T P Burns was one of the leading Irish jockeys of the 20th century. In a career that spanned more than five decades, he proved himself equally adaptable on the Flat and over jumps, achieving both Classic and Cheltenham Festival success. He was champion jockey three times in Ireland (Flat/jumps combined) in 1954, 1955 and 1957.
Tommy Pascal Burns was born on April 14, 1924, the son of Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns, champion jockey in Ireland in 1932. Although based in Ireland and best known by his initials rather than his Christian name, ‘TP’ actually served part of his apprenticeship in England with Steve Donoghue at Blewbury. He was just 14 when riding his first winner, on Prudent Rose at the Curragh’s Irish Derby meeting in 1938. He secured his first big-race success in the 1941 Irish Cambridgeshire on Mill Boy.
TP enjoyed his greatest days in association with Vincent O’Brien, for whom he rode Ballymoss to win the Irish Derby in 1957, after finishing runner-up to Crepello at Epsom. A few months later he was aboard again when Ballymoss secured a piece of racing history by becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the St Leger at Doncaster.
Over jumps, he rode nine Cheltenham Festival winners, all for Vincent O'Brien: Lucky Dome (1954 Spa Hurdle), Ahaburn (1955 Birdlip Hurdle) and seven divisions of Gloucestershire Hurdle on Illyric (1955), Boys Hurrah and Pelargos (1956), Saffron Tartan (1957, Admiral Stuart and Prudent King (1958) and York Fair (1959).
Other major wins over jumps included the 1949 Kerry National on Sadler’s Wells, the 1952 Galway Hurdle on Warrenscourt Lad, and the 1961 Carroll Hurdle on Coniston. He finished second in the 1955 Champion Hurdle on Stroller. On October 9, 1963, TP rode Arkle to victory at Navan, in what was that great champion chaser’s only run on the Flat (bumpers excepted).
As well as his many successes for Vincent O’Brien, TP rode a number of big-race winners for Paddy Prendergast, including Prominer in the 1964 National Stakes and the same horse in the Player’s Navy Cut Trial at Phoenix Park in 1965.
In addition to his Irish Derby triumph on Ballymoss, his other Irish Classic winners were: El Toro (1959 2,000 Guineas), Vimadee (1961 St Leger), Shandon Belle (1962 1,000 Guineas), Paveh (1966 2,000 Guineas), and Pidget (1972 St Leger).
Other big race wins included the 1950 Irish Lincolnshire on Knock Hard, 1955 Pretty Polly Stakes on Free Model, 1956 Whitehall Stakes on Beau Chevalet, 1956 National Produce Stakes on El Minzah, 1957 Irish Champion Stakes on Gladness, and the Phoenix Stakes twice on Gigi (1959) and Marble Arch (1972).
His last winner was Dermot Weld’s Old Man River in a trainers’ race at Punchestown on July 7, 1989, by which time he was 65 years old.
TP Burns died in May 2018, aged 94. His funeral mass took place in St Brigid’s Church, the Curragh. He was buried in Tynaclash Cemetery, Kiltegan, County Wicklow.
Tommy's first winner: Prudent Rose at The Curragh, 1938.
Tommy's first big race win: Mill Boy, Irish Cambridgeshire, 1941.
Tommy rode nine Cheltenham Festival winners including Saffron Tartan, Gloucestershire Hurdle, 1957.
Tommy is led in after winning the 1950 Irish Lincolnshire on Knock Hard
Tommy wins the 1957 St Leger on Ballymoss, the first-ever Irish-trained winner of the race
Tommy being led in on Fair Crystal having won the Laidlaw Plate at Phoenix Park, 1941
Tommy & Ballymoss winning the 1957 Irish Derby
English Classic winner:
1957: St Leger – Ballymoss
Irish Classic winners:
1957: Irish Derby – Ballymoss
1959: Irish 2,000 Guineas – El Toro
1961: Irish St Leger – Vimadee
1962: Irish 1,000 Guineas – Shandon Belle
1966: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Paveh
1972: Irish St Leger – Pidget
Other big wins in Ireland:
1941: Irish Cambridgeshire – Mill Boy
1950: Irish Lincolnshire – Knock Hard
1952: Royal Whip – Beau Sire
1952: Beresford Stakes – Northern Gleam
1952: Naas November Handicap – Sontogo
1954: Currage Cup (Phoenix Park) – King’s Melody
1955: Tetrarch Stakes- Bright Night
1955: Pretty Polly Stakes – Free Model
1955: Blandford Stakes – Nile Bird
1955: Irish Cesarewitch – Reinstated
1956: International Stakes – Beau Chevalet
1956: National Stakes – El Minzah
1957: Irish Champion Stakes – Gladness
1958: Athasi Stakes – Minou
1959: Phoenix Stakes – Gigi
1962: Desmond Stakes – Sicilian Prince
1964: National Stakes – Prominer
1966: Ulster Harp Derby – My Kuda
1966: Beresford Stakes – Sovereign Slipper
1968: Madrid Handicap – French Serenade
1969: Royal Whip – Candy Cane
1969: Blandford Stakes – Barons Court
1971: Ulster Harp Derby – Falaise
1971: Phoenix ‘Fifteen Hundred’ – Marble Arch
1971: McDonagh Handicap (Galway) – Greek Waters
1972: Phoenix Stakes – Marble Arch
1974: Desmond Stakes – Sir Penfro
National Hunt – England
1954: Spa Hurdle – Lucky Dome
1955: Birdlip Hurdle – Ahaburn
1955: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Ilyric
1956: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – Boys Hurrah
1956: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Pelargos
1957: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Saffron Tartan
1958: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – Admiral Stuart
1958: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Prudent King
1959: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – York Fair
National Hunt – Ireland
1949: Kerry National – Sadler’s Wells
1949: Munster National – Confucius
1951: Ulster National – Miss Steel
1952: Galway Hurdle – Warrenscourt Lad
1957: Tipperary Cup Hurdle (Clonmel) – Owen’s Image
