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TOMMY MILLAR
TOMMY MILLAR
Article by Chris Pitt
Tommy Millar was a northern-based National Hunt jockey whose career spanned 1948/49 to 1962/63.
Apprenticed to Percy Vasey at Wetherby, he became too heavy for the Flat and rode over jumps, mainly for small northern trainers and permit holders. His first winner was achieved on Master Builder at Southwell on the Saturday of Easter 1949. His best season was 1951/52 when he rode eight winners from 119 mounts.
He enjoyed a brief association with Captain Neville Crump and rode his biggest winner for him on Goosander in the Walrus Handicap Chase at Haydock in March 1953.
Haydock specialist Goosander was easily the best horse Tommy rode. When partnered by Johnnie East, Goosander started 5-1 favourite for the 1957 Grand National, finishing sixth, then was fifth the following year under Tim Molony when a well-backed second favourite. Tommy’s last winner came on King’s Melody at Perth in April 1958. He suffered several bad falls during the course of his career, the worst coming on novice chaser Cherry Lad at Wetherby on 18 May 1959, which kept him out of the saddle for almost three years and effectively finished him as a jockey.
He eventually staged a comeback in the 1962/63 season but found it difficult to pick up the thread and rides were few and far between. The closest he came to winning a race was when finishing fourth on Pelso Lad at Southwell. His final ride was on Teddy Boy, unplaced in a Doncaster handicap hurdle on 19 March 1963.
Sadly, Tommy Millar died in hospital at Harrogate in June 1964 from injuries received when knocked down by a car. He left a widow and two children.
He rode a total of 30 winners, these being in chronological order:
He rode a total of 30 winners, these being in chronological order:
1. Master Builder, Southwell, 16 April 1949
2. Vermouth, Wetherby, 26 December 1949
3. Pride of the Prairie, Hexham, 27 May 1950
4. Cement City, Haydock, 23 February 1951
5. Gay Knight, Southwell, 21 May 1951
6. Melman, Stratford-on-Avon, 10 November 1951
7. Irish Gift, Catterick, 17 November 1951
8. Sergeant Kelly, Manchester, 2 January 1952
9. Turkimber, Haydock, 5 January 1952
10. Comeragh Chief, Newcastle, 23 February 1952
11. Melman, Southwell, 6 May 1952
12. Silken Thomas, Cartmel, 31 May 1952
13. Orman, Cartmel, 31 May 1952
14. Devon Tim, Southwell, 6 September 1952
15. Devon Tim, Wetherby, 11 October 1952
16. Dun Rohan, Wetherby, 11 October 1952
17. Calydon III, Kelso, 18 October 1952
18. Devon Tim, Market Rasen, 1 November 1952
19. Veuillin, Catterick, 7 November 1953
20. Goosander, Haydock, 6 March 1954
21. Broadmoor, Hexham, 3 May 1954
22. Gay Knight II, Southwell, 17 May 1954
23. Flaming Loo, Cartmel, 5 June 1954
24. Veuillin, Southwell, 6 September 1954
25. Helenium II, Cartmel, 28 May 1955
26. Rose Mount, Wetherby, 15 October 1955
27. Gay Knight II, Market Rasen, 29 October 1955
28. Ravenstone, Newcastle, 21 January 1956
29. Notsobad, Sedgefield, 1 February 1958
30. King’s Melody, Perth, 23 April 1958
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