Thomas Donaldson was born at Westoning, Bedfordshire circa 1830. He won the 1846 Cesarewitch on 30/1 shot Wits End and the 1847 Ebor Handicap on Mathematician, the 5/4 favourite.
He later switched to riding over jumps and took part in four Grand Nationals. He completed the course in three of them, finishing fifth on Lady Arthur in 1854, and eighth on both The Forest Queen in 1857 and Escape in 1859.
Tom died at Hemel Hempstead on Thursday, March 6, 1890, aged 59.