1841 - 1917
Tom Spence was first recorded riding at the Lincoln Autumn Meeting on Friday, November 6, 1880.
On board Skelmorlie (for Mr H. Ashland), Tom jumped the 4/6 favourite off in front and was quickly clear of his field. He won by 10 lengths.
However, it is highly unlikely that this was his first ever ride, or, indeed, his first winner - only the main meeting of the day was then reported upon in the next day's papers and we know that he had owned horses for some years prior to this.
Tom struck up an impressive partnership with Durham, a brown gelding by Cathedral and the property of Mr Charles Perkins. Durham won over twenty races, usually with Tom on board but a couple of times in the hands of fellow jockey Mr George Thompson.
Whilst Durham was the most popular horse in the North, he was a difficult animal to ride and wanted a lot of humouring.
Tom had found the key to getting the best from him saying: 'If Durham was in a sulky mood I would politely talk to him. If that did not work, I would call him every bad name I could think of.'
The now defunct racecourse Burgh Barony stood close to Lowther in Westmorland.
On the succession of each Earl of Lonsdale, a race meeting was held there.
It was an oddly-shaped racecourse, no bigger than Chester, and it was here that Tom Spence and Durham were to join up for the last race. They looked good things to win.
The fourth race that afternoon had been won by Rosemount and its owner, a well-known Scottish sportsman named Johnny Martin, decided at the last moment to pitch him up against Durham in the last.
Seeking a jockey, Martin found that good rider George Lambton sat in the weighing room without a mount.
He offered Lambton the ride but the jockey cautioned him.
'I would be delighted to ride,' he said, 'but I have asked Lord Lurgan to back Durham for me for a considerable amount and it's too late to stop him.'
'That won't make any difference,' said Martin. 'You ride my horse.'
There were just five runners, with Tom and Durham quoted at 1/2 with Rosemount available at 4/1.
With the other three quickly beaten off, the race lay between Durham & Rosemount.
Unfortunately for Tom, Durham was in a sulky mood and, despite picturesque language directed at both Durham and George Lambton, he could do nothing to induce the wayward horse to quicken.
George and Rosemonth sailed easily past in the last hundred yards.
Tom, dismounting in the paddock, was in a foul rage. Throwing his saddle down in the weighing room he said to George 'If it was good enough for you to have £1,000 on, why the hell couldn't you make the running?' (thereby giving Durham something to aim at.)
Tom Spence came originally from Beverley. He was a little, dapper man, very particular about his appearance both on and off a horse. He was probably a better rider on the flat and over hurdles than over fences.
A great contemporary of his was the six-foot two North Country jockey Charles Cunningham who, like Tom, had a fiery, quick temper.
Many times, after a close finish, the two would continue their battle with their whips long after passing the winning post.
Tom Spence never rode in the National.
He died in 1917, aged 75.