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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Over the years we’ve become accustomed to American Flat jockeys plying their trade in Europe – Steve Cauthen and Cash Asmussen are obvious examples, while Gary Stevens spent some time here riding for Sir Michael Stoute. However, the same cannot be said for America’s jump jockeys. While American steeplechasing enjoys a loyal following, it is still considered a niche branch of the sport of racing and does not enjoy anything like the popularity or the status of jumping in Britain, Ireland or France.
Over the years we’ve become accustomed to American Flat jockeys plying their trade in Europe – Steve Cauthen and Cash Asmussen are obvious examples, while Gary Stevens spent some time here riding for Sir Michael Stoute. However, the same cannot be said for America’s jump jockeys. While American steeplechasing enjoys a loyal following, it is still considered a niche branch of the sport of racing and does not enjoy anything like the popularity or the status of jumping in Britain, Ireland or France.
Other than a weekly jumps race at Saratoga’s August meeting, most American steeplechasing now takes place within the atmosphere of a glorified point-to-point – a major point-to-point, yes, with excellent prize-money and big attendances from its committed band of supporters, but nowhere near on the same scale as in Europe.
Other than a weekly jumps race at Saratoga’s August meeting, most American steeplechasing now takes place within the atmosphere of a glorified point-to-point – a major point-to-point, yes, with excellent prize-money and big attendances from its committed band of supporters, but nowhere near on the same scale as in Europe.
Jumping was once a popular offering at several American tracks, with Belmont Park, Delaware Park, Meadowlands and Monmouth Park all having their own steeplechase courses inside the main track oval, but a marked decline in betting interest – vital to an American track’s survival – has seen them all go under. Even its sole remaining New York venue, Saratoga, now just has temporary, portable fences situated on the inner grass course.
Jumping was once a popular offering at several American tracks, with Belmont Park, Delaware Park, Meadowlands and Monmouth Park all having their own steeplechase courses inside the main track oval, but a marked decline in betting interest – vital to an American track’s survival – has seen them all go under. Even its sole remaining New York venue, Saratoga, now just has temporary, portable fences situated on the inner grass course.
Given the general lack of interest in jumps racing among American racing fans, it is perhaps surprising that more of their jumps jockeys have not tried their luck elsewhere. In fact, the reverse is true, with many English and Irish jockeys, such as David Bentley, Ross Geraghty and Xavier Aizpuru to name but three, having relocated to the USA after failing to reach the upper echelons on this side of the pond.
Given the general lack of interest in jumps racing among American racing fans, it is perhaps surprising that more of their jumps jockeys have not tried their luck elsewhere. In fact, the reverse is true, with many English and Irish jockeys, such as David Bentley, Ross Geraghty and Xavier Aizpuru to name but three, having relocated to the USA after failing to reach the upper echelons on this side of the pond.
When it comes to horses, many American chasers have made their mark in Britain, most notably Tingle Creek, Soothsayer, Casamayor and Fort Devon. Several American amateur riders have taken part in the Grand National, two of them, Tommy Crompton Smith and Charlie Fenwick, having won the great race on American timber toppers Jay Trump and Ben Nevis. Harking back to pre-war times, George Archibald did well over here, while the Bostwick brothers, G H (Pete) and A C, rode plenty of winners over hurdles and fences in Britain. Both were also international class at polo in the USA.
When it comes to horses, many American chasers have made their mark in Britain, most notably Tingle Creek, Soothsayer, Casamayor and Fort Devon. Several American amateur riders have taken part in the Grand National, two of them, Tommy Crompton Smith and Charlie Fenwick, having won the great race on American timber toppers Jay Trump and Ben Nevis. Harking back to pre-war times, George Archibald did well over here, while the Bostwick brothers, G H (Pete) and A C, rode plenty of winners over hurdles and fences in Britain. Both were also international class at polo in the USA.
A number of American professional steeplechase jockeys have arrived on flying visits or busmen’s holidays – Jerry Fishback rode Flatterer to finish second behind See You Then in the 1987 Champion Hurdle – but few have chosen to make their home here and try to make the grade in this most challenging of environments.
A number of American professional steeplechase jockeys have arrived on flying visits or busmen’s holidays – Jerry Fishback rode Flatterer to finish second behind See You Then in the 1987 Champion Hurdle – but few have chosen to make their home here and try to make the grade in this most challenging of environments.
One who did was Tommy Skiffington, who rode in Britain during for three seasons in the mid-1970s, two of them as stable jockey to Jimmy Fitzgerald.
One who did was Tommy Skiffington, who rode in Britain during for three seasons in the mid-1970s, two of them as stable jockey to Jimmy Fitzgerald.
Thomas J. Skiffington Junior was born on July 19, 1950, the son of Colonel Thomas Skiffington, a regular officer in the United States. Young Tommy began to ride point-to-point winners as a schoolboy in Middleburg, Virginia. He was later apprenticed to Sidney Watters, one of the leading trainers there.
Thomas J. Skiffington Junior was born on July 19, 1950, the son of Colonel Thomas Skiffington, a regular officer in the United States. Young Tommy began to ride point-to-point winners as a schoolboy in Middleburg, Virginia. He was later apprenticed to Sidney Watters, one of the leading trainers there.
He soon turned his attention to jump racing and rode his first big winner on Madagascar in the 1970 Brook Steeplechase at Belmont Park. He was doing well but then the bottom began to fall out of the sport at the big New York tracks. Between 1970 and 1971 Belmont Park dispensed with five major jumps races – the aforementioned Brook Steeplechase, the Broad Hollow Steeplechase, the Bushwick Hurdle, the International Steeplechase and the Meadow Brook Hurdle – all of which boasted long histories, while the Saratoga Steeplechase was another casualty of that time.
He soon turned his attention to jump racing and rode his first big winner on Madagascar in the 1970 Brook Steeplechase at Belmont Park. He was doing well but then the bottom began to fall out of the sport at the big New York tracks. Between 1970 and 1971 Belmont Park dispensed with five major jumps races – the aforementioned Brook Steeplechase, the Broad Hollow Steeplechase, the Bushwick Hurdle, the International Steeplechase and the Meadow Brook Hurdle – all of which boasted long histories, while the Saratoga Steeplechase was another casualty of that time.
Tommy then came to England where Tingle Creek’s trainer Tom Jones, who he had met in the States, gave him a job in his Newmarket yard with the promise of spare rides. He rode his first British winner on Jones’ Swift Shadow in a Wetherby novices’ hurdle on February 28, 1973. Malton trainer Jimmy Fitzgerald saw Tommy win the race and was so impressed that he invited him to ride out with his string. The result was that he became Fitzgerald’s stable jockey. Another trainer to avail himself of Tommy’s services was Peter Easterby, for whom he rode schooling and in public.
Tommy then came to England where Tingle Creek’s trainer Tom Jones, who he had met in the States, gave him a job in his Newmarket yard with the promise of spare rides. He rode his first British winner on Jones’ Swift Shadow in a Wetherby novices’ hurdle on February 28, 1973. Malton trainer Jimmy Fitzgerald saw Tommy win the race and was so impressed that he invited him to ride out with his string. The result was that he became Fitzgerald’s stable jockey. Another trainer to avail himself of Tommy’s services was Peter Easterby, for whom he rode schooling and in public.
The Fitzgerald/Skiffington combo got off to a bright start for the 1973/74 season, with novice hurdler Sovereign View (left) winning at Southwell on August 11, returning there to win again on August Bank Holiday Monday, initiating a double, completed by Firelace. Multiple scorers that season included novice hurdler Mahalakshmi, who won at Nottingham, Teesside Park and Market Rasen, and Lot, who landed the ITV-televised Bertola Sherry Handicap Hurdle at Catterick on December 8, and then followed up at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Others to score for the duo included El Tigre, Wishcot, Archer, Everlasting, Feudal and Royal George, all helping to provide Tommy with a score of 23 winners from 158 rides for the season.
The Fitzgerald/Skiffington combo got off to a bright start for the 1973/74 season, with novice hurdler Sovereign View (left) winning at Southwell on August 11, returning there to win again on August Bank Holiday Monday, initiating a double, completed by Firelace. Multiple scorers that season included novice hurdler Mahalakshmi, who won at Nottingham, Teesside Park and Market Rasen, and Lot, who landed the ITV-televised Bertola Sherry Handicap Hurdle at Catterick on December 8, and then followed up at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Others to score for the duo included El Tigre, Wishcot, Archer, Everlasting, Feudal and Royal George, all helping to provide Tommy with a score of 23 winners from 158 rides for the season.
Back on home soil in November, he won the 1974 Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina, on Miss Jane Clerk’s outsider Augustus Bay, trained by Eric Watters, scoring by eight lengths. He also rode Augustus Bay to win the following year’s American Grand National Steeplechase at Charlottesville, Virginia.
Back on home soil in November, he won the 1974 Colonial Cup at Camden, South Carolina, on Miss Jane Clerk’s outsider Augustus Bay, trained by Eric Watters, scoring by eight lengths. He also rode Augustus Bay to win the following year’s American Grand National Steeplechase at Charlottesville, Virginia.
The 1974/75 campaign was not quite as successful as the previous one. Tommy had got off the mark when Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Fair Cheer won a Southwell novices’ chase on August Bank Holiday Monday, and there were winners for other trainers too including Josh Gifford, Frank Carr, Tom Jones and a New Year’s Day 1975 double at Leicester for Peter Easterby and Tony Dickinson, yet the season ended with a total of ten winners from 97 mounts.
The 1974/75 campaign was not quite as successful as the previous one. Tommy had got off the mark when Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Fair Cheer won a Southwell novices’ chase on August Bank Holiday Monday, and there were winners for other trainers too including Josh Gifford, Frank Carr, Tom Jones and a New Year’s Day 1975 double at Leicester for Peter Easterby and Tony Dickinson, yet the season ended with a total of ten winners from 97 mounts.
He’d ridden just one winner from 14 rides when, early in the 1975/76 season, he received an invitation to ride for top American trainer Burly Cocks. While he had thoroughly enjoyed his two seasons riding in the north of England and would miss the friends he’d made there, the retainer he was offered was too good to turn down so he returned to the land of his birth.
He’d ridden just one winner from 14 rides when, early in the 1975/76 season, he received an invitation to ride for top American trainer Burly Cocks. While he had thoroughly enjoyed his two seasons riding in the north of England and would miss the friends he’d made there, the retainer he was offered was too good to turn down so he returned to the land of his birth.
It paid immediate dividends for he wound up as the leading steeplechase jockey in 1976 with 28 winners, including the Carolina Cup on Casamayor, the Midsummer Steeplechase at Monmouth Park on Life’s Illusion, and the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase at Belmont Park on Fire Control.
It paid immediate dividends for he wound up as the leading steeplechase jockey in 1976 with 28 winners, including the Carolina Cup on Casamayor, the Midsummer Steeplechase at Monmouth Park on Life’s Illusion, and the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase at Belmont Park on Fire Control.
He made the briefest of returns to Britain in the winter of 1976, having just one ride on Royal Flower, finishing fourth in the Leeds Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wetherby.
He made the briefest of returns to Britain in the winter of 1976, having just one ride on Royal Flower, finishing fourth in the Leeds Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wetherby.
He was champion again in 1978, when his major successes included the Manly Steeplechase at Fair Hill, Maryland, the Rolling Rock Hunt Cup and the Samuel K Martin Memorial Cup at Far Hills, New Jersey, all on Owhata Chief; the Middleburg Hunt Cup over timber on Manco Capac; the Atlanta Cup Steeplechase on Down First; plus North Carolina’s Tanglewood Cup and Monmouth Park’s Midsummer Steeplechase, both on Deux Coup.
He was champion again in 1978, when his major successes included the Manly Steeplechase at Fair Hill, Maryland, the Rolling Rock Hunt Cup and the Samuel K Martin Memorial Cup at Far Hills, New Jersey, all on Owhata Chief; the Middleburg Hunt Cup over timber on Manco Capac; the Atlanta Cup Steeplechase on Down First; plus North Carolina’s Tanglewood Cup and Monmouth Park’s Midsummer Steeplechase, both on Deux Coup.
Tommy was champion for a third a final time in 1979, his big race victories including the Grand National Steeplechase on Tan Jay; the Imperial Cup Steeplechase on Jacasaba; the National Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Malvern, Pennsylvania, on Ages Ago; the National Steeplechase at Fair Hill on Deux Coup; the Noel Lang Steeplechase on Parson’s Waiting; the Raymond G Woolfe Memorial Steeplechase at Camden on Zaccio (1979); and a second Temple Gwathmey victory on Down First.
Tommy was champion for a third a final time in 1979, his big race victories including the Grand National Steeplechase on Tan Jay; the Imperial Cup Steeplechase on Jacasaba; the National Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Malvern, Pennsylvania, on Ages Ago; the National Steeplechase at Fair Hill on Deux Coup; the Noel Lang Steeplechase on Parson’s Waiting; the Raymond G Woolfe Memorial Steeplechase at Camden on Zaccio (1979); and a second Temple Gwathmey victory on Down First.
That was also the year in which he announced his retirement following an 11-year career during which he rode 158 winners in America plus 39 in Britain.
That was also the year in which he announced his retirement following an 11-year career during which he rode 158 winners in America plus 39 in Britain.
He turned to training and had his first winner in that capacity when Belle De Naskra won at Aqueduct, in New York, on January 19, 1980. In 1987 he trained the first, second and third in the Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park, in Florida. He has since enjoyed a successful training career, achieving a host of stakes race victories including the Sword Dancer, the Manhattan and the New York Handicap.
He turned to training and had his first winner in that capacity when Belle De Naskra won at Aqueduct, in New York, on January 19, 1980. In 1987 he trained the first, second and third in the Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park, in Florida. He has since enjoyed a successful training career, achieving a host of stakes race victories including the Sword Dancer, the Manhattan and the New York Handicap.
Tommy Skiffington’s big race winners as a jockey in America were as follows:
Tommy Skiffington’s big race winners as a jockey in America were as follows:
Atlanta Cup Steeplechase: Down First (1978)
Atlanta Cup Steeplechase: Down First (1978)
Brook Steeplechase: Madagascar (1970)
Brook Steeplechase: Madagascar (1970)
Carolina Cup Steeplechase: Casamayor (1976)
Carolina Cup Steeplechase: Casamayor (1976)
Colonial Cup Steeplechase: Augustus Bay (1974)
Colonial Cup Steeplechase: Augustus Bay (1974)
Grand National Steeplechase: Augustus Bay (1975), Deux Coup (1977), Tan Jay (1979)
Grand National Steeplechase: Augustus Bay (1975), Deux Coup (1977), Tan Jay (1979)
Imperial Cup Steeplechase: Jacasaba (1979)
Imperial Cup Steeplechase: Jacasaba (1979)
Indian River Steeplechase: Jacasaba (1977)
Indian River Steeplechase: Jacasaba (1977)
Manly Steeplechase: Owhata Chief (1978)
Manly Steeplechase: Owhata Chief (1978)
Middleburg Hunt Cup (Timber): Manco Capac (1978)
Middleburg Hunt Cup (Timber): Manco Capac (1978)
Midsummer Steeplechase: Life’s Illusion (1976), Deux Coup (1978)
Midsummer Steeplechase: Life’s Illusion (1976), Deux Coup (1978)
National Hunt Cup Steeplechase: In The Know (1970), Ages Ago (1979)
National Hunt Cup Steeplechase: In The Know (1970), Ages Ago (1979)
National Steeplechase: London Grove (1976), Tan Jay (1977), Deux Coup (1979)
National Steeplechase: London Grove (1976), Tan Jay (1977), Deux Coup (1979)
Noel Lang Steeplechase: Parson’s Waiting (1979)
Noel Lang Steeplechase: Parson’s Waiting (1979)
Raymond G Woolfe Memorial Steeplechase: Tan Jay (1975), Zaccio (1979)
Raymond G Woolfe Memorial Steeplechase: Tan Jay (1975), Zaccio (1979)
Rolling Rock Hunt Cup Steeplechase: Owhata Chief (1978)
Rolling Rock Hunt Cup Steeplechase: Owhata Chief (1978)
Samuel K Martin Memorial Cup Steeplechase: Owhata Chief (1978)
Samuel K Martin Memorial Cup Steeplechase: Owhata Chief (1978)
Sandhills Cup Steeplechase: Casamayor (1977), Deux Coup (1978)
Sandhills Cup Steeplechase: Casamayor (1977), Deux Coup (1978)
Tanglewood Cup Steeplechase: London Grove (1976), Deux Coup (1978)
Tanglewood Cup Steeplechase: London Grove (1976), Deux Coup (1978)
Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase: Fire Control (1976), Down First (1979)
Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase: Fire Control (1976), Down First (1979)
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