achieved much of his success after returning from injuries sustained in a June car accident. He returned to action in August.

“The accident helped me to be able to understand and be more mature about this,” Hazlewood said through a translator. “To get an opportunity like this, you will never get it again, and you don’t want it to waste it.”

During his apprenticeship season in 2025, Hazlewood also registered stakes wins at Parx Racing and Penn National.

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