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Tommy Dowdall
Tommy Dowdall
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
1872 - 1926
1872 - 1926
Born in 1872, Thomas Dowdall was a leading Irish jump jockey for more than 25 years, winning the Irish Champion Chase in 1893 on Croaghpatrick and the Irish Grand National in 1904 on Ascetic’s Silver, producing a perfectly timed run on the latter to catch the outsider Le Petit Pere in the dying strides and win by three-quarters of a length. Ascetic’s Silver would go on to win the English version in 1906.
Born in 1872, Thomas Dowdall was a leading Irish jump jockey for more than 25 years, winning the Irish Champion Chase in 1893 on Croaghpatrick and the Irish Grand National in 1904 on Ascetic’s Silver, producing a perfectly timed run on the latter to catch the outsider Le Petit Pere in the dying strides and win by three-quarters of a length. Ascetic’s Silver would go on to win the English version in 1906.
Tommy rarely rode in Britain and had only five victories, all of them in the 1890s. The first of those was on April 21, 1894 when riding General Gordon to win the Great Sandown Hurdle by a neck from Robert Nightingall on Charter. His second came when beating three rivals on Whitehead to take the Salford Steeplechase at Manchester on March 23, 1895.
Tommy rarely rode in Britain and had only five victories, all of them in the 1890s. The first of those was on April 21, 1894 when riding General Gordon to win the Great Sandown Hurdle by a neck from Robert Nightingall on Charter. His second came when beating three rivals on Whitehead to take the Salford Steeplechase at Manchester on March 23, 1895.
His other three British wins all came in 1897, the first being aboard Roscommon in the Spa Handicap Hurdle at Warwick in February, following that with victory on the same horse in the Wulfruna Selling Hurdle at Wolverhampton in April. His final win in England was on Belle of Bree, who landed the Rotherham Handicap Hurdle at Sheffield on the first day of November. The four-year-old was not winning out of turn, as it was her thirteenth run of the year.
His other three British wins all came in 1897, the first being aboard Roscommon in the Spa Handicap Hurdle at Warwick in February, following that with victory on the same horse in the Wulfruna Selling Hurdle at Wolverhampton in April. His final win in England was on Belle of Bree, who landed the Rotherham Handicap Hurdle at Sheffield on the first day of November. The four-year-old was not winning out of turn, as it was her thirteenth run of the year.
Tommy never rode in the Grand National but he did have one mount over the Liverpool fences. This was in the Stanley Chase on March 23, 1899, when he rode Hidden Mystery, on whom he had won a chase at Navan just nine days earlier. Hidden Mystery fell in the Stanley Chase, but he showed his liking for the course by coming back to take the Grand Sefton Chase later that year, ridden on that occasion by leading amateur Hugh Nugent.
Tommy never rode in the Grand National but he did have one mount over the Liverpool fences. This was in the Stanley Chase on March 23, 1899, when he rode Hidden Mystery, on whom he had won a chase at Navan just nine days earlier. Hidden Mystery fell in the Stanley Chase, but he showed his liking for the course by coming back to take the Grand Sefton Chase later that year, ridden on that occasion by leading amateur Hugh Nugent.
Besides winning the Irish Grand National in 1904, Tommy had previously finished fourth in the race in 1899 on Willie and third in 1901 on Germaine. He later finished third again on Village Maiden II in 1910. He retired from race-riding in Ireland in 1918.
Besides winning the Irish Grand National in 1904, Tommy had previously finished fourth in the race in 1899 on Willie and third in 1901 on Germaine. He later finished third again on Village Maiden II in 1910. He retired from race-riding in Ireland in 1918.
Tommy died in early September 1926.
Tommy died in early September 1926.
Tommy Dowdall’s British winners were, in chronological order:
Tommy Dowdall’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. General Gordon, Sandown Park, April 21, 1894
1. General Gordon, Sandown Park, April 21, 1894
2. Whitehead, Manchester, March 23, 1895
2. Whitehead, Manchester, March 23, 1895
3. Roscommon, Warwick, February 24, 1897
3. Roscommon, Warwick, February 24, 1897
4. Roscommon, Wolverhampton, April 20, 1897
4. Roscommon, Wolverhampton, April 20, 1897
5. Belle of Bree, Sheffield, November 1, 1897.
5. Belle of Bree, Sheffield, November 1, 1897.
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