Thomas Patrick Reidy was born in Tralee, Ireland, on March 22, 1948, the son of a jockey. He began his riding career as an apprentice with Grand National-winning jockey Arthur Freeman and rode his first winner for him on Bank Statement at Warwick on 16 October 1965.He rode six winners the following year, including Sudden Flight at Yarmouth on 13 September 1966 and Hasty Decision at Haydock three days later, both trained by Freeman, but none at all in 1967. 

He then joined Doug Smith, who had just started training after a long career in the saddle, during which he was champion jockey five times.

Tommy Reidy made the best possible start to the 1968 Flat campaign by winning the opening race, the apprentices’ handicap, at Doncaster on the first day of the season aboard Owen Anthony. This was also Doug Smith’s first runner as a trainer. The accompanying photo shows Reidy returning in triumph after the race.

Owen Anthony was the best horse Tommy Reidy ever rode, providing him with victories in the Matthew Peacock Trophy at Haydock in 1968 and the George Mason Haymarket Trophy at Chester in 1969. Another big race victory came on Doug Smith’s Virginia Gentleman in Newmarket’s Freemason Lodge Stakes in 1968.

Reidy enjoyed his best season in 1970 with 12 winners and went on to ride a total of 45 in Britain, the last seven coming in 1972. He then moved to Scandinavia and enjoyed further success there.

His life ended tragically when he and jump jockey John Dalton were killed when their sports car ran off the road and crashed into a field at the Letchworth exit from the A1 on 28 November 1975. Both were 27.

Tommy Reidy was laid to rest in New Rath Cemetery, Tralee.