Tony Hamilton
Tony Hamilton
Tony Hamilton
Flat jockey Tony Hamilton was born in Hartlepool and rode a total of 944 winners in Great Britain during a career lasting more than 20 years. They included nine Group race wins, four of them on Forest Ranger, plus two Lincoln Handicaps, an Ayr Gold Cup, Bunbury Cup, and a host of Listed races.
Flat jockey Tony Hamilton was born in Hartlepool and rode a total of 944 winners in Great Britain during a career lasting more than 20 years. They included nine Group race wins, four of them on Forest Ranger, plus two Lincoln Handicaps, an Ayr Gold Cup, Bunbury Cup, and a host of Listed races.
Apprenticed to ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, he rode his first winner on Rafters Music, trained by Nicholls, in the Hands And Heels Apprentice Handicap at Doncaster on May 27, 2000, ending that year with seven winners from 61 mounts.
Apprenticed to ‘Dandy’ Nicholls, he rode his first winner on Rafters Music, trained by Nicholls, in the Hands And Heels Apprentice Handicap at Doncaster on May 27, 2000, ending that year with seven winners from 61 mounts.
He achieved his first big race win on July 8, 2007, on Mecca’s Mate in the Listed Land O’Burns Fillies; Stakes at Ayr. Mecca’s Mate was trained by David Barker, whereas the remainder of Tony’s major victories would all come on horses trained by Richard Fahey, for whom he had a long association and played a key part in the trainer’s highly successful career.
He achieved his first big race win on July 8, 2007, on Mecca’s Mate in the Listed Land O’Burns Fillies; Stakes at Ayr. Mecca’s Mate was trained by David Barker, whereas the remainder of Tony’s major victories would all come on horses trained by Richard Fahey, for whom he had a long association and played a key part in the trainer’s highly successful career.
In August 2010, he fractured his pelvis in four places at Ayr when his mount, Flying Statesman, reared while being loaded into the stalls. Tony was unseated, then the horse lost balance and fell backwards, landing on top of the jockey. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
In August 2010, he fractured his pelvis in four places at Ayr when his mount, Flying Statesman, reared while being loaded into the stalls. Tony was unseated, then the horse lost balance and fell backwards, landing on top of the jockey. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
His first Group race winner was Mickdaam in the 2012 Chester Vase (Group 3). His first at Group 2 level was the 2013 Yorkshire Cup on Glen’s Diamond. He won the Lincoln Handicap twice, first on Brae Hill in 2012, then on Gabrial in 2015. Also in 2015, he won Weatherbys Super Sprint on Lathom and the Ayr Gold Cup on Don’t Touch.
His first Group race winner was Mickdaam in the 2012 Chester Vase (Group 3). His first at Group 2 level was the 2013 Yorkshire Cup on Glen’s Diamond. He won the Lincoln Handicap twice, first on Brae Hill in 2012, then on Gabrial in 2015. Also in 2015, he won Weatherbys Super Sprint on Lathom and the Ayr Gold Cup on Don’t Touch.
He landed back-to-back renewals of the Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy on Supplecant (2013) and Izzthatright (2014) and enjoyed his best season numerically in 2015 with 103 winners, then registered 89 the following year and 71 in 2017.
He landed back-to-back renewals of the Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy on Supplecant (2013) and Izzthatright (2014) and enjoyed his best season numerically in 2015 with 103 winners, then registered 89 the following year and 71 in 2017.
His quartet of Group race triumphs on Forest Ranger comprised, in 2018, the Earl of Sefton Stakes, Huxley Stakes and Darley Stakes, followed by a second Huxley Stakes in 2019.
His quartet of Group race triumphs on Forest Ranger comprised, in 2018, the Earl of Sefton Stakes, Huxley Stakes and Darley Stakes, followed by a second Huxley Stakes in 2019.
By 2021, however, his tally of winners had dropped to 25 from 428 rides, then just six from 176 the next year, the last of which was on Hail Sezer for trainer Geoff Harker in a six-furlong Redcar handicap on August 27, 2022.
By 2021, however, his tally of winners had dropped to 25 from 428 rides, then just six from 176 the next year, the last of which was on Hail Sezer for trainer Geoff Harker in a six-furlong Redcar handicap on August 27, 2022.
With opportunities drying up, Tony began planning for life out of the saddle. He undertook a few courses through JETS (Jockeys Education & Training Scheme), keeping his hand in by riding out for Adrian Nicholls. The, in July 2023, while still holding a jockey’s licence, he set up his own horse transportation business, based in Malton.
With opportunities drying up, Tony began planning for life out of the saddle. He undertook a few courses through JETS (Jockeys Education & Training Scheme), keeping his hand in by riding out for Adrian Nicholls. The, in July 2023, while still holding a jockey’s licence, he set up his own horse transportation business, based in Malton.
Aged 40, he had his last ride – only his eighth of the season – when finishing seventh of nine on the Geoff Harker-trained Scottish Summit in a seven-furlong handicap at Thirsk on September 1, 2023.
Aged 40, he had his last ride – only his eighth of the season – when finishing seventh of nine on the Geoff Harker-trained Scottish Summit in a seven-furlong handicap at Thirsk on September 1, 2023.
Big race wins:
Big race wins:
2007: Land O’Burns Fillies Stakes – Mecca’s Mate
2007: Land O’Burns Fillies Stakes – Mecca’s Mate
2011: City Plate – Majestic Myles
2011: City Plate – Majestic Myles
2012: Lincoln Handicap – Brae Hill
2012: Lincoln Handicap – Brae Hill
2012: Chester Vase – Mickdaam
2012: Chester Vase – Mickdaam
2012: Lyric Fillies’ Stakes – Barefoot Lady
2012: Lyric Fillies’ Stakes – Barefoot Lady
2012: Harry Rosebery Stakes (for the South Ayrshire Cup) – Garswood
2012: Harry Rosebery Stakes (for the South Ayrshire Cup) – Garswood
2013: European Free Handicap – Garswood
2013: European Free Handicap – Garswood
2013: Yorkshire Cup – Glen’s Diamond
2013: Yorkshire Cup – Glen’s Diamond
2013: Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy – Supplicant
2013: Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy – Supplicant
2013: Atalanta Stakes – Ladys First
2013: Atalanta Stakes – Ladys First
2013: Mill Reef Stakes – Supplicant
2013: Mill Reef Stakes – Supplicant
2014: Bunbury Cup – Heaven’s Guest
2014: Bunbury Cup – Heaven’s Guest
2014: Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy – Izzthatright
2014: Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy – Izzthatright
2015: Lincoln Handicap – Gabrial
2015: Lincoln Handicap – Gabrial
2015: Weatherbys Super Sprint – Lathom
2015: Weatherbys Super Sprint – Lathom
2015: Ayr Gold Cup – Don’t Touch
2015: Ayr Gold Cup – Don’t Touch
2016: Cathedral Stakes – Don’t Touch
2016: Cathedral Stakes – Don’t Touch
2017: Burradon Conditions Stakes – Forest Ranger
2017: Burradon Conditions Stakes – Forest Ranger
2017: Pomfret Stakes – Another Touch
2017: Pomfret Stakes – Another Touch
2018: Pontefract Cup – Suegioo
2018: Pontefract Cup – Suegioo
2018: Earl of Sefton Stakes – Forest Ranger
2018: Earl of Sefton Stakes – Forest Ranger
2018: Huxley Stakes – Forest Ranger
2018: Huxley Stakes – Forest Ranger
2018: Darley Stakes – Forest Ranger
2018: Darley Stakes – Forest Ranger
2019: Huxley Stakes – Forest Ranger
2019: Huxley Stakes – Forest Ranger
2019: Acomb Stakes – Perpetuum
2019: Acomb Stakes – Perpetuum