Tommy (Squeak) Fairhurst
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Better known as a successful trainer, Thomas Fairhurst, more commonly referred to by his nickname ‘Squeak’, was born in Horden, Co Durham, on June 5, 1927, and began his life in racing by serving a four-year apprenticeship with Matt Peacock at Middleham, which is where he acquired his nickname. Apprentices used to be allocated nicknames almost as soon as they arrived at the yard. The traditional ‘initiation ceremony’ for new arrivals was for them to be submerged in a water trough until they almost drowned. When Tommy’s turn came, he squeaked when being dropped into the water and was thus nicknamed ‘Squeak’ by the rest of the lads. The name stuck throughout his career.
Better known as a successful trainer, Thomas Fairhurst, more commonly referred to by his nickname ‘Squeak’, was born in Horden, Co Durham, on June 5, 1927, and began his life in racing by serving a four-year apprenticeship with Matt Peacock at Middleham, which is where he acquired his nickname. Apprentices used to be allocated nicknames almost as soon as they arrived at the yard. The traditional ‘initiation ceremony’ for new arrivals was for them to be submerged in a water trough until they almost drowned. When Tommy’s turn came, he squeaked when being dropped into the water and was thus nicknamed ‘Squeak’ by the rest of the lads. The name stuck throughout his career.
National Service intervened and saw him in army riding schools in Germany. He also went show jumping for a spell before returning to racing and joining the Middleham stable of Jack Fawcus. As he was no longer an apprentice, he was unable to claim an allowance and had to compete on equal terms.
National Service intervened and saw him in army riding schools in Germany. He also went show jumping for a spell before returning to racing and joining the Middleham stable of Jack Fawcus. As he was no longer an apprentice, he was unable to claim an allowance and had to compete on equal terms.
He rode his first winner on Chanlana trained by Fawcus, in the Scurry Plate for two-year-old fillies at Haydock on Friday, May 20, 1955. His other winner that year came on Chance View in a one-mile three-year-old maiden handicap at Hamilton in July.
He rode his first winner on Chanlana trained by Fawcus, in the Scurry Plate for two-year-old fillies at Haydock on Friday, May 20, 1955. His other winner that year came on Chance View in a one-mile three-year-old maiden handicap at Hamilton in July.
Four more winners followed in 1956, all for Fawcus, but then the source dried up. He rode as a freelance as well as Fawcus for the next few years before joining another Middleham yard, that of Ernie Weymes, in 1962 as second jockey cum head lad.
Four more winners followed in 1956, all for Fawcus, but then the source dried up. He rode as a freelance as well as Fawcus for the next few years before joining another Middleham yard, that of Ernie Weymes, in 1962 as second jockey cum head lad.
Tommy rode his first winner for almost eight years when Weymes’ two-year-old Take The Plunge won at Ripon on June 17, 1964. Take The Plunge also won twice for Tommy in 1965, as did two-year-old Sica Wood at Doncaster and Newcastle. He rode another Weymes-trained juvenile, Lucky Streak, to score at Ripon in June 1966 and he won again on Take The Plunge the following month.
Tommy rode his first winner for almost eight years when Weymes’ two-year-old Take The Plunge won at Ripon on June 17, 1964. Take The Plunge also won twice for Tommy in 1965, as did two-year-old Sica Wood at Doncaster and Newcastle. He rode another Weymes-trained juvenile, Lucky Streak, to score at Ripon in June 1966 and he won again on Take The Plunge the following month.
Tommy’s evident expertise with two-year-olds resulted in him educating most of Weymes’ juvenile string. Among the best of them was Red Desire, on which Tommy won three races in 1967, his final wins as a jockey. He retired from race riding in 1968.
Tommy’s evident expertise with two-year-olds resulted in him educating most of Weymes’ juvenile string. Among the best of them was Red Desire, on which Tommy won three races in 1967, his final wins as a jockey. He retired from race riding in 1968.
In 1969 he embarked on what would be a 25-year training career based, naturally enough, at Middleham. He saddled his first winner, Brython, ridden by Albert ‘Brig’ Robson, at Pontefract on April 16, 1969. Tommy had 18 winners from around a dozen horses in that first year, with Brython also winning the Garrowby Stakes at York. In fact, staying handicapper Brython turned out to be the stable’s stalwart for the next three seasons. In 1970 he won the Manchester Memorial Handicap at Haydock and the Wills Castella Handicap at Ayr; in 1971 he won Newcastle’s William Hill Forest Hall Handicap, the Liverpool Spring Cup and a repeat success in the Wills Castella Handicap; and in 1972 he landed his biggest success in the Tennent Trophy at Ayr.
In 1969 he embarked on what would be a 25-year training career based, naturally enough, at Middleham. He saddled his first winner, Brython, ridden by Albert ‘Brig’ Robson, at Pontefract on April 16, 1969. Tommy had 18 winners from around a dozen horses in that first year, with Brython also winning the Garrowby Stakes at York. In fact, staying handicapper Brython turned out to be the stable’s stalwart for the next three seasons. In 1970 he won the Manchester Memorial Handicap at Haydock and the Wills Castella Handicap at Ayr; in 1971 he won Newcastle’s William Hill Forest Hall Handicap, the Liverpool Spring Cup and a repeat success in the Wills Castella Handicap; and in 1972 he landed his biggest success in the Tennent Trophy at Ayr.
Tommy went on to earn a reputation as a trainer of sprinters, particularly two-year-olds. He achieved his greatest triumph with Barry’s Gamble in the 1988 Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tommy went on to earn a reputation as a trainer of sprinters, particularly two-year-olds. He achieved his greatest triumph with Barry’s Gamble in the 1988 Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Whenever possible, Tommy and his wife Margaret would retreat to their flat in Scarborough and tour the local antique fairs and markets, so when he retired in 1993 and handed over the training operation to his son Chris, himself a former jockey, he was always going to have something to keep him occupied. Tommy and Margaret had been interested in antiques for a long time and were still collecting up until about 2007, “mostly,” said Tommy, “to give to the kids.”
Whenever possible, Tommy and his wife Margaret would retreat to their flat in Scarborough and tour the local antique fairs and markets, so when he retired in 1993 and handed over the training operation to his son Chris, himself a former jockey, he was always going to have something to keep him occupied. Tommy and Margaret had been interested in antiques for a long time and were still collecting up until about 2007, “mostly,” said Tommy, “to give to the kids.”
Tommy Fairhurst died on September 23 2022, aged 95.
Tommy Fairhurst died on September 23 2022, aged 95.
Tommy Fairhurst rode a total of 16 winners. These were, in chronological order:
Tommy Fairhurst rode a total of 16 winners. These were, in chronological order:
1. Chanlana, Haydock Park, May 20, 1955
1. Chanlana, Haydock Park, May 20, 1955
2. Chance View, Hamilton Park, July 16, 1955
2. Chance View, Hamilton Park, July 16, 1955
3. Northmayne, Newcastle, April 2, 1956
3. Northmayne, Newcastle, April 2, 1956
4. Chanlana, Redcar, June 26, 1956
4. Chanlana, Redcar, June 26, 1956
5. Light Fair, Lanark, July 18, 1956
5. Light Fair, Lanark, July 18, 1956
6. Tale Of Two Cities, Stockton, August 18, 1956
6. Tale Of Two Cities, Stockton, August 18, 1956
7. Take The Plunge, Ripon, June 17, 1964
7. Take The Plunge, Ripon, June 17, 1964
8. Take The Plunge, Thirsk, April 10, 1965
8. Take The Plunge, Thirsk, April 10, 1965
9. Take The Plunge, Newcastle, June 2, 1965
9. Take The Plunge, Newcastle, June 2, 1965
10. Sica Wood, Doncaster, June 26, 1965
10. Sica Wood, Doncaster, June 26, 1965
11. Sica Wood, Newcastle, July 10, 1965
11. Sica Wood, Newcastle, July 10, 1965
12. Lucky Streak, Ripon, June 27, 1966
12. Lucky Streak, Ripon, June 27, 1966
13. Take The Plunge, Ripon, July 23, 1966
13. Take The Plunge, Ripon, July 23, 1966
14. Red Desire, Ripon, April 26, 1967
14. Red Desire, Ripon, April 26, 1967
15. Red Desire, Haydock Park, June 10, 1967
15. Red Desire, Haydock Park, June 10, 1967
16. Red Desire, Doncaster, July 12, 1967
16. Red Desire, Doncaster, July 12, 1967