Woodbine Leisure reported Nov. 2 the loss of life of Corridor of Fame jockey “Hustlin” Hugo Dittfach at age 85.
A winner of over 4,000 races, Dittfach received the Sovereign Award as Canada’s Excellent Jockey in 1975, was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Corridor of Fame in 1983, and acquired the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1991 for his contributions to the game.
Dittfach got here to Canada following World Conflict II, a refugee from East Germany the place he spent three years in a Russian focus camp in Poland. At a patron’s suggestion whereas he labored at a Calgary restaurant, Dittfach launched a driving profession in 1956 and have become a number one rider in Western Canada earlier than relocating to Ontario.
Dittfach reached the head of Canadian racing in 1961, when he rode 20-1 longshot Blue Gentle to victory within the Queen’s Plate, edging Johnny Longden and favourite Simply Do not Shove in one of many closest finishes within the race’s historical past. Dittfach additionally received the Prince of Wales Stakes a document 5 instances. He retired from driving in 1989 to turn out to be a coach.
“So many people in our racing trade, together with myself, are fortunate to have cherished reminiscences of Hugo,” stated Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Leisure. “Hugo was a hard-working, earnest man, that gave his all each time he obtained on the again of a horse.”
