Tommy Lye
1795 - 1866
1795 - 1866
Tommy was born in Spinningfield, Deansgate, Manchester in 1795 and, on being left an orphan, went to live with his grandfather at Wensleydale, near Middleham.
Tommy was born in Spinningfield, Deansgate, Manchester in 1795 and, on being left an orphan, went to live with his grandfather at Wensleydale, near Middleham.
In 1808 he became apprenticed to John Mangle at Brecongill, Middleham. On Mangle’s retirement, Thomas Dawson took over and Tommy, his brother-in-law, became the stable jockey.
In 1808 he became apprenticed to John Mangle at Brecongill, Middleham. On Mangle’s retirement, Thomas Dawson took over and Tommy, his brother-in-law, became the stable jockey.
There were few stranger figures than his, with his knees nearly up to his pommel, and his left hand dangling by his side as he went to the start but, in his day, there was said to be no more consummate judge of pace than Tommy - folklore had it that he was absolutely invincible when it came to two-mile heat races.
There were few stranger figures than his, with his knees nearly up to his pommel, and his left hand dangling by his side as he went to the start but, in his day, there was said to be no more consummate judge of pace than Tommy - folklore had it that he was absolutely invincible when it came to two-mile heat races.
His attitude, however, ruffled feathers - scribes of the day described him as ‘two foot of silk, three-foot of boots and wash leather, in convulsions…’; he also had an ungainly posture in the saddle. He did possess, however, a wonderful strength, and his performance on the monster Sampson in two four-mile races on the same day was astonishing.
His attitude, however, ruffled feathers - scribes of the day described him as ‘two foot of silk, three-foot of boots and wash leather, in convulsions…’; he also had an ungainly posture in the saddle. He did possess, however, a wonderful strength, and his performance on the monster Sampson in two four-mile races on the same day was astonishing.
But he had a dark side. Tommy was the trusted friend and brother-in-law of trainer Thomas Dawson who intended to run Stilton in the Northumberland Plate. Such was Dawson’s confidence in the horse that he told all his patrons to back him. Then he noticed that bets against his horse winning were so exceptionally heavy and large that there must be some foul play afoot.
But he had a dark side. Tommy was the trusted friend and brother-in-law of trainer Thomas Dawson who intended to run Stilton in the Northumberland Plate. Such was Dawson’s confidence in the horse that he told all his patrons to back him. Then he noticed that bets against his horse winning were so exceptionally heavy and large that there must be some foul play afoot.
He was right. On Wednesday, June 23rd 1852, Stilton, with seven others, lined up for the prestigious Newcastle race with – as one conspirator afterwards confessed – “a chemist’s shop inside him”.
He was right. On Wednesday, June 23rd 1852, Stilton, with seven others, lined up for the prestigious Newcastle race with – as one conspirator afterwards confessed – “a chemist’s shop inside him”.
Incredibly, Stilton – the 7/4 favourite – still managed to win and eventually all the details of the doping were fully confessed to Dawson by one of the men involved. The confession implicated Tommy Lye – he had been behind the conspiracy.
Incredibly, Stilton – the 7/4 favourite – still managed to win and eventually all the details of the doping were fully confessed to Dawson by one of the men involved. The confession implicated Tommy Lye – he had been behind the conspiracy.
It was to be Tommy’s lucky day – because of his relationship to the trainer, his part in the crime was overlooked. He was, however, replaced by Tommy Aldcroft as stable jockey, costing him the winning Derby ride on Ellington four years later.
It was to be Tommy’s lucky day – because of his relationship to the trainer, his part in the crime was overlooked. He was, however, replaced by Tommy Aldcroft as stable jockey, costing him the winning Derby ride on Ellington four years later.
Tommy rode many of the Duke of Cleveland’s horses when Billy Peirse resigned, but was replaced by Job Marson after refusing to show the Duke his betting book.
Tommy rode many of the Duke of Cleveland’s horses when Billy Peirse resigned, but was replaced by Job Marson after refusing to show the Duke his betting book.
He did not ride much after 1846, but did a little again on Chief Justice and other good horses in 1851-1852.
He did not ride much after 1846, but did a little again on Chief Justice and other good horses in 1851-1852.
After a long and tedious illness, white-haired Tommy, aged 71, died at his home in Middleham on May 27 1866 just two months after his son, a trainer at Storks House, Ilsley, passed away. Tommy’s remains were interred in the churchyard at East Witton, near Middleham.
After a long and tedious illness, white-haired Tommy, aged 71, died at his home in Middleham on May 27 1866 just two months after his son, a trainer at Storks House, Ilsley, passed away. Tommy’s remains were interred in the churchyard at East Witton, near Middleham.
Oddly, on his retirement, Tommy developed an excessively morbid mania for attending every funeral in Wensleydale. Wearing a dapper bell-topper hat and swallow-tailed coat he presented a pitiable, slightly ludicrous, figure.
Oddly, on his retirement, Tommy developed an excessively morbid mania for attending every funeral in Wensleydale. Wearing a dapper bell-topper hat and swallow-tailed coat he presented a pitiable, slightly ludicrous, figure.
In 1835, riding the 1/10 favourite Queen of Trumps in the three-runner Scarborough Stakes, Tommy had just taken the lead when a large bull-dog rushed out from beneath the rails and flew at the horse’s heels.
In 1835, riding the 1/10 favourite Queen of Trumps in the three-runner Scarborough Stakes, Tommy had just taken the lead when a large bull-dog rushed out from beneath the rails and flew at the horse’s heels.
The horse faltered, enabling Ainderby – a vastly inferior animal – to get up and win by a short head.
The horse faltered, enabling Ainderby – a vastly inferior animal – to get up and win by a short head.
Like most North-country jockeys during the first half of the 19th century, Tommy was obliged to travel continuously and on a regular basis. On October 11th 1837, he landed a double at Edinburgh (Abraham Newland and Modesty) before, next day, winning on Alzira at Northallerton racecourse – a distance of 156 miles.
Like most North-country jockeys during the first half of the 19th century, Tommy was obliged to travel continuously and on a regular basis. On October 11th 1837, he landed a double at Edinburgh (Abraham Newland and Modesty) before, next day, winning on Alzira at Northallerton racecourse – a distance of 156 miles.
Tommy had big, bushy eyebrows that arched above deep-set eyes. They gave him a somewhat quizzical look.
Tommy had big, bushy eyebrows that arched above deep-set eyes. They gave him a somewhat quizzical look.
Jockey Billy Peirse (who won the 1812 Oaks on Manuella) died in agony aged 75 when a chemist made a mistake preparing his prescription.
Jockey Billy Peirse (who won the 1812 Oaks on Manuella) died in agony aged 75 when a chemist made a mistake preparing his prescription.
Tommy Lye’s classic wins:
Tommy Lye’s classic wins:
The Oaks: Lilias (1826), Queen of Trumps (1835) and Our Nell (1842)
The Oaks: Lilias (1826), Queen of Trumps (1835) and Our Nell (1842)
St. Leger: Queen of Trumps (1835) and Blue Bonnet (1842).
St. Leger: Queen of Trumps (1835) and Blue Bonnet (1842).
Tommy's wife, Isabella Lye (nee Dawson) was born in Scotland. His two daughters, Isabella Lye and the two-year younger Mary Lye, were both schoolmistresses. Both were born in Middleham.
Tommy's wife, Isabella Lye (nee Dawson) was born in Scotland. His two daughters, Isabella Lye and the two-year younger Mary Lye, were both schoolmistresses. Both were born in Middleham.