s ▁best ▁result ▁in ▁the ▁Kentucky ▁Derby ▁was ▁two ▁third - place ▁finish es ▁one ▁of ▁which ▁was ▁with ▁Golden ▁Act ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁ab o ard ▁whom ▁he ▁finished ▁second ▁in ▁both ▁the ▁Pre ak ness ▁and ▁Bel mont ▁St akes . ▁ ▁Over all , ▁Sand y ▁Haw ley ' s ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁j ockey ▁sp anned ▁ 3 1 ▁years ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁to ▁his ▁ret irement ▁on ▁July ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁He ▁had ▁ 3 1 , 4 5 5 ▁mount s , ▁gar ner ing ▁ 6 , 4 4 9 ▁wins ▁and ▁won ▁ 1 8 ▁r iding ▁titles ▁at ▁Wood bine ▁R ac et rack . ▁▁ ▁Di agn osed ▁with ▁skin ▁cancer ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁do ctors ▁only ▁gave ▁him ▁a ▁few ▁months ▁to ▁live ▁but ▁he ▁fought ▁to ▁overcome ▁the ▁disease ▁with ▁experimental ▁dru gs , ▁a ▁careful ▁high - fi ber ▁di et , ▁and ▁his ▁she er ▁determ ination . ▁ ▁Sand y ▁Haw ley ▁was ▁voted ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁A vel ino ▁G ome z ▁Memorial ▁Award ▁and ▁that ▁same ▁year ▁was ▁induct ed ▁into ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Hor se ▁Racing ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame . ▁He ▁was ▁induct ed ▁into ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁National ▁Museum ▁of ▁Racing ▁and ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁and ▁Canada ' s ▁Sports ▁Hall ▁of ▁Fame ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 .