Tom Dixon
Tom Dixon's first win: Pete at Totnes, September 7 1898
Tom Dixon's first win: Pete at Totnes, September 7 1898
Tom's double at South Brent: Telegram & Despatch, May 17 1899
Tom's double at South Brent: Telegram & Despatch, May 17 1899
Tom's two victories on Pete at Torquay, April 16/17 1900
Tom's two victories on Pete at Torquay, April 16/17 1900
Tom's final two wins: Doliola & Texas, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1900
Tom's final two wins: Doliola & Texas, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1900
Tom Dixon
Tom Dixon
South-west based Tom Dixon rode 13 winners under National Hunt rules during a brief career between 1898 and 1900, all on courses in Devon. Five of those victories were on Pete, who gave Tom his first success at Totnes on September 7, 1898, when taking the South Devon and Dartmoor Hunt Steeplechase.
South-west based Tom Dixon rode 13 winners under National Hunt rules during a brief career between 1898 and 1900, all on courses in Devon. Five of those victories were on Pete, who gave Tom his first success at Totnes on September 7, 1898, when taking the South Devon and Dartmoor Hunt Steeplechase.
There were five wins in 1899, including a double at South Brent in May, and a further seven in 1900, which included three doubles, one on each day of Torquay’s Easter meeting, and his final two wins at Newton Abbot in early August, the last of which was on Texas in the Kingsteignton Handicap Chase.
There were five wins in 1899, including a double at South Brent in May, and a further seven in 1900, which included three doubles, one on each day of Torquay’s Easter meeting, and his final two wins at Newton Abbot in early August, the last of which was on Texas in the Kingsteignton Handicap Chase.
Texas was owned by Herbert Sidney, who was by then well on the way to becoming champion jockey that year, one of the celebrated few amateur riders to achieve such a feat. Indeed, it was surprising that he did not ride the horse himself, as he had already won a race that afternoon and could easily have made the weight. There was an element of retribution though, as Mr Sidney had beaten Tom on Pete into second place the previous day when winning the Tally-Ho Chase on another of his horses, Shortbread.
Texas was owned by Herbert Sidney, who was by then well on the way to becoming champion jockey that year, one of the celebrated few amateur riders to achieve such a feat. Indeed, it was surprising that he did not ride the horse himself, as he had already won a race that afternoon and could easily have made the weight. There was an element of retribution though, as Mr Sidney had beaten Tom on Pete into second place the previous day when winning the Tally-Ho Chase on another of his horses, Shortbread.
A month after what would prove to have been his last win, Tom rode at the first and only National Hunt meeting staged at Dawlish, held on Thursday, September 20, 1900. He finished third in the Langstone Selling Chase on Miss Smiley, his only ride of the day. Fields were small, comprising three matches and two four-horse races.
A month after what would prove to have been his last win, Tom rode at the first and only National Hunt meeting staged at Dawlish, held on Thursday, September 20, 1900. He finished third in the Langstone Selling Chase on Miss Smiley, his only ride of the day. Fields were small, comprising three matches and two four-horse races.
Although there had been racing of some form in Dawlish for a number of years, it was only in 1900 that the first officially recognised meeting was held under National Hunt Rules. It took place in “delightfully fine weather,” according to the Exeter Evening Post’s report. The newspaper also reported that “some excitement was caused by the arrest of a pair of illegal card sharpers”. It was perhaps because of the bad elements the races attracted to the town that the venture was not repeated, meaning Dawlish Races disappeared from the fixture list after just one official meeting.
Although there had been racing of some form in Dawlish for a number of years, it was only in 1900 that the first officially recognised meeting was held under National Hunt Rules. It took place in “delightfully fine weather,” according to the Exeter Evening Post’s report. The newspaper also reported that “some excitement was caused by the arrest of a pair of illegal card sharpers”. It was perhaps because of the bad elements the races attracted to the town that the venture was not repeated, meaning Dawlish Races disappeared from the fixture list after just one official meeting.
As for Tom Dixon, he made a rare excursion from his Devon base to ride at Maiden Erlegh, in Berkshire, on November 21, 1900, where he finished fourth on Plum Duff in the November Selling Hurdle. That turned out to be his last ride. He did not renew his licence for 1901.
As for Tom Dixon, he made a rare excursion from his Devon base to ride at Maiden Erlegh, in Berkshire, on November 21, 1900, where he finished fourth on Plum Duff in the November Selling Hurdle. That turned out to be his last ride. He did not renew his licence for 1901.
Tom Dixon’s winners were, in chronological order:
Tom Dixon’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Pete, Totnes, September 7, 1898
1. Pete, Totnes, September 7, 1898
2. Pete, Torquay, April 4, 1899
2. Pete, Torquay, April 4, 1899
3. Telegram, South Brent, May 17, 1899
3. Telegram, South Brent, May 17, 1899
4. Despatch, South Brent, May 17, 1899
4. Despatch, South Brent, May 17, 1899
5. Blink Bonney, Buckfastleigh, May 22, 1899
5. Blink Bonney, Buckfastleigh, May 22, 1899
6. Pete, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1899
6. Pete, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1899
7. Duplicate, Torquay, April 16, 1900 (dead-heat)
7. Duplicate, Torquay, April 16, 1900 (dead-heat)
8. Pete, Torquay, April 16, 1900
8. Pete, Torquay, April 16, 1900
9. Pete, Torquay, April 17, 1900
9. Pete, Torquay, April 17, 1900
10. Tuneful, Torquay, April 17, 1900
10. Tuneful, Torquay, April 17, 1900
11. Texas, Newton Abbot, August 6, 1900
11. Texas, Newton Abbot, August 6, 1900
12. Doliola, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1900
12. Doliola, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1900
13. Texas, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1900
13. Texas, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1900