Tom O'Ryan
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Thomas Edward O’Ryan was born on March 6, 1955, the son of former National Hunt jockey Bobby O’Ryan, whose career highlight was winning the 1946 Champion Hurdle on Distel. Distel had been a chance mount, his regular rider Mickey Gordon having gone down with flu, and it continued a golden streak for Bobby, whose previous six rides had all been winners.
Thomas Edward O’Ryan was born on March 6, 1955, the son of former National Hunt jockey Bobby O’Ryan, whose career highlight was winning the 1946 Champion Hurdle on Distel. Distel had been a chance mount, his regular rider Mickey Gordon having gone down with flu, and it continued a golden streak for Bobby, whose previous six rides had all been winners.
Tom started his career as a 16-year-old apprentice with Malton trainer Pat Rohan, weighing-in at just 6st 2lb when he had his first-ever mount in public. He rode his first winner on Vivacious Boy (right) trained by David Chapman, in the East Gate Apprentice Handicap at Beverley on Wednesday, July 5, 1972. Another Yorkshire trainer, Dennis Yeoman, provided Tom with his second winner, 50-1 rank outsider Yellow Flash, in the Ripon “Ebor” Trial Handicap later that month, with County Durham handler Taffy Williams supplying Tom’s third success, on Dorothy’s Pet at Ripon on September 4.
Tom started his career as a 16-year-old apprentice with Malton trainer Pat Rohan, weighing-in at just 6st 2lb when he had his first-ever mount in public. He rode his first winner on Vivacious Boy (right) trained by David Chapman, in the East Gate Apprentice Handicap at Beverley on Wednesday, July 5, 1972. Another Yorkshire trainer, Dennis Yeoman, provided Tom with his second winner, 50-1 rank outsider Yellow Flash, in the Ripon “Ebor” Trial Handicap later that month, with County Durham handler Taffy Williams supplying Tom’s third success, on Dorothy’s Pet at Ripon on September 4.
Having ridden just those three winners in 1972, his tally rose to 11 the following year, the highlight of which was when landing Newcastle’s Top Rank Club Handicap on Ribanco for Greystoke trainer Gordon W Richards.
Having ridden just those three winners in 1972, his tally rose to 11 the following year, the highlight of which was when landing Newcastle’s Top Rank Club Handicap on Ribanco for Greystoke trainer Gordon W Richards.
His score rose further to 17 in 1974, including victories on Tommy Shedden’s Priddy Nice in the Virginia Handicap at Newcastle’s August Bank Holiday Monday fixture and Charlie Bell’s Coignafern in the Garrowby Handicap at York in September. His 13-winner haul in 1975 included another Charlie Bell horse, an appropriately-named sprinter named Flyer in Hamilton’s Quincentenary Cup in May and Ernie Weymes’ three-year-old gelding Tony in the Champion Apprentice Handicap at Carlisle in September.
His score rose further to 17 in 1974, including victories on Tommy Shedden’s Priddy Nice in the Virginia Handicap at Newcastle’s August Bank Holiday Monday fixture and Charlie Bell’s Coignafern in the Garrowby Handicap at York in September. His 13-winner haul in 1975 included another Charlie Bell horse, an appropriately-named sprinter named Flyer in Hamilton’s Quincentenary Cup in May and Ernie Weymes’ three-year-old gelding Tony in the Champion Apprentice Handicap at Carlisle in September.
Tom’s number of winners dropped to eight in 1976, by which time he was attached to Peter Easterby, but they includedtwo on probably the best horse he rode, Alverton. Having won an apprentices’ handicap on him at York in May, he achieved a big race success when riding Alverton to a one-length victory over Geoff Baxter’s mount Plenty Spirit in the Bogside Cup at Ayr’s Western Meeting on September 18.
Tom’s number of winners dropped to eight in 1976, by which time he was attached to Peter Easterby, but they includedtwo on probably the best horse he rode, Alverton. Having won an apprentices’ handicap on him at York in May, he achieved a big race success when riding Alverton to a one-length victory over Geoff Baxter’s mount Plenty Spirit in the Bogside Cup at Ayr’s Western Meeting on September 18.
His winners for 1977 included Catterick’s Silver Jubilee Celebration Handicap on June 4 aboard Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Fair Kitty. However, he completed his apprenticeship later that year and was no longer able to claim his valuable 5lb allowance.
His winners for 1977 included Catterick’s Silver Jubilee Celebration Handicap on June 4 aboard Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Fair Kitty. However, he completed his apprenticeship later that year and was no longer able to claim his valuable 5lb allowance.
Beverley trainer Geoff Toft was Tom’s salvation in 1978, providing him with all six of his victories that year, culminating in the Beverley Silver Salver Nursery on 10-1 shot Lakshmi. Malton trainer Kevin Stone picked up the mantle in 1979, supplying Tom with five of seven winners that year. The other two were for Jimmy Fitzgerald, including an end of season success on Prelko in a mile-and-a-half all-aged maiden at Doncaster on Friday, November 9, 1979.
Beverley trainer Geoff Toft was Tom’s salvation in 1978, providing him with all six of his victories that year, culminating in the Beverley Silver Salver Nursery on 10-1 shot Lakshmi. Malton trainer Kevin Stone picked up the mantle in 1979, supplying Tom with five of seven winners that year. The other two were for Jimmy Fitzgerald, including an end of season success on Prelko in a mile-and-a-half all-aged maiden at Doncaster on Friday, November 9, 1979.
Tom had ridden pretty much freelance for 12 years before increasing weight caused him to relinquish his licence in the early 1980s and seek employment elsewhere within the industry. He turned his hand to journalism and soon made an impact, working as a race-reader for Raceform and eventually joining the Racing Post as northern correspondent and feature writer. In 2002, he was voted ‘Journalist of the Year’ by the Horserace Writers & Photographers’ Association (HWPA)
Tom had ridden pretty much freelance for 12 years before increasing weight caused him to relinquish his licence in the early 1980s and seek employment elsewhere within the industry. He turned his hand to journalism and soon made an impact, working as a race-reader for Raceform and eventually joining the Racing Post as northern correspondent and feature writer. In 2002, he was voted ‘Journalist of the Year’ by the Horserace Writers & Photographers’ Association (HWPA)
He also turned his talents to the broadcasting business and signed up as a presenter and pundit for Racing UK (left). He is now regularly seen on that channel, reporting from the northern tracks.
He also turned his talents to the broadcasting business and signed up as a presenter and pundit for Racing UK (left). He is now regularly seen on that channel, reporting from the northern tracks.
He rode work regularly for trainer, Richard Fahey but in May 2013 ended up in intensive care in Hull Royal Infirmary following a freak accident at his home in Brawby, near Malton. He broke his pelvis in two places and also suffered two fractured vertebrae and internal bleeding after being struck in the back by a flying fence post while cutting grass in a field. A tape attached to the post got caught up in the blades of equipment attached to a tractor that still had the engine running when Tom got off in order to deal with the potential hazard.
He rode work regularly for trainer, Richard Fahey but in May 2013 ended up in intensive care in Hull Royal Infirmary following a freak accident at his home in Brawby, near Malton. He broke his pelvis in two places and also suffered two fractured vertebrae and internal bleeding after being struck in the back by a flying fence post while cutting grass in a field. A tape attached to the post got caught up in the blades of equipment attached to a tractor that still had the engine running when Tom got off in order to deal with the potential hazard.
Happily, Tom made a full recovery and was soon back in front of the cameras presenting for Racing UK, where he remains a well-respected member of the channel’s presenting team. He signed off from the Racing Post at the end of 2015 following a successful and award-winning career as a news reporter and feature writer.
Happily, Tom made a full recovery and was soon back in front of the cameras presenting for Racing UK, where he remains a well-respected member of the channel’s presenting team. He signed off from the Racing Post at the end of 2015 following a successful and award-winning career as a news reporter and feature writer.
Tom died from lung cancer on Tuesday August 23, 2016.
Tom died from lung cancer on Tuesday August 23, 2016.
A son of Champion Hurdle-winning rider Bobby, O’Ryan initially followed in his father’s footsteps, beginning his apprenticeship with Malton trainer Pat Rohan.
A son of Champion Hurdle-winning rider Bobby, O’Ryan initially followed in his father’s footsteps, beginning his apprenticeship with Malton trainer Pat Rohan.
After notching over 60 winners, including for the likes of Peter Easterby, he was forced to quit the saddle in the 1980s due to issues with his weight.
After notching over 60 winners, including for the likes of Peter Easterby, he was forced to quit the saddle in the 1980s due to issues with his weight.
With his jockey days behind him, O’Ryan went on to forge a career as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster despite little previous experience. After a stint with Raceform, he went on to become a journalist for the Racing Post as their northern correspondent, his connections in the weighing-room proving invaluable.
With his jockey days behind him, O’Ryan went on to forge a career as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster despite little previous experience. After a stint with Raceform, he went on to become a journalist for the Racing Post as their northern correspondent, his connections in the weighing-room proving invaluable.
His knowledge and passion shone through in his new role and his efforts were rewarded in 2002 when he was voted Journalist of the Year by the Horserace Writers and Photographers’ Association.
His knowledge and passion shone through in his new role and his efforts were rewarded in 2002 when he was voted Journalist of the Year by the Horserace Writers and Photographers’ Association.
Once Racing UK entered the fray in 2004, O’Ryan discovered yet another talent as a broadcaster and he had been a regular on the channel over the past 12 years.
Once Racing UK entered the fray in 2004, O’Ryan discovered yet another talent as a broadcaster and he had been a regular on the channel over the past 12 years.
Away from the media, O’Ryan was well-known as a work-rider and jockeys’ mentor at Richard Fahey’s yard in Malton. His touch with apprentices was impressive considering no less than three champion apprentices have emerged from Musley Bank, including Paul Hanagan, who went on to become champion jockey in 2010 and successfully defended his title a year later.
Away from the media, O’Ryan was well-known as a work-rider and jockeys’ mentor at Richard Fahey’s yard in Malton. His touch with apprentices was impressive considering no less than three champion apprentices have emerged from Musley Bank, including Paul Hanagan, who went on to become champion jockey in 2010 and successfully defended his title a year later.
In May 2013, O’Ryan was involved in a freak accident at his home in Brawby near Malton, when a flying fence post struck him in the back as he was cutting the grass. It left him in intensive care at Hull Royal Infirmary with a broken pelvis, two fractured vertebrae and internal bleeding. Four months on, and he was back at work performing his broadcast duties on Racing UK.
In May 2013, O’Ryan was involved in a freak accident at his home in Brawby near Malton, when a flying fence post struck him in the back as he was cutting the grass. It left him in intensive care at Hull Royal Infirmary with a broken pelvis, two fractured vertebrae and internal bleeding. Four months on, and he was back at work performing his broadcast duties on Racing UK.
He lived, ate and breathed his racing and would do anything for anybody
He lived, ate and breathed his racing and would do anything for anybody
Group 1-winning trainer Fahey passed the news of O’Ryan’s passing on social media and described his dear friend as the “voice of the north”.
Group 1-winning trainer Fahey passed the news of O’Ryan’s passing on social media and described his dear friend as the “voice of the north”.
“Tom was a doer and a grafter and would never say no to anything,” reflected Fahey. “He lived, ate and breathed his racing and would do anything for anybody.
“Tom was a doer and a grafter and would never say no to anything,” reflected Fahey. “He lived, ate and breathed his racing and would do anything for anybody.
“He was greatly respected by everybody and will be sadly missed.”
“He was greatly respected by everybody and will be sadly missed.”
Ebor-winning apprentice jockey Adam McNamara, who has been under the tutelage of O’Ryan while learning his trade at Musley Bank, took to Twitter to pay tribute.
Ebor-winning apprentice jockey Adam McNamara, who has been under the tutelage of O’Ryan while learning his trade at Musley Bank, took to Twitter to pay tribute.
He said: “Can’t put into words how much I will miss Tom O’Ryan. He was a true gentleman, horseman, a great mentor, but most importantly a good friend.”
He said: “Can’t put into words how much I will miss Tom O’Ryan. He was a true gentleman, horseman, a great mentor, but most importantly a good friend.”
Tom O’Ryan died at the age of 61. He had been battling cancer. He was survived by his wife Wendy and brother Robin, who is Fahey's assistant.
Tom O’Ryan died at the age of 61. He had been battling cancer. He was survived by his wife Wendy and brother Robin, who is Fahey's assistant.