Tom Brown

Thomas Brown

Article by Alan Trout

Northern-based jockey Thomas Reed Brown, known as Tom, rode nine winners over jumps during a career that lasted for nearly two decades after the First World War. Granted a licence in 1920, Tom had his first success at Manchester on February 26, 1921, when steering Scottish Knight to a comfortable eight-length victory in the Saturday Selling Handicap Hurdle. It was the five-year-old’s only win of the season, and Tom had to wait more than five years for another. 

The long wait finally ended at Market Rasen on September 27, 1926, when Rayon, the outsider of four, was an easy winner of the Walesby Steeplechase. Bob Lyall finished a well-beaten second on The Joker but then won the next four races on the card. 

While unable to ride that many winners in an afternoon, Tom did manage a double at Wetherby the following month. Etive was successful in the Hall Orchards Selling Handicap Hurdle and Xmas Morn won the Linton Hurdle by three lengths. Both horses were owned and trained by Harry Rose. Xmas Morn was able to provide Tom with a fourth win of the season when taking the Hexham Handicap Hurdle on April 28, 1927, beating Brushwood Boy, the mount of Bilbie Rees, by three-quarters of a length. 

Again, there was a long gap before Tom rode another winner. Back at Market Rasen on May 18, 1931, he scored on 12-year-old Tallow Knight, also owned and trained by Harry Rose, in the Legsby Handicap Chase. Bob Lyall was again second, this time on fellow 12-year-old Hereford Lad. It was Tallow Knight’s fourth win of the season, and he provided Tom with another when taking the Thorparch Handicap Chase at Wetherby on October 29, 1931. Bob Lyall was again second, on Phantom Robert, but went on to notch a treble. 

At Sedgefield on Boxing Day, Tallow Knight won his third race with Tom on board, taking the Ferryhill Handicap Chase. Although he was placed on occasions after that, there were no wins.

Tom endured a wait of over seven years before his final victory, at Hexham on May 27, 1939, when Exile II, trained by Joe Paisley, won the Shire Selling Hurdle by a short-head from Millipede, ridden by John Hay Brown. Tom held a licence until the 1941/42 season but had no more winners.

Thomas Brown’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Scottish Knight, Manchester, February 26, 1921

2. Rayon, Market Rasen, September 12, 1926 

3. Etive, Wetherby, October 20, 1926

4. Xmas Morn, Wetherby, October 20, 1926

5. Xmas Morn, Hexham, April 28, 1927

6. Tallow Knight, Market Rasen, May 18, 1931

7. Tallow Knight, Wetherby, October 29, 1931

8. Tallow Knight, Sedgefield, December 26, 1931

9. Exile II, Hexham, May 27, 1939