Tommy Knight
Tommy Knight
Tommy Knight
Following a degree of success on the Flat with eight wins between 1903 and 1905, Thomas Knight, known as Tommy, switched to riding over jumps and made a promising start with eight wins in his first year. He continued to ride the occasional winner up until the First World War, returning after hostilities had ended and adding two more.
Following a degree of success on the Flat with eight wins between 1903 and 1905, Thomas Knight, known as Tommy, switched to riding over jumps and made a promising start with eight wins in his first year. He continued to ride the occasional winner up until the First World War, returning after hostilities had ended and adding two more.
He was associated with the Hednesford stable of trainer Lawrence Rooney and gained his first success in an unusual circumstance, after Itinerary, who had finished first in the All-Aged Selling Plate at Wolverhampton on June 1, 1903, was disqualified because her unfortunate rider “dismounted before reaching the Enclosure appointed for unsaddling the winner”. Tommy, who had finished second on Orsay, beaten a length, was duly awarded the race. That would have been the only win for Itinerary’s jockey, Edward Pascoe. After that fortunate start, Tommy added two more wins that season, then four in 1904.
He was associated with the Hednesford stable of trainer Lawrence Rooney and gained his first success in an unusual circumstance, after Itinerary, who had finished first in the All-Aged Selling Plate at Wolverhampton on June 1, 1903, was disqualified because her unfortunate rider “dismounted before reaching the Enclosure appointed for unsaddling the winner”. Tommy, who had finished second on Orsay, beaten a length, was duly awarded the race. That would have been the only win for Itinerary’s jockey, Edward Pascoe. After that fortunate start, Tommy added two more wins that season, then four in 1904.
His career over jumps started very well with a double at Haydock Park on March 24, 1905. Cockatrice set the ball rolling with a three-length victory in the County Hurdle, beating Arthur Nightingall on Lovetin. Then, as the Sporting Life’s reporter put it, benefitting from Tommy’s “careful handling” Pomfret won the Friday Selling Hurdle.
His career over jumps started very well with a double at Haydock Park on March 24, 1905. Cockatrice set the ball rolling with a three-length victory in the County Hurdle, beating Arthur Nightingall on Lovetin. Then, as the Sporting Life’s reporter put it, benefitting from Tommy’s “careful handling” Pomfret won the Friday Selling Hurdle.
Three wins in eight days during October further demonstrated his talents, and he also succeeded in winning one more race on the Flat, when Martial landed the Walton Selling Welter Handicap at Liverpool in November, beating Snowberry, the mount of Alfred Sharples, by a head. Six of his eight wins on the Flat had come against senior jockeys.
Three wins in eight days during October further demonstrated his talents, and he also succeeded in winning one more race on the Flat, when Martial landed the Walton Selling Welter Handicap at Liverpool in November, beating Snowberry, the mount of Alfred Sharples, by a head. Six of his eight wins on the Flat had come against senior jockeys.
He continued riding on the Flat until 1907 without further success, but still rode the occasional winner over jumps. He did not hold a licence during the war years but returned afterwards and had two more wins, the last on February 3, 1920, at Nottingham, when Young Lover beat three rivals to take the Selling Four-Year-Old Hurdle by three lengths. That was the last year in which he held a licence.
He continued riding on the Flat until 1907 without further success, but still rode the occasional winner over jumps. He did not hold a licence during the war years but returned afterwards and had two more wins, the last on February 3, 1920, at Nottingham, when Young Lover beat three rivals to take the Selling Four-Year-Old Hurdle by three lengths. That was the last year in which he held a licence.
Sadly, Tommy was fatally injured when riding a filly for trainer Victor Smyth at Epsom. The horse reared and fell back on top of him, breaking three of his ribs. Tommy died on Christmas Eve 1929 of peritonitis following a rupture caused by a blow to the abdomen. He was 44.
Sadly, Tommy was fatally injured when riding a filly for trainer Victor Smyth at Epsom. The horse reared and fell back on top of him, breaking three of his ribs. Tommy died on Christmas Eve 1929 of peritonitis following a rupture caused by a blow to the abdomen. He was 44.
Tommy Knight’s wins were, in chronological order:
Tommy Knight’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Orsay, Wolverhampton, June 1, 1903 Flat
1. Orsay, Wolverhampton, June 1, 1903 Flat
2. Pearly Reid, Worcester, July 2, 1903 Flat
2. Pearly Reid, Worcester, July 2, 1903 Flat
3. Veiled Queen, Nottingham, August 22, 1903 Flat
3. Veiled Queen, Nottingham, August 22, 1903 Flat
4. Energetic, Kempton Park, May 6, 1904 Flat
4. Energetic, Kempton Park, May 6, 1904 Flat
5. Dame Lucy, Haydock Park, May 13, 1904 Flat
5. Dame Lucy, Haydock Park, May 13, 1904 Flat
6. Energetic, York, May17, 1904 Flat
6. Energetic, York, May17, 1904 Flat
7. Dame Lucy, Worcester, October 13, 1904 Flat
7. Dame Lucy, Worcester, October 13, 1904 Flat
8. Cockatrice, Haydock Park, March 24, 1905 NH
8. Cockatrice, Haydock Park, March 24, 1905 NH
9. Pomfret, Haydock Park, March 24, 1905 NH
9. Pomfret, Haydock Park, March 24, 1905 NH
10. Pomfret, Bridgnorth, April 25, 1905 NH
10. Pomfret, Bridgnorth, April 25, 1905 NH
11. Thermal, Colwall Park, June 12, 1905 NH
11. Thermal, Colwall Park, June 12, 1905 NH
12. Sunburnt, Worcester, October 20, 1905 NH
12. Sunburnt, Worcester, October 20, 1905 NH
13. Bellatrice, Keele Park, October 26, 1905 NH
13. Bellatrice, Keele Park, October 26, 1905 NH
14. Silver Tyne, Sandown Park, October 28, 1905 NH
14. Silver Tyne, Sandown Park, October 28, 1905 NH
15. Martial, Liverpool, November 11, 1905 Flat
15. Martial, Liverpool, November 11, 1905 Flat
16. Bellatrice, Warwick, November 28, 1905 NH
16. Bellatrice, Warwick, November 28, 1905 NH
17. Tyningham, Worcester, May 2, 1906 NH
17. Tyningham, Worcester, May 2, 1906 NH
18. Reclamation, Wolverhampton, April 2, 1907 NH
18. Reclamation, Wolverhampton, April 2, 1907 NH
19. Wicktona, Portsmouth, November 21, 1912 NH
19. Wicktona, Portsmouth, November 21, 1912 NH
21. Ring Again, Windsor, December 10, 1919 NH
21. Ring Again, Windsor, December 10, 1919 NH
22. Young Lover, Nottingham, February 3, 1920 NH
22. Young Lover, Nottingham, February 3, 1920 NH
