Tommy Gosling
1926 - 2002
1926 - 2002
The son of a newspaper worker, Tommy Gosling was born at New Lanark, Scotland, on July 24 1926.
The son of a newspaper worker, Tommy Gosling was born at New Lanark, Scotland, on July 24 1926.
He was the fourth of five children and, on leaving school aged 14, he worked as a messenger boy for Lipton, the grocers and as a petrol pump attendant.
He was the fourth of five children and, on leaving school aged 14, he worked as a messenger boy for Lipton, the grocers and as a petrol pump attendant.
But Tommy had greater ambition and, moving south, he became an apprentice at Captain Ossie Bell's stable at Lambourn.
But Tommy had greater ambition and, moving south, he became an apprentice at Captain Ossie Bell's stable at Lambourn.
His first ride was Filius at Salisbury on April 29, 1944.
His first ride was Filius at Salisbury on April 29, 1944.
He didn't have to wait long for his first winner - Colophon at Ascot, August 26, 1944 - and the following year was joint champion apprentice with Frankie Durr. He'd established himself as a top jockey in 1947 and won that year's Victoria Cup and the Cambridgeshire on Fairey Fulmar. Tommy often rode in India; he was there the day Gandhi was assassinated.
He didn't have to wait long for his first winner - Colophon at Ascot, August 26, 1944 - and the following year was joint champion apprentice with Frankie Durr. He'd established himself as a top jockey in 1947 and won that year's Victoria Cup and the Cambridgeshire on Fairey Fulmar. Tommy often rode in India; he was there the day Gandhi was assassinated.
He became well known as the jockey who rode for Sir Winston Churchill and won several races on Colonist for him. Once, at Kempton Park, riding Colonist, he narrowly beat the King's horse Above Board. Tommy was then invited into the Royal Box where he, the King and Sir Winston spent a convivial afternoon supping champagne. Other good horses he rode for Sir Winston included Vienna and High Hat.
He became well known as the jockey who rode for Sir Winston Churchill and won several races on Colonist for him. Once, at Kempton Park, riding Colonist, he narrowly beat the King's horse Above Board. Tommy was then invited into the Royal Box where he, the King and Sir Winston spent a convivial afternoon supping champagne. Other good horses he rode for Sir Winston included Vienna and High Hat.
Tommy was never to win a Derby, coming closest on board Arabian Night when just being beaten by Lester Piggott on Never Say Die. He did, however, win the Irish One Thousand Guineas on Lady Senator in 1961.
Tommy was never to win a Derby, coming closest on board Arabian Night when just being beaten by Lester Piggott on Never Say Die. He did, however, win the Irish One Thousand Guineas on Lady Senator in 1961.
Tommy rode the flying machine The Pie King, winning the 1953 Coventry at Royal Ascot. Shortly after, he became stable jockey to Jeremy Tree and won the Goodwood Cup (Double Bore) and the Stewards' Cup (Arcandy) for him.
Tommy rode the flying machine The Pie King, winning the 1953 Coventry at Royal Ascot. Shortly after, he became stable jockey to Jeremy Tree and won the Goodwood Cup (Double Bore) and the Stewards' Cup (Arcandy) for him.
He received near-fatal injuries at Leicester in 1956 when, after his saddle had slipped, he was thrown beneath his horse. He was rushed to hospital where a blood clot required immediate brain surgery. This was the accident that convinced the Jockey Club that the wearing of reinforced crash helmets should be made compulsory.
He received near-fatal injuries at Leicester in 1956 when, after his saddle had slipped, he was thrown beneath his horse. He was rushed to hospital where a blood clot required immediate brain surgery. This was the accident that convinced the Jockey Club that the wearing of reinforced crash helmets should be made compulsory.
Some six years later Tommy was in the wars again when involved in a seven-horse pile-up in the Derby. He also broke several vertebrae in a fall at Chester.
Some six years later Tommy was in the wars again when involved in a seven-horse pile-up in the Derby. He also broke several vertebrae in a fall at Chester.
Aged 37, he began to have problems with his weight and decided to quit the saddle. He began training with no little success; from his Epsom stable he sent out Excel to win the 1964 Greenham at Newbury, only his sixth runner. In 1982 he retired from training to concentrate on the livery business he ran with his second wife, Val.
Aged 37, he began to have problems with his weight and decided to quit the saddle. He began training with no little success; from his Epsom stable he sent out Excel to win the 1964 Greenham at Newbury, only his sixth runner. In 1982 he retired from training to concentrate on the livery business he ran with his second wife, Val.
In October 1953, The Pie King, trained by Paddy Prendergast, was flown over to Camden, New Jersey for the Garden State Stakes, the world's richest race. The morning before the race, The Pie King stumbled as Tommy was giving him a starting stall trial. Tommy was thrown and the colt raced away, jumped a fence, and found his way back to his stall. He was thought to be uninjured, but a swelling of the right rear hoof later developed. Californian Mr Ray Bell, the owner, said: "I'm afraid to take a chance with the horse" before scratching it.
In October 1953, The Pie King, trained by Paddy Prendergast, was flown over to Camden, New Jersey for the Garden State Stakes, the world's richest race. The morning before the race, The Pie King stumbled as Tommy was giving him a starting stall trial. Tommy was thrown and the colt raced away, jumped a fence, and found his way back to his stall. He was thought to be uninjured, but a swelling of the right rear hoof later developed. Californian Mr Ray Bell, the owner, said: "I'm afraid to take a chance with the horse" before scratching it.
It was not only on the course that Tommy met with trouble. He and Australian jockey Billy Cook were driving to Newmarket on April 20th 1951 when the car collided with another. Cook's head went through the windscreen. Tommy was shaken.
It was not only on the course that Tommy met with trouble. He and Australian jockey Billy Cook were driving to Newmarket on April 20th 1951 when the car collided with another. Cook's head went through the windscreen. Tommy was shaken.
On October 10th 1953, Tommy rode Blue Sail at Ascot, getting beat a neck. The stewards said that they were dissatisfied with his running and told Paddy Prendergast that no horse trained by him would be allowed in future to run in Great Britain.
On October 10th 1953, Tommy rode Blue Sail at Ascot, getting beat a neck. The stewards said that they were dissatisfied with his running and told Paddy Prendergast that no horse trained by him would be allowed in future to run in Great Britain.
Churchill had bought the grey Colonist in France in 1949 for 1,600 guineas.
Churchill had bought the grey Colonist in France in 1949 for 1,600 guineas.
In 1954, Tommy came second in the Epsom Derby on Arabian Night,
In 1954, Tommy came second in the Epsom Derby on Arabian Night,
Tommy was an ardent football fan and, as a boy, he'd had a trial with Airdrie. A nifty inside left as a boy, he had the distinction of scoring a hat-trick at Arsenal's Highbury ground. This was in a charity Jockey v Boxers match and it was the first football match to be played under floodlights. No less than 41,000 people turned up to watch the jockeys, captained by Tommy, win 5-3.
Tommy was an ardent football fan and, as a boy, he'd had a trial with Airdrie. A nifty inside left as a boy, he had the distinction of scoring a hat-trick at Arsenal's Highbury ground. This was in a charity Jockey v Boxers match and it was the first football match to be played under floodlights. No less than 41,000 people turned up to watch the jockeys, captained by Tommy, win 5-3.
In 2000, Tommy and Val moved to a property in Normandy. They bred and showed Percheron horses and were quite chuffed to once win a 100 euro prize at the local village show.
In 2000, Tommy and Val moved to a property in Normandy. They bred and showed Percheron horses and were quite chuffed to once win a 100 euro prize at the local village show.
Tommy's first wife was Gill Leach, daughter of the jockey Jack Leach.
Tommy's first wife was Gill Leach, daughter of the jockey Jack Leach.
Tommy Gosling died on November 30, 2002, aged 82.
Tommy Gosling died on November 30, 2002, aged 82.
Tommy Gosling
Tommy Gosling
Big winners
Big winners
1947: Great Jubilee Handicap – Royal Tara
1947: Great Jubilee Handicap – Royal Tara
1947: Victoria Cup – Fairey Fulmar
1947: Victoria Cup – Fairey Fulmar
1947: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Fairey Fulmar
1947: Cambridgeshire Handicap – Fairey Fulmar
1949: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Squall
1949: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Squall
1950: Greenham Stakes – Port o’ Light
1950: Greenham Stakes – Port o’ Light
1950: Victor Wild Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Victor Wild Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Paradise Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Paradise Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Bentinck Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Bentinck Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Kensington Palace Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Kensington Palace Stakes – Colonist II
1950: Lowther Stakes (Newmarket) – Colonist II
1950: Lowther Stakes (Newmarket) – Colonist II
1950: Jockey Club Cup – Colonist II
1950: Jockey Club Cup – Colonist II
1951: Winston Churchill Stakes – Colonist II
1951: Winston Churchill Stakes – Colonist II
1951: White Rose Stakes – Colonist II
1951: White Rose Stakes – Colonist II
1951: Horris Hill Stakes – H.V.C.
1951: Horris Hill Stakes – H.V.C.
1952: Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Westinform
1952: Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Westinform
1953: Shakespeare Stakes – Westinform
1953: Shakespeare Stakes – Westinform
1953: Coventry Stakes – The Pie King
1953: Coventry Stakes – The Pie King
1953: Old Newton Cup – Galatian
1953: Old Newton Cup – Galatian
1955: Goodwood Cup – Double Bore
1955: Goodwood Cup – Double Bore
1957: Ormonde Stakes – Hindu Festival
1957: Ormonde Stakes – Hindu Festival
1957: Union Stakes (Birmingham) – Arcandy
1957: Union Stakes (Birmingham) – Arcandy
1957: Stewards Cup – Arcandy
1957: Stewards Cup – Arcandy
1957: Diadem Stakes – Arcandy
1957: Diadem Stakes – Arcandy
1961: Winston Churchill Stakes – High Hat
1961: Winston Churchill Stakes – High Hat
