Tom Skelton
1856 - 1900
1856 - 1900
Tom Skelton was born in Lichfield on November 21, 1856.
Tom Skelton was born in Lichfield on November 21, 1856.
When still a young boy, he had a bad fall at a minor meeting, breaking his leg quite badly.
When still a young boy, he had a bad fall at a minor meeting, breaking his leg quite badly.
Having few friends - and certainly no money - he was dumped in a nearby hotel with no-one to look after him. Ted Wilson, one of the greatest riders of his day, on hearing of Tom's plight, took him from the hotel into his own home and cared for him until he was able to resume his profession.
Having few friends - and certainly no money - he was dumped in a nearby hotel with no-one to look after him. Ted Wilson, one of the greatest riders of his day, on hearing of Tom's plight, took him from the hotel into his own home and cared for him until he was able to resume his profession.
Tom walked with a limp for the rest of his life, but he never forgot the kindness shown to him by Ted, and was devoted to the older jockey for the rest of his days.
Tom walked with a limp for the rest of his life, but he never forgot the kindness shown to him by Ted, and was devoted to the older jockey for the rest of his days.
Tom Skelton was a good-looking though delicate man with a slight, yet graceful, figure. For a jockey, he had not great strength, but he possessed the determination of the greatest fighter and the hands of an angel. Horses ran for him.
Tom Skelton was a good-looking though delicate man with a slight, yet graceful, figure. For a jockey, he had not great strength, but he possessed the determination of the greatest fighter and the hands of an angel. Horses ran for him.
Perhaps seen to greater effect over hurdles than fences, he was nonetheless much sought after in the big Liverpool chases, such was the fearlessness of his character.
Perhaps seen to greater effect over hurdles than fences, he was nonetheless much sought after in the big Liverpool chases, such was the fearlessness of his character.
On one occasion, he and fellow jockey George Lambton were racing against each other in a race at Four Oaks Park. Tom was making the running and, rounding a turn, left just enough room for George to get through. As George made his move, Tom - on seeing this - quickly reclaimed the inner berth, knocking George over the rails.
On one occasion, he and fellow jockey George Lambton were racing against each other in a race at Four Oaks Park. Tom was making the running and, rounding a turn, left just enough room for George to get through. As George made his move, Tom - on seeing this - quickly reclaimed the inner berth, knocking George over the rails.
'What else could I do?' said Tom later. 'If he had got through he would have beaten me, and we were all up to our necks on it.'
'What else could I do?' said Tom later. 'If he had got through he would have beaten me, and we were all up to our necks on it.'
Tom made it up to George in a race at Warwick when, on the rails and beaten, he pulled over to allow George to come up on the inside and win.
Tom made it up to George in a race at Warwick when, on the rails and beaten, he pulled over to allow George to come up on the inside and win.
Tom and George remained the greatest of friends throughout their careers.
Tom and George remained the greatest of friends throughout their careers.
In 1886, Tom rode that great stayer, Old Joe, to victory in the Grand National. Tom, somewhat unnecessarily, had his whip up a mile from home, driving his mount at every fence. Luckily for him, Old Joe had been too well schooled (by Carlisle trainer George Mulcaster) to even look like falling.
In 1886, Tom rode that great stayer, Old Joe, to victory in the Grand National. Tom, somewhat unnecessarily, had his whip up a mile from home, driving his mount at every fence. Luckily for him, Old Joe had been too well schooled (by Carlisle trainer George Mulcaster) to even look like falling.
Yet it was the following year's National which Tom would have preferred to have won.
Yet it was the following year's National which Tom would have preferred to have won.
Riding Savoyard, who had finished second to Gamecock in 1887, Tom's instructions were to wait until the last moment before challenging. Savoyard's owner, Baron Schroeder, then promised Tom the entire prize money if he won.
Riding Savoyard, who had finished second to Gamecock in 1887, Tom's instructions were to wait until the last moment before challenging. Savoyard's owner, Baron Schroeder, then promised Tom the entire prize money if he won.
Tom rode the most patient of races: at half a mile from home, Tom saw that he only had Gamecock to beat.
Tom rode the most patient of races: at half a mile from home, Tom saw that he only had Gamecock to beat.
As he said at the time: 'When I saw that winning post in the distance and with so much money hanging on to it, I had to get there as soon as I could!'
As he said at the time: 'When I saw that winning post in the distance and with so much money hanging on to it, I had to get there as soon as I could!'
He'd reckoned without Gamecock's tenacity: the nine-year-old, ridden by W.Daniels, fought back and, at the line, was ahead by three lengths.
He'd reckoned without Gamecock's tenacity: the nine-year-old, ridden by W.Daniels, fought back and, at the line, was ahead by three lengths.
Tom had been the cause of his own downfall: had he obeyed the Baron and waited until the last moment, the prize would surely have been his.
Tom had been the cause of his own downfall: had he obeyed the Baron and waited until the last moment, the prize would surely have been his.
Tragically, Tom's riding career was ended in a shooting accident in 1890 at Newmarket, when he lost an eye. He was still riding in April, 1892, though obviously to lesser effect.
Tragically, Tom's riding career was ended in a shooting accident in 1890 at Newmarket, when he lost an eye. He was still riding in April, 1892, though obviously to lesser effect.
Inevitably, he turned to training. For some ten years he sent out horses from Newmarket, then Headbourne Worthy and, finally, Hednesford.
Inevitably, he turned to training. For some ten years he sent out horses from Newmarket, then Headbourne Worthy and, finally, Hednesford.
In the last years of his life, he became landlord of an inn in Kidderminster.
In the last years of his life, he became landlord of an inn in Kidderminster.
His intention had always been to spend his last days at Newmarket but, visiting friends at Kentford, Suffolk, to discuss just such a move, he died on November 27, 1900.
His intention had always been to spend his last days at Newmarket but, visiting friends at Kentford, Suffolk, to discuss just such a move, he died on November 27, 1900.
The silks that Tom wore when winning the Grand National on Old Joe are in the possession of Aintree Racecourse and are often displayed in the weighing room bar on Grand National day.
The silks that Tom wore when winning the Grand National on Old Joe are in the possession of Aintree Racecourse and are often displayed in the weighing room bar on Grand National day.
Mr A J Douglas, owner of Old Joe, was so delighted with Tommy's efforts that he gave him the entire race prize money of £1,380. Mr Douglas had obviously landed a sizeable bet on his horse.
Mr A J Douglas, owner of Old Joe, was so delighted with Tommy's efforts that he gave him the entire race prize money of £1,380. Mr Douglas had obviously landed a sizeable bet on his horse.
The previous seven successive Nationals had been won by amateur jockeys:
The previous seven successive Nationals had been won by amateur jockeys:
Tommy, a professional, broke that sequence.
Tommy, a professional, broke that sequence.
He had been 3rd on Black Prince in 1885 and fourth on Ringlet in 1888.
He had been 3rd on Black Prince in 1885 and fourth on Ringlet in 1888.
Best wins
Best wins
1886: Grand National - Old Joe
1886: Grand National - Old Joe
1887: Grand Sefton - Savoyard
1887: Grand Sefton - Savoyard
1887: Lancashire Chase - Savoyard
1887: Lancashire Chase - Savoyard
1888: Sandown Grand Prize - Astrakan
1888: Sandown Grand Prize - Astrakan
1889: Prince of Wales' Chase - Scottish Minstrel
1889: Prince of Wales' Chase - Scottish Minstrel