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Saulteaux First Nation jockey, Tim Moccasin has been inducted to the 2025 Class of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF/Website).
Tim Moccasin

Saulteaux jockey inducted to Hall of Fame for remarkable career

Jan 29, 2025 | 10:05 AM

“No Fear.”

This is what Tim Moccasin said he felt the very first time he hoped on a racehorse.

Fast forward over 35 years and 3,600 race starts later, the Saulteaux First Nation jockey still feels the time thing every time he rides, but he never thought that it would result in him being inducted into 2025 Class for the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF). Now that he has, he hopes his hard work and dedication can be an inspiration for others.

“It was a little bit of a surprise…but I was honoured, I was in gratitude. I never really pursued any kind of fame, I just worked hard to become a successful jockey and I dedicated a lot of my time…it’s good for my people to see one of their own getting some recognition on accomplishments and to pave the way for the younger generation, this is something that my kids are going talk about for the rest of their lives,” Moccasin said.

For Moccasin, his passion for riding all started at a very young age as his family always had horses and learning to ride was passed down through generations. But it was his cousin who first introduced him to horse racing. By the time he was 12 years old, Moccasin was already racing in bush meets across Saskatchewan and then at the age of 16, he started his professional career at the Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, and in that same year, got his first race win.

Moccasin recalls what it was like during his first time racing and from the beginning, knew it was his calling.

“When I first started, it was no holding back for me, I was just out there, bury my head in this and giver… I just went out there and did it and had fun with it… everything came natural to me” Moccasin said.

Since that first race, the rest has been history as Moccasin continued his legacy with success after success, building himself a very well deserved and inspiring NAIAHF career.

Throughout his career, Moccasin competed in both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing and had 3,632 starts, boasting 682 firsts, 566 seconds and 516 thirds for a total lifetime earnings of more than $2.2 million. On top of that, Moccasin also won seven titles and holds the record in North American record for the most consecutive wins with 14 wins.

Moccasin talked about his success and said that his secret was just to concentrate on the next race and have a good connection with his horse.

“A big part of my success was that I took it race by race and I just always loved horses and I knew how to make those horses run fast because of how I treated them. I respected them. I respected the horse spirit,” he said.

Throughout his long career, Moccasin had many big accomplishments but he said the best memory of his career was getting the 14th win to break the North American record in front of his family.

“When I won my 14th race to set the record, both sides of my family, my mom’s family and my dad’s family were all there, and you could see the smile and it felt ecstatic. Just being there was a really special moment for me,” Moccasin said.

Moccasin stopped racing professionally in 2019 but still spends lots of time riding and around the track as well as mentoring and teaching upcoming riders. However, still feeling healthy and with a love for sport, he hopes to make his professional return sometime soon.

The NAIAHF will recognize Moccasin and the other 2025 class inductees in a banquet that will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the Oneida Conference Center.

Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X:@AustinMattes