Flat jockey Thomas Lawton Ashley was born on July 4, 1972. He served his apprenticeship initially with Ron Thompson at Grantham and then with Reg Akehurst at Epsom. He enjoyed his best season in 1996 with six winners from 90 mounts.
The following year, Tom sustained back injuries in a fall at Warwick which rendered him out of action for a long time.
By the time he returned, he had completed his apprenticeship so was obliged to take out a professional jockey’s licence for the 1998 season. He rode just one winner from 34 mounts that year, 10-1 shot Daynabee in a six-furlong fillies’ handicap on July 27.
That victory not only gave Tom his comeback winner, it was also the first training success for Epsom-based
Angus McNae. McNae’s training career was relatively brief and he is far better known today as a presenter on Racing TV.
Tom eventually linked up with Pulborough, Sussex trainer Amanda Perrett, who supplied him with both his winners in 2000. He rode just one more winner, also trained by Perrett, that being Iced Diamond in a seven-furlong Folkestone Maiden on June 28, 2002. He held a licence for one more season before giving up race-riding.
