Tom Davies
1819 -1913
Thomas was born in Wales and became one of the best National Hunt jockeys between 1842 and 1855.
Thomas was born in Wales and became one of the best National Hunt jockeys between 1842 and 1855.
He rode over 100 winners.
He rode over 100 winners.
In Tom's days, steeplechase meetings did not take place every week during the season; consequently, at the different Welsh fixtures there was invariably a good attendance of the best jockeys of the day, both professional and amateur, making winning the harder.
In Tom's days, steeplechase meetings did not take place every week during the season; consequently, at the different Welsh fixtures there was invariably a good attendance of the best jockeys of the day, both professional and amateur, making winning the harder.
Though the celebrated rider Jem Mason never paid a visit to the Principality, many other top riders - including Tom Olliver, Fred Martin, Billy Archer (father of Fred), George Stevens and George Holman - did, and it was Tom Olliver who proclaimed Tom Davies to be the best rider over banks he'd ever seen.
Though the celebrated rider Jem Mason never paid a visit to the Principality, many other top riders - including Tom Olliver, Fred Martin, Billy Archer (father of Fred), George Stevens and George Holman - did, and it was Tom Olliver who proclaimed Tom Davies to be the best rider over banks he'd ever seen.
When riding towards a bank, Tom's 'Modus Operandi' if anything was racing with him was to go at the obstacle a hundred miles an hour until ten strides off when - using his tremendous strength - he would steady his horse. If the other raced on, he was pretty sure to come a cropper.
When riding towards a bank, Tom's 'Modus Operandi' if anything was racing with him was to go at the obstacle a hundred miles an hour until ten strides off when - using his tremendous strength - he would steady his horse. If the other raced on, he was pretty sure to come a cropper.
Tom rode with a ball of stout twine inside his jacket fastened to the bridle so that, should he fall, his horse hardly ever got away and he could quickly remount. Once, when making the running on a horse called Kangaroo, he came to grief but remounted so fast that he never lost the lead.
Tom rode with a ball of stout twine inside his jacket fastened to the bridle so that, should he fall, his horse hardly ever got away and he could quickly remount. Once, when making the running on a horse called Kangaroo, he came to grief but remounted so fast that he never lost the lead.
As fearsome as Liverpool's Grand National fences were in those days, they paled beside the fences to be jumped within the Principality, yet, despite many falls, Tom got away with just one broken collar-bone during his entire riding career.
As fearsome as Liverpool's Grand National fences were in those days, they paled beside the fences to be jumped within the Principality, yet, despite many falls, Tom got away with just one broken collar-bone during his entire riding career.
He was not so lucky out of the saddle: he once had the temerity to take on six poachers single-handed. Tom nearly killed the first two but took a terrible career-threatening beating from the four others.
He was not so lucky out of the saddle: he once had the temerity to take on six poachers single-handed. Tom nearly killed the first two but took a terrible career-threatening beating from the four others.
He considered The Baptist to be the best horse he had ridden and - surprisingly, given the calibre of his fellow jockeys at the time - he named Jack Rees as the best man he had ridden against.
He considered The Baptist to be the best horse he had ridden and - surprisingly, given the calibre of his fellow jockeys at the time - he named Jack Rees as the best man he had ridden against.
Tom's memory had begun to fade badly when, in his 94th year, he died at Riverside Carew, Pembrokeshire, on May 12, 1913. He left £4,481.
Tom's memory had begun to fade badly when, in his 94th year, he died at Riverside Carew, Pembrokeshire, on May 12, 1913. He left £4,481.