Tommy Masters
The son of a carpenter, Tommy Masters was born at Erith in Kent on November 30, 1934, and was apprenticed to Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort between 1950 and 1955.
The son of a carpenter, Tommy Masters was born at Erith in Kent on November 30, 1934, and was apprenticed to Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort between 1950 and 1955.
He rode a total of 108 winners, the first of which was on Opera
He rode a total of 108 winners, the first of which was on Opera
Score at Newmarket on April 29, 1954, beating top jockeys Eph Smith and Scobie Breasley by a short head and half a length. As if that wasn’t exciting enough in itself, Tommy had the additional satisfaction of the horse being owned by none other than the Queen. No wonder he later reflected that that was his “greatest thrill”.
Score at Newmarket on April 29, 1954, beating top jockeys Eph Smith and Scobie Breasley by a short head and half a length. As if that wasn’t exciting enough in itself, Tommy had the additional satisfaction of the horse being owned by none other than the Queen. No wonder he later reflected that that was his “greatest thrill”.
He rode many times in the royal colours during his successful apprenticeship, which saw him ride 40 winners before coming out of his time. Unlike most apprentices, he successfully made the graduation into the ranks of fully-fledged jockeys.
He rode many times in the royal colours during his successful apprenticeship, which saw him ride 40 winners before coming out of his time. Unlike most apprentices, he successfully made the graduation into the ranks of fully-fledged jockeys.
The best horse he rode was Tom Waugh’s Privy Councillor, on whom he won twice during the colt’s two-year-old career in 1961, firstly at Birmingham on May 22, secondly at Warwick on September 4. They were both minor contests but Privy Councillor improved significantly thereafter, going on to land the following year’s Two Thousand Guineas in the hands of Bill Rickaby.
The best horse he rode was Tom Waugh’s Privy Councillor, on whom he won twice during the colt’s two-year-old career in 1961, firstly at Birmingham on May 22, secondly at Warwick on September 4. They were both minor contests but Privy Councillor improved significantly thereafter, going on to land the following year’s Two Thousand Guineas in the hands of Bill Rickaby.
Tommy rode as the retained jockey for Newmarket trainer ‘Fiddler’ Goodwill and enjoyed his most successful season in
Tommy rode as the retained jockey for Newmarket trainer ‘Fiddler’ Goodwill and enjoyed his most successful season in
1962 with 26 winners, five of which were achieved on Goodwill’s staying handicapper The Burgher.
1962 with 26 winners, five of which were achieved on Goodwill’s staying handicapper The Burgher.
He also came in for the ride on Goodwill’s Song of Pan, a 100/1 longshot, in the 1962 Derby. Tommy had ridden Song of Pan to win a low-key three-year-old handicap at Leicester in April and had finished second to the useful Sherry Netherland in the H.S. Persse Memorial Handicap at Kempton in May, but that form was a long way below classic standard. Song of Pan carried Mrs J Phelps’s colours of copper, gold sash, cuffs and hoop on cap in the 26-runner Derby field. It was the year of the seven-horse pile-up around halfway. Luckily, Tommy managed to avoid the melee but still finished well back, out of the first dozen.
He also came in for the ride on Goodwill’s Song of Pan, a 100/1 longshot, in the 1962 Derby. Tommy had ridden Song of Pan to win a low-key three-year-old handicap at Leicester in April and had finished second to the useful Sherry Netherland in the H.S. Persse Memorial Handicap at Kempton in May, but that form was a long way below classic standard. Song of Pan carried Mrs J Phelps’s colours of copper, gold sash, cuffs and hoop on cap in the 26-runner Derby field. It was the year of the seven-horse pile-up around halfway. Luckily, Tommy managed to avoid the melee but still finished well back, out of the first dozen.
Photo, above, shows young Tommy Masters learning the ropes at the Newmarket stables of Arthur Goodwill.
Photo, above, shows young Tommy Masters learning the ropes at the Newmarket stables of Arthur Goodwill.
Two days later he rode Goodwill’s 200/1 no-hoper Courtly Girl in the Oaks, again finishing towards the rear of the field. Tommy did, however, manage to win a Hamilton Park maiden on her the following month.
Two days later he rode Goodwill’s 200/1 no-hoper Courtly Girl in the Oaks, again finishing towards the rear of the field. Tommy did, however, manage to win a Hamilton Park maiden on her the following month.
He rode 20 winners in 1963, including two on The Burgher. Three more came on Cider Bar for Epsom trainer Dick Thrale, at Salisbury in May, Windsor in September, and at Kempton in October when just beating Geoff Lewis’s mount March Wonder by a neck in the Windsor Castle Handicap.
He rode 20 winners in 1963, including two on The Burgher. Three more came on Cider Bar for Epsom trainer Dick Thrale, at Salisbury in May, Windsor in September, and at Kempton in October when just beating Geoff Lewis’s mount March Wonder by a neck in the Windsor Castle Handicap.
His tally of winners fell dramatically to just three in 1964, while the following year brought only a solitary success from 59 rides, that being on the Bill Holden-trained Ming Dynasty at Birmingham on June 7, 1965. Sadly, Birmingham racecourse closed later that month, while Tommy’s career as a jockey concluded at the end of that season.
His tally of winners fell dramatically to just three in 1964, while the following year brought only a solitary success from 59 rides, that being on the Bill Holden-trained Ming Dynasty at Birmingham on June 7, 1965. Sadly, Birmingham racecourse closed later that month, while Tommy’s career as a jockey concluded at the end of that season.
Tommy leads the string out to exercise (1957)
Tommy leads the string out to exercise (1957)
