Tom McLaughlin
Thomas Gary McLaughlin was born in Belfast on May 20, 1970. He grew up in one of the most violent parts of the city during the height of the Northern Ireland troubles. His brother, William, was shot dead in 1984 and his father was shot, though he survived, in the mid-seventies. It is no wonder that Tom saw racing on television as a child, thought “that looks easy” and used it as a way out of there.
Thomas Gary McLaughlin was born in Belfast on May 20, 1970. He grew up in one of the most violent parts of the city during the height of the Northern Ireland troubles. His brother, William, was shot dead in 1984 and his father was shot, though he survived, in the mid-seventies. It is no wonder that Tom saw racing on television as a child, thought “that looks easy” and used it as a way out of there.
At 16 he went to the Irish Apprentice School, on the Curragh, where Eddie Butler (brother of Blewbury trainer Gerard) taught him the basics. His first ride was at Limerick for P J Flynn, whose stable amateur was then a young Aidan O’Brien. Seamie Heffernan, for so long associated with O’Brien Ballydoyle training operation, was also there.
At 16 he went to the Irish Apprentice School, on the Curragh, where Eddie Butler (brother of Blewbury trainer Gerard) taught him the basics. His first ride was at Limerick for P J Flynn, whose stable amateur was then a young Aidan O’Brien. Seamie Heffernan, for so long associated with O’Brien Ballydoyle training operation, was also there.
In 1988 Tom moved to Britain and joined Guy Harwood’s yard as a stable lad, but it was a couple of seasons later with Charles Cyzer that he started to ride on a regular basis. He rode his first winner for him on Art Form in a Lingfield all-weather claimer on May 10, 1991. The pair then followed up on the turf at Leicester 17 days later and completed a hat-trick at Yarmouth in the Royal Anglian Regiment Handicap on June 5. Although still claiming an allowance, Tom effectively became Cyzer’s stable jockey.
In 1988 Tom moved to Britain and joined Guy Harwood’s yard as a stable lad, but it was a couple of seasons later with Charles Cyzer that he started to ride on a regular basis. He rode his first winner for him on Art Form in a Lingfield all-weather claimer on May 10, 1991. The pair then followed up on the turf at Leicester 17 days later and completed a hat-trick at Yarmouth in the Royal Anglian Regiment Handicap on June 5. Although still claiming an allowance, Tom effectively became Cyzer’s stable jockey.
He then joined Paul Cole, for whom he won Haydock’s Tote Credit Silver Bowl on Moorish on May 29, 1993. However, it was his association with new trainer Nick Littmoden that really bore fruit, in particular with Littmoden’s sprinter Cretan Gift, on whom Tom won the Ayr Silver Cup in 1996 and Newmarket’s Abernant Stakes in 2000.
He then joined Paul Cole, for whom he won Haydock’s Tote Credit Silver Bowl on Moorish on May 29, 1993. However, it was his association with new trainer Nick Littmoden that really bore fruit, in particular with Littmoden’s sprinter Cretan Gift, on whom Tom won the Ayr Silver Cup in 1996 and Newmarket’s Abernant Stakes in 2000.
While struggling to get decent rides on turf, Tom was generally acknowledged as one of the strongest all-weather riders. He won the Winter Derby at Lingfield on Jacqui Doyle’s Zanay in 2000. He also plied his trade abroad and won the Indian Guineas.
While struggling to get decent rides on turf, Tom was generally acknowledged as one of the strongest all-weather riders. He won the Winter Derby at Lingfield on Jacqui Doyle’s Zanay in 2000. He also plied his trade abroad and won the Indian Guineas.
He rode 20 winners in 1998, 28 in 1999, a high of 37 in 2000, but then just 18 in 2001. He broke an arm twice in quick succession and also injured his back. He struggled when he returned from injury and wasn’t getting many rides, which led to him quitting the saddle in 2004.
He rode 20 winners in 1998, 28 in 1999, a high of 37 in 2000, but then just 18 in 2001. He broke an arm twice in quick succession and also injured his back. He struggled when he returned from injury and wasn’t getting many rides, which led to him quitting the saddle in 2004.
He went to work for trainer Ed Dunlop and eventually was told by Dunlop to renew his licence so he could ride a few for him. That resulted in his association with the globetrotting Red Cadeaux. In 2011 he won Hamilton’s Braveheart Handicap on him, along with the Group 3 Curragh Cup, and finished third in the Irish St Leger.
He went to work for trainer Ed Dunlop and eventually was told by Dunlop to renew his licence so he could ride a few for him. That resulted in his association with the globetrotting Red Cadeaux. In 2011 he won Hamilton’s Braveheart Handicap on him, along with the Group 3 Curragh Cup, and finished third in the Irish St Leger.
In 2012 Red Cadeaux gave Tom his most important success when winning the Yorkshire Cup, beating Gen’s Diamond by a length. They then finished third in both the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Meeting.
In 2012 Red Cadeaux gave Tom his most important success when winning the Yorkshire Cup, beating Gen’s Diamond by a length. They then finished third in both the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Meeting.
That was pretty much Tom’s racing swansong. He had just two more rides, the last of them when finishing second on Nicholascopernicus at York on October 11, 2013. He then retired for a second time, this time permanently.
That was pretty much Tom’s racing swansong. He had just two more rides, the last of them when finishing second on Nicholascopernicus at York on October 11, 2013. He then retired for a second time, this time permanently.