Thomas Clark

Thomas Clark

Article by Alan Trout

Thomas Charles Clark rode as an apprentice for three seasons prior to the outbreak of World War One. In the third of them he rode three winners.

He was apprenticed to Harry Escott, a leading jockey and trainer for many years, with stables at Lewes, in Sussex. Thomas had his first ride on an unnamed two-year-old in the Juvenile Selling Plate at Folkestone on November 2, 1911. The partnership finished unplaced in a race won by Frank Wootton on Silver Beacon.

Although Thomas did have some rides in 1912, it was another of Escott’s apprentices who caught the eye. This was Tony Escott, son of the trainer, who rode eight winners that year and went on to become a leading National Hunt jockey.

Thomas’s turn did finally come, and it was at Lingfield Park on April 24, 1913, when he rode Miss Melecka, owned and trained by Harry Escott, to win the Sackville Selling Plate by four lengths.

Thomas had to wait until August 6 at Brighton for his second win, but it was one that surely gave him some pleasure, for when he finished first on Rossetti in the Stanmer Plate he beat into second place the great Steve Donoghue on Llanishen. The winning margin was only a neck.

His third and final victory came at Gatwick on October 21, when Poultry Claim won the Willows Selling Handicap.

On the penultimate day of the 1913 season, November 21, Thomas had what proved to be his last ride when unplaced on Tollendal in the November Nursery Handicap at Lingfield, a race won by Charles Trigg on 20-1 shot Arriet.

Thomas Clark’s three winners were, in chronological order:

1. Miss Melecka, Lingfield Park, April 24, 1913

2. Rossetti, Brighton, August 6, 1913

3. Poultry Claim, Gatwick, October 21, 1913