Tommy Mahon
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Born in Bootle circa 1931, Tommy Mahon began his apprenticeship with Willie Stephenson at Royston in the late 1940s. He rode half a dozen winners in 1949 but the dawn of the new decade brought him far greater success.
Born in Bootle circa 1931, Tommy Mahon began his apprenticeship with Willie Stephenson at Royston in the late 1940s. He rode half a dozen winners in 1949 but the dawn of the new decade brought him far greater success.
In 1950 he rode a total of 19 winners, including a high profile victory on Willie Stephenson’s The Moke in the Free Handicap at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. He also won the Earl of Chester’s Handicap on Arthur Goodwill’s filly Kety at Chester’s May meeting.
In 1950 he rode a total of 19 winners, including a high profile victory on Willie Stephenson’s The Moke in the Free Handicap at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. He also won the Earl of Chester’s Handicap on Arthur Goodwill’s filly Kety at Chester’s May meeting.
He rode a further 18 winners in 1951, including Dens Jenny in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap at Kempton in May, and Lillibullero in the Golden Gates Nursery at Ascot in September, both for Willie Stephenson. He also won twice on Victor Smyth’s filly Absolve, including the Buckhounds Stakes, a decent three-year-old handicap, at Ascot in October.
He rode a further 18 winners in 1951, including Dens Jenny in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap at Kempton in May, and Lillibullero in the Golden Gates Nursery at Ascot in September, both for Willie Stephenson. He also won twice on Victor Smyth’s filly Absolve, including the Buckhounds Stakes, a decent three-year-old handicap, at Ascot in October.
But by far Tommy’s biggest success that year was gained in the stewards’ room following the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. Bill Rickaby’s mount Royaliste IV came in first, a length ahead of Tommy on the 20/1 shot Guerrier, but there had been interference between the pair two furlongs from home. The stewards heard evidence from both jockeys and duly disqualified Royaliste VI for crossing and awarded the race to Guerrier.
But by far Tommy’s biggest success that year was gained in the stewards’ room following the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. Bill Rickaby’s mount Royaliste IV came in first, a length ahead of Tommy on the 20/1 shot Guerrier, but there had been interference between the pair two furlongs from home. The stewards heard evidence from both jockeys and duly disqualified Royaliste VI for crossing and awarded the race to Guerrier.
Tommy’s total dropped to ten in 1952 but they included another big race triumph, this time on Star Twilight in the Rosebery Handicap Stakes at Kempton Park’s Easter meeting.
Tommy’s total dropped to ten in 1952 but they included another big race triumph, this time on Star Twilight in the Rosebery Handicap Stakes at Kempton Park’s Easter meeting.
His score fell further to eight in 1953, even though he’d made a good start to the campaign, riding a winner at Lincoln on the second day of the season. He also rode winners on both days of a Worcester meeting at the end of April, while in June he won the Perkins Memorial
His score fell further to eight in 1953, even though he’d made a good start to the campaign, riding a winner at Lincoln on the second day of the season. He also rode winners on both days of a Worcester meeting at the end of April, while in June he won the Perkins Memorial
Handicap at Newcastle on Willie Stephenson’s sprinter Harry Lime. He then rode Harry Lime to victory in the £1,000 Brighton Sprint Handicap in August.
Handicap at Newcastle on Willie Stephenson’s sprinter Harry Lime. He then rode Harry Lime to victory in the £1,000 Brighton Sprint Handicap in August.
Having completed his apprenticeship later that year, Tommy began the 1954 campaign as a fully-fledged professional jockey and rode a respectable 13 winners, again making a good start with a win on a sprinter named Haddon at Nottingham on March 30. His last victory that season was on Historic Feet in a Leicester nursery on November 8, 1954.
Having completed his apprenticeship later that year, Tommy began the 1954 campaign as a fully-fledged professional jockey and rode a respectable 13 winners, again making a good start with a win on a sprinter named Haddon at Nottingham on March 30. His last victory that season was on Historic Feet in a Leicester nursery on November 8, 1954.
Despite that promising start, Tommy only managed a handful of rides in the early weeks of the 1955 season, his last being when unplaced on Kumala in a Pontefract seller on April 21.
Despite that promising start, Tommy only managed a handful of rides in the early weeks of the 1955 season, his last being when unplaced on Kumala in a Pontefract seller on April 21.
He relinquished his licence the following month and headed for Scandinavia. He went on to ride over 200 winners in Sweden before a serious accident there ended his career and caused him to return to Britain.
He relinquished his licence the following month and headed for Scandinavia. He went on to ride over 200 winners in Sweden before a serious accident there ended his career and caused him to return to Britain.