Tommy Jackson
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Northern-based Thomas Edwin Jackson held a National Hunt jockey’s licence between 1957 and 1971. He began his career with John Bowness at Wigton, near Carlisle and rode his first winner for him on Stop List in the Durdar Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. He rode one more winner that season, also trained by Bowness, the inappropriately-named Too Slow in a four-year-old hurdle race at Perth on April 23.
Northern-based Thomas Edwin Jackson held a National Hunt jockey’s licence between 1957 and 1971. He began his career with John Bowness at Wigton, near Carlisle and rode his first winner for him on Stop List in the Durdar Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. He rode one more winner that season, also trained by Bowness, the inappropriately-named Too Slow in a four-year-old hurdle race at Perth on April 23.
He had to wait until the very tail-end of the 1959/60 season before riding his next two winners, both on John Bowness’ selling hurdler Outrider, who obliged on the Saturday and Monday of Hexham’s Whitsun meeting.
He had to wait until the very tail-end of the 1959/60 season before riding his next two winners, both on John Bowness’ selling hurdler Outrider, who obliged on the Saturday and Monday of Hexham’s Whitsun meeting.
The 1960/61 season was Tommy’s most successful with eight winners, all for John Bowness. Outrider won four, at Ayr, Sedgefield and Haydock before narrowly failing to repeat his Hexham Whitsun double of the previous year, finishing second on the Saturday but winning on the Monday. Three more of Tommy’s wins that season came courtesy of novice hurdler Winterhorn, while the other was an Easter Monday victory at Manchester on a chestnut hurdler named Beau D’Argent, who would serve Tommy well over the next three years, winning seven times for him.
The 1960/61 season was Tommy’s most successful with eight winners, all for John Bowness. Outrider won four, at Ayr, Sedgefield and Haydock before narrowly failing to repeat his Hexham Whitsun double of the previous year, finishing second on the Saturday but winning on the Monday. Three more of Tommy’s wins that season came courtesy of novice hurdler Winterhorn, while the other was an Easter Monday victory at Manchester on a chestnut hurdler named Beau D’Argent, who would serve Tommy well over the next three years, winning seven times for him.
Four more successes followed in the 1961/62 campaign. Beau D’Argent obliged at Ayr in October and Perth in April, the latter victory forming the first half of a double for Tommy, who won the next race on the 14-year-old staying chaser Kandy Cub. He came close to landing a second double on those two horses at Hexham’s Whit Monday fixture, Beau D’Argent finishing second and Kandy Cub winning.
Four more successes followed in the 1961/62 campaign. Beau D’Argent obliged at Ayr in October and Perth in April, the latter victory forming the first half of a double for Tommy, who won the next race on the 14-year-old staying chaser Kandy Cub. He came close to landing a second double on those two horses at Hexham’s Whit Monday fixture, Beau D’Argent finishing second and Kandy Cub winning.
Three were three more winners in 1962/63, two on Beau D’Argent, including at the by now traditional Hexham Whitsun meeting, the other on juvenile selling hurdler Sea Sermon, a rare outside ride for Retford trainer Albert Bacon. The 1963/64 campaign produced a quartet of victories, two more on Beau D’Argent, including yet another Hexham Whitsun win, with the other two coming on John Bowness’ novice hurdler Magnificat.
Three were three more winners in 1962/63, two on Beau D’Argent, including at the by now traditional Hexham Whitsun meeting, the other on juvenile selling hurdler Sea Sermon, a rare outside ride for Retford trainer Albert Bacon. The 1963/64 campaign produced a quartet of victories, two more on Beau D’Argent, including yet another Hexham Whitsun win, with the other two coming on John Bowness’ novice hurdler Magnificat.
Although the 1964/65 season yielded just one winner, Bell-Pull at Wetherby in February, Tommy’s association with that horse’s trainer Albert Bacon led to him being offered the ride on outsider Mr McTaffy in the 1965 Grand National. A genuine 100-1 outsider with little realistic chance of winning, Mr McTaffy was one of many no-hopers taking part in what was thought by many to be the final running of the world’s most famous steeplechase. Thirteen-year-old Mr McTaffy was a slow but sure-footed conveyance and duly trundled round well in rear until being pulled up at the thirteenth fence.
Although the 1964/65 season yielded just one winner, Bell-Pull at Wetherby in February, Tommy’s association with that horse’s trainer Albert Bacon led to him being offered the ride on outsider Mr McTaffy in the 1965 Grand National. A genuine 100-1 outsider with little realistic chance of winning, Mr McTaffy was one of many no-hopers taking part in what was thought by many to be the final running of the world’s most famous steeplechase. Thirteen-year-old Mr McTaffy was a slow but sure-footed conveyance and duly trundled round well in rear until being pulled up at the thirteenth fence.
Following a blank 1965/66 campaign, Tommy joined Cockermouth, Cumberland, permit holder Tom Stamper the following season as head lad cum stable jockey and won four races on Stamper’s hurdler Dunmail. There was also a ‘spare’ dead-heat success on Tom Hudson’s Colegill at Hexham’s Whitsun fixture.
Following a blank 1965/66 campaign, Tommy joined Cockermouth, Cumberland, permit holder Tom Stamper the following season as head lad cum stable jockey and won four races on Stamper’s hurdler Dunmail. There was also a ‘spare’ dead-heat success on Tom Hudson’s Colegill at Hexham’s Whitsun fixture.
It was Stamper’s hurdlers who provided the remainder of Tommy’s winners. Dunmail and Mistress Pride both won twice in 1967/68, Court-Abbey, Grey Coat and No Kiddin all obliged in 1968/69, as did Cagey Boy and No Kiddin in 1969/70.
It was Stamper’s hurdlers who provided the remainder of Tommy’s winners. Dunmail and Mistress Pride both won twice in 1967/68, Court-Abbey, Grey Coat and No Kiddin all obliged in 1968/69, as did Cagey Boy and No Kiddin in 1969/70.
That victory on No Kiddin in the three-mile Auchenfall Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on Saturday, February 7, 1970, was Tommy’s last winner. It was becoming ever more difficult to keep the weight off – he was obliged to put up 2lb overweight at 10st 11lb when riding Cagey Boy at Kelso on November 10, 1970 – and he retired before the end of that season.
That victory on No Kiddin in the three-mile Auchenfall Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on Saturday, February 7, 1970, was Tommy’s last winner. It was becoming ever more difficult to keep the weight off – he was obliged to put up 2lb overweight at 10st 11lb when riding Cagey Boy at Kelso on November 10, 1970 – and he retired before the end of that season.
Tommy Jackson rode a total of 38 winners. These were, in chronological order:
Tommy Jackson rode a total of 38 winners. These were, in chronological order:
1. Stop List, Carlisle, March 30, 1959
1. Stop List, Carlisle, March 30, 1959
2. Too Slow, Perth, April 23, 1959
2. Too Slow, Perth, April 23, 1959
3. Outrider, Hexham, June 4, 1960
3. Outrider, Hexham, June 4, 1960
4. Outrider, Hexham, June 6, 1960
4. Outrider, Hexham, June 6, 1960
5. Outrider, Ayr, October 17, 1960
5. Outrider, Ayr, October 17, 1960
6. Outrider, Sedgefield, November 26, 1960
6. Outrider, Sedgefield, November 26, 1960
7. Outrider, Haydock Park, January 7, 1961
7. Outrider, Haydock Park, January 7, 1961
8. Beau D’Argent, Manchester, April 1, 1961
8. Beau D’Argent, Manchester, April 1, 1961
9. Winterhorn, Bogside, April 14, 1961
9. Winterhorn, Bogside, April 14, 1961
10. Winterhorn, Hexham, April 29, 1961
10. Winterhorn, Hexham, April 29, 1961
11. Winterhorn, Hexham, May 20, 1961
11. Winterhorn, Hexham, May 20, 1961
12. Outrider, Hexham, May 22, 1961
12. Outrider, Hexham, May 22, 1961
13. Beau D’Argent, Ayr, October 16, 1961
13. Beau D’Argent, Ayr, October 16, 1961
14. Beau D’Argent, Perth, April 18, 1962
14. Beau D’Argent, Perth, April 18, 1962
15. Kandy Cub, Perth, April 18, 1962
15. Kandy Cub, Perth, April 18, 1962
16. Kandy Cub, Hexham, June 11, 1962
16. Kandy Cub, Hexham, June 11, 1962
17. Sea Sermon, Leicester, November 26, 1962
17. Sea Sermon, Leicester, November 26, 1962
18. Beau D’Argent, Uttoxeter, March 23, 1963
18. Beau D’Argent, Uttoxeter, March 23, 1963
19. Beau D’Argent, Hexham, June 1, 1963
19. Beau D’Argent, Hexham, June 1, 1963
20. Beau D’Argent, Perth, September 25, 1963
20. Beau D’Argent, Perth, September 25, 1963
21. Magnificat, Kelso, February 29, 1964
21. Magnificat, Kelso, February 29, 1964
22. Magnificat, Carlisle, March 28, 1964
22. Magnificat, Carlisle, March 28, 1964
23. Beau D’Argent, Hexham, May 18, 1964
23. Beau D’Argent, Hexham, May 18, 1964
24. Bell-Pull, Wetherby, February 27, 1965
24. Bell-Pull, Wetherby, February 27, 1965
25. Dunmail, Kelso, December 13, 1966
25. Dunmail, Kelso, December 13, 1966
26. Dunmail, Newcastle, February 25, 1967
26. Dunmail, Newcastle, February 25, 1967
27. Dunmail, Ayr, March 11, 1967
27. Dunmail, Ayr, March 11, 1967
28. Dunmail, Carlisle, March 25, 1967
28. Dunmail, Carlisle, March 25, 1967
29. Colegill, Hexham, May 29, 1967 (dead-heat)
29. Colegill, Hexham, May 29, 1967 (dead-heat)
30. Dunmail, Carlisle, January 23, 1968
30. Dunmail, Carlisle, January 23, 1968
31. Dunmail, Newcastle, February 24, 1968
31. Dunmail, Newcastle, February 24, 1968
32. Mistress Pride, Ayr, March 27, 1968
32. Mistress Pride, Ayr, March 27, 1968
33. Mistress Pride, Carlisle, April 15, 1968
33. Mistress Pride, Carlisle, April 15, 1968
34. Court-Abbey, Carlisle, October 7, 1968
34. Court-Abbey, Carlisle, October 7, 1968
35. Grey Coat, Wetherby, November 9, 1968
35. Grey Coat, Wetherby, November 9, 1968
36. No Kiddin, Kelso, March 1, 1969
36. No Kiddin, Kelso, March 1, 1969
37. Cagey Boy, Kelso, October 25, 1969
37. Cagey Boy, Kelso, October 25, 1969
38. No Kiddin, Ayr, February 7, 1970
38. No Kiddin, Ayr, February 7, 1970