Tommy Isaac
1908 - 1995
1908 - 1995
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Born in Newport, Monmouthshire, on March 9, 1908, Thomas Edward Gordon Isaac was the son of a professional huntsman and was a prominent National Hunt jockey between the wars.
Born in Newport, Monmouthshire, on March 9, 1908, Thomas Edward Gordon Isaac was the son of a professional huntsman and was a prominent National Hunt jockey between the wars.
His first winner was Aruntius in the four-mile Stewards’ Handicap Chase at Gatwick on February 4, 1931, going on to complete a double that day by landing the feature race, the three-mile Brook Chase, on Prince Cherry, both horse being trained by extrovert American Morgan de Witt Blair at Ewhurst.
His first winner was Aruntius in the four-mile Stewards’ Handicap Chase at Gatwick on February 4, 1931, going on to complete a double that day by landing the feature race, the three-mile Brook Chase, on Prince Cherry, both horse being trained by extrovert American Morgan de Witt Blair at Ewhurst.
The following month Tommy rode his first big winner, The Brown Talisman in the Liverpool Hurdle, beating Staff Ingham on the joint favourite Areska. He rode Ballyhanwood in the 1931 Grand National, finishing fifth behind Grakle.
The following month Tommy rode his first big winner, The Brown Talisman in the Liverpool Hurdle, beating Staff Ingham on the joint favourite Areska. He rode Ballyhanwood in the 1931 Grand National, finishing fifth behind Grakle.
He gained his biggest success in the 1933 Scottish Grand National at Bogside on Libourg for Epsom trainer Bill Payne. At Aintree, he rode Southern Hero in that year’s Grand National and again completed the course, this time in eighth place behind Kellsboro’ Jack.
He gained his biggest success in the 1933 Scottish Grand National at Bogside on Libourg for Epsom trainer Bill Payne. At Aintree, he rode Southern Hero in that year’s Grand National and again completed the course, this time in eighth place behind Kellsboro’ Jack.
His next Grand National mount was Uncle Batt in 1935 and yet again he got round, this time finishing fifth to Reynoldstown.
His next Grand National mount was Uncle Batt in 1935 and yet again he got round, this time finishing fifth to Reynoldstown.
In December, 1936, Tommy won a Birmingham hurdle race and a Kempton steeplechase on Argental, also rained by Bill Payne, and then made it three back-to-back successes by winning the Victory Chase at Manchester on New Year’s Day 1937. He enjoyed his best seasons numerically with 17 wins in 1936/37 and 1938/39.
In December, 1936, Tommy won a Birmingham hurdle race and a Kempton steeplechase on Argental, also rained by Bill Payne, and then made it three back-to-back successes by winning the Victory Chase at Manchester on New Year’s Day 1937. He enjoyed his best seasons numerically with 17 wins in 1936/37 and 1938/39.
Tommy had his fourth and last Grand National ride in 1939 on Bachelor Prince and maintained his enviable sequence of completing the course – at a time when getting round was a notable achievement in itself – this time coming home in tenth place behind Workman.
Tommy had his fourth and last Grand National ride in 1939 on Bachelor Prince and maintained his enviable sequence of completing the course – at a time when getting round was a notable achievement in itself – this time coming home in tenth place behind Workman.
Jump racing operated on a much-reduced scale during the early war years before its eventual complete cessation. In 1942, Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting took place on two successive Saturdays in March. Tommy rode Dorothy Paget’s Anarchist into second place in that year’s Champion Hurdle and then rode him to victory seven days later under 12st 7lb in the Lansdown Handicap Hurdle.
Jump racing operated on a much-reduced scale during the early war years before its eventual complete cessation. In 1942, Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting took place on two successive Saturdays in March. Tommy rode Dorothy Paget’s Anarchist into second place in that year’s Champion Hurdle and then rode him to victory seven days later under 12st 7lb in the Lansdown Handicap Hurdle.
The sport’s resumption at the start of 1945 brought massive fields, including a marathon 11-race card with 192 runners at Windsor on February 10, at which Tommy registered a hat-trick, including both divisions of the Victoria (4yo) Hurdle on horses owned by Dorothy Paget and trained by Walter Nightingall. He bagged a double at a similar 11-race card there a fortnight later.
The sport’s resumption at the start of 1945 brought massive fields, including a marathon 11-race card with 192 runners at Windsor on February 10, at which Tommy registered a hat-trick, including both divisions of the Victoria (4yo) Hurdle on horses owned by Dorothy Paget and trained by Walter Nightingall. He bagged a double at a similar 11-race card there a fortnight later.
He took out a trainer’s licence shortly after the war, based at Findon, Sussex and rode several of his horses to win, including three hurdle races on Porlock Folly and two chases on Bargee. He won again on Porlock Folly the following season. He trained and rode a hurdler named Rowley Boy to win twice during the 1950/51 campaign and rode his last winner on Loop the Loop at Taunton on May 17, 1951.
He took out a trainer’s licence shortly after the war, based at Findon, Sussex and rode several of his horses to win, including three hurdle races on Porlock Folly and two chases on Bargee. He won again on Porlock Folly the following season. He trained and rode a hurdler named Rowley Boy to win twice during the 1950/51 campaign and rode his last winner on Loop the Loop at Taunton on May 17, 1951.
Tommy subsequently relinquished both his trainer’s and jockey’s licenses and became head lad to Frank Gilman during the 1960s.
Tommy subsequently relinquished both his trainer’s and jockey’s licenses and became head lad to Frank Gilman during the 1960s.
He died in Folkestone on December 20, 1995, aged 87.
He died in Folkestone on December 20, 1995, aged 87.
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