Thomas Kelly
Thomas Kelly
Thomas Kelly
Thomas Kelly rode five winners in Ireland, then had one very good season riding in Britain with 11 wins achieved in just over three months.
Thomas Kelly rode five winners in Ireland, then had one very good season riding in Britain with 11 wins achieved in just over three months.
He rode his first two winners at Kells on June 21, 1910, taking the County Handicap Hurdle on Desmond O’Neill and the Loyd Hurdle on Gael. Gael obliged again at Tuam in September; followed by a Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day in Ireland) winner on Brandame; and finally, novice chaser Bunclody at Baldoyle in February 1911.
He rode his first two winners at Kells on June 21, 1910, taking the County Handicap Hurdle on Desmond O’Neill and the Loyd Hurdle on Gael. Gael obliged again at Tuam in September; followed by a Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day in Ireland) winner on Brandame; and finally, novice chaser Bunclody at Baldoyle in February 1911.
After making his way to Britain, he opened his account at Colwall Park on September 19, 1911, when, having just been beaten on Rosales in the Three-Year-Old Hurdle, he came with a strong run after the final flight to bring six-year-old Tiptree Heath home a comfortable winner of the Ledbury Selling Hurdle, beating Starshine, the mount of Alf Newey, by six lengths.
After making his way to Britain, he opened his account at Colwall Park on September 19, 1911, when, having just been beaten on Rosales in the Three-Year-Old Hurdle, he came with a strong run after the final flight to bring six-year-old Tiptree Heath home a comfortable winner of the Ledbury Selling Hurdle, beating Starshine, the mount of Alf Newey, by six lengths.
Over the next few weeks, Thomas enjoyed plenty of success, with three wins on the chaser Murinda and three wins at Cheltenham. His final victory was at that course on December 28, when King’s Cure won the Leckhampton Selling Chase by one and a half lengths. The five-year-old was trained, as were all but one of Thomas’s other winners, by Ted Gwilt.
Over the next few weeks, Thomas enjoyed plenty of success, with three wins on the chaser Murinda and three wins at Cheltenham. His final victory was at that course on December 28, when King’s Cure won the Leckhampton Selling Chase by one and a half lengths. The five-year-old was trained, as were all but one of Thomas’s other winners, by Ted Gwilt.
It is strange that a flame that briefly blazed so successfully should suddenly fizzle out. It could have been a fall – he fell on King’s Cure at Gatwick on January 3, 1912, but he was back in action at Lingfield Park later that month, finishing second in a match race. Maybe the arrangement with Ted Gwilt did not work out and he returned to Ireland to continue his career there. It is hard to be certain, but for that three-month period at the end of 1911, Thomas Kelly was the jockey to follow.
It is strange that a flame that briefly blazed so successfully should suddenly fizzle out. It could have been a fall – he fell on King’s Cure at Gatwick on January 3, 1912, but he was back in action at Lingfield Park later that month, finishing second in a match race. Maybe the arrangement with Ted Gwilt did not work out and he returned to Ireland to continue his career there. It is hard to be certain, but for that three-month period at the end of 1911, Thomas Kelly was the jockey to follow.
Thomas Kelly’s British winners were, in chronological order:
Thomas Kelly’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Tiptree Heath, Colwall Park, September 19, 1911
1. Tiptree Heath, Colwall Park, September 19, 1911
2. Rosales, Wye, October 2, 1911
2. Rosales, Wye, October 2, 1911
3. Tiptree Heath, Cheltenham, October 19, 1911
3. Tiptree Heath, Cheltenham, October 19, 1911
4. Rosales, Cheltenham, October 20, 1911
4. Rosales, Cheltenham, October 20, 1911
5. Murinda, Nottingham, October 23, 1911
5. Murinda, Nottingham, October 23, 1911
6. Protogee, Newport, November 2, 1911
6. Protogee, Newport, November 2, 1911
7. Murinda, Newport, November 3, 1911
7. Murinda, Newport, November 3, 1911
8. Moose, Cardiff, November 8, 1911
8. Moose, Cardiff, November 8, 1911
9. Murinda, Gatwick, December 4, 1911
9. Murinda, Gatwick, December 4, 1911
10. Custom House, Windsor, December 14, 1911
10. Custom House, Windsor, December 14, 1911
11. King’s Cure, Cheltenham, December 28, 1911
11. King’s Cure, Cheltenham, December 28, 1911
