Irwin Driedger, Canadian Hall of Fame jockey, dies at 66

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Canadian Hall of Fame jockey Irwin Driedger died at 66 in Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto on Saturday night after a long battle with cancer.

A native of Russell, Manitoba, Driedger set an Assiniboia Downs record of 161 wins in 1979 before surpassing it in 1980 with 180 victories. In 1981, he made 214 trips to the winners’ circle.

Driedger went on to ride at major tracks across Canada, winning 1,633 races in total for earnings of over $14 million. The 1998 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award, Driedger rode Sovereign Award winners Liz’s Pride, Phoenix Factor, Classy ‘n Smart, In My Cap, Grey Classic and Imperial Choice. He was voted the Sovereign Award for outstanding jockey in 1981.

Driedger retired from the saddle in 1990 to become the secretary-manager of the Jockeys Benefit Association of Canada. Under his direction, Canadian jockeys became the first in North America to wear safety vests.

Driedger was also instrumental in helping to install safety rails at Woodbine. From 2006 to 2018, he held the position of Director of Thoroughbred Racing Surfaces at Woodbine. In 2019 he returned to the Jockeys’ Benefit Association of Canada to again assume the role of secretary-manager, a position he held until his retirement in 2021.

Driedger will be inducted posthumously into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2023 in August. He is survived by wife Leslie Soever.

Arrangements are pending.