Tommy Smith
1937 - 2013
1937 - 2013
Jay Trump was born in Pennsylvania and proved useless on the flat.
Jay Trump was born in Pennsylvania and proved useless on the flat.
Crompton Smith was born 16 October 1937 in Middleburg, Virginia.
Crompton Smith was born 16 October 1937 in Middleburg, Virginia.
Leading American amateur rider Crompton Thomas Smith saw enough in Jay Trump's defeats to purchase it on behalf of Mrs Mary Stephenson of Ohio, who was looking for a horse to win the Maryland Hunt Cup. Crompton's faith in the horse was fully justified: Jay Trump twice carried him to victory in the premier American event over timber.
Leading American amateur rider Crompton Thomas Smith saw enough in Jay Trump's defeats to purchase it on behalf of Mrs Mary Stephenson of Ohio, who was looking for a horse to win the Maryland Hunt Cup. Crompton's faith in the horse was fully justified: Jay Trump twice carried him to victory in the premier American event over timber.
Then he was sent to England to be prepared for a tilt at the 1965 Grand National. Trainer Fred Winter was the man selected to help fulfil this dream: after the extensive coaching of both horse and rider, Jay Trump tackled his first three races. He won them all and headed for Aintree.
Then he was sent to England to be prepared for a tilt at the 1965 Grand National. Trainer Fred Winter was the man selected to help fulfil this dream: after the extensive coaching of both horse and rider, Jay Trump tackled his first three races. He won them all and headed for Aintree.
In one of the most dramatic-ever finishes, Smith (left) just got the better of “the Pride of Scotland” – the Borders-trained gelding Freddie – as Scots went hoarse on the course or in front of their black-and-white TV screens. “The Scottish Wonder Horse”, Freddie, owned and trained by the late Reg Tweedie of Middlethird farm, Gordon, Berwickshire, had started as 7-2 favourite while Jay Trump set off at 100-6.
In one of the most dramatic-ever finishes, Smith (left) just got the better of “the Pride of Scotland” – the Borders-trained gelding Freddie – as Scots went hoarse on the course or in front of their black-and-white TV screens. “The Scottish Wonder Horse”, Freddie, owned and trained by the late Reg Tweedie of Middlethird farm, Gordon, Berwickshire, had started as 7-2 favourite while Jay Trump set off at 100-6.
Perhaps more significantly, Freddie was so highly regarded that he carried no fewer than 11 stones 10 pounds over the arduous Aintree trip, giving five pounds to Jay Trump, a massive disadvantage over four and a half miles.
Perhaps more significantly, Freddie was so highly regarded that he carried no fewer than 11 stones 10 pounds over the arduous Aintree trip, giving five pounds to Jay Trump, a massive disadvantage over four and a half miles.
Smith became the first American to win the Grand National on a horse born, bred and owned in the United States.
Smith became the first American to win the Grand National on a horse born, bred and owned in the United States.
The Aintree event of 27 March 1965 was a race memorable not only for one its closest-ever finishes but for the fact that the course was up for sale to property developers and it looked like it might be the last National.
The Aintree event of 27 March 1965 was a race memorable not only for one its closest-ever finishes but for the fact that the course was up for sale to property developers and it looked like it might be the last National.
Jay Trump, a bay gelding, and Freddie, under jockey Pat McCarron, were neck-and-neck in the run-in. “It’s America and Scotland as they reach the last fence,” an excited BBC commentator Peter O’Sullevan yelled at viewers.
Jay Trump, a bay gelding, and Freddie, under jockey Pat McCarron, were neck-and-neck in the run-in. “It’s America and Scotland as they reach the last fence,” an excited BBC commentator Peter O’Sullevan yelled at viewers.
Approaching the last, the Grand National “rookie” Smith took a calculated risk.
Approaching the last, the Grand National “rookie” Smith took a calculated risk.
He deliberately brushed through the loose top of that last fence to gain a vital couple of yards. Jay Trump’s head, with its distinctive white diamond, dipped close to the turf on landing but Smith’s bold move paid off and he drove Jay Trump, which he had bought on behalf of his godmother for $2,000 and had nurtured back from a life-threatening injury, to a three-quarters-of-a-length victory.
He deliberately brushed through the loose top of that last fence to gain a vital couple of yards. Jay Trump’s head, with its distinctive white diamond, dipped close to the turf on landing but Smith’s bold move paid off and he drove Jay Trump, which he had bought on behalf of his godmother for $2,000 and had nurtured back from a life-threatening injury, to a three-quarters-of-a-length victory.
The following week’s edition of the American magazine Sports Illustrated carried the headline “The jump that won a Grand National”. For Tommy Smith, 1965 was his first and last attempt at the famous race.
The following week’s edition of the American magazine Sports Illustrated carried the headline “The jump that won a Grand National”. For Tommy Smith, 1965 was his first and last attempt at the famous race.
As for the brave, ebony-dark gelding Freddie, he also came second in the following year’s (1966) Grand National, again behind a Fred Winter-trained horse gratingly (for Scots) named Anglo, and finished unplaced in 1967.
As for the brave, ebony-dark gelding Freddie, he also came second in the following year’s (1966) Grand National, again behind a Fred Winter-trained horse gratingly (for Scots) named Anglo, and finished unplaced in 1967.
But he went on to be considered Scotland’s closest thing to Arkle or Desert Orchid, with 13 wins to his credit in major races.
But he went on to be considered Scotland’s closest thing to Arkle or Desert Orchid, with 13 wins to his credit in major races.
Freddie had been born in Ireland, where Reg Tweedie had bought him as a three-year-old for £350, in Clydesdale Bank pound notes, and shipped him back to the Broomielaw in Glasgow.
Freddie had been born in Ireland, where Reg Tweedie had bought him as a three-year-old for £350, in Clydesdale Bank pound notes, and shipped him back to the Broomielaw in Glasgow.
Smith himself, whose real first name was Crompton and was usually listed as C Smith, gave up race-riding in 1966 and concentrated on his job as a health care executive in Boston and part-time horse trainer until his retirement in 1995.
Smith himself, whose real first name was Crompton and was usually listed as C Smith, gave up race-riding in 1966 and concentrated on his job as a health care executive in Boston and part-time horse trainer until his retirement in 1995.
Having survived the 1965 National – in which only 14 of the 47 starters finished and which gave further voice to the race’s animal rights and other opponents – he fell while training a horse in 2001 which left him a quadriplegic, cared for by his family.
Having survived the 1965 National – in which only 14 of the 47 starters finished and which gave further voice to the race’s animal rights and other opponents – he fell while training a horse in 2001 which left him a quadriplegic, cared for by his family.
Smith’s life, that of his horse and that famous final jump were immortalised in the book The Will to Win (1966) – The True Story of Tommy Smith and Jay Trump – by horsewoman and author Jane McIlvaine McClary.
Smith’s life, that of his horse and that famous final jump were immortalised in the book The Will to Win (1966) – The True Story of Tommy Smith and Jay Trump – by horsewoman and author Jane McIlvaine McClary.
Its foreword was by former jockey and best-selling author Dick Francis, who never won a Grand National but came close on the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch in 1956 when the horse inexplicably did a belly-flap a few yards from the finish line.
Its foreword was by former jockey and best-selling author Dick Francis, who never won a Grand National but came close on the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch in 1956 when the horse inexplicably did a belly-flap a few yards from the finish line.
Tommy Smith is survived by his wife of 49 years Frances (née Cochran), a son, a daughter and a sister.
Tommy Smith is survived by his wife of 49 years Frances (née Cochran), a son, a daughter and a sister.
Born into a family of racing and hunting fanatics, the first racecourse Tommy ever saw was the Aintree Grand National circuit as depicted on a large, illustrated map that hung over the drawing-room fireplace in the family home in Middleburg, Virginia.
Born into a family of racing and hunting fanatics, the first racecourse Tommy ever saw was the Aintree Grand National circuit as depicted on a large, illustrated map that hung over the drawing-room fireplace in the family home in Middleburg, Virginia.
When only six months old his father strapped him in a basket saddle to join in a hunt.
When only six months old his father strapped him in a basket saddle to join in a hunt.
Tommy's grandfather was Harry Worcester Smith, a millionaire Massachusetts mill-owner, whose dream was to produce the first all-American Grand National winner. That dream received a serious setback when his son, a brilliant cross-country horseman, broke his leg irreparably while hunting.
Tommy's grandfather was Harry Worcester Smith, a millionaire Massachusetts mill-owner, whose dream was to produce the first all-American Grand National winner. That dream received a serious setback when his son, a brilliant cross-country horseman, broke his leg irreparably while hunting.
That dream came alive again when his grandson, Tommy, was born, but Harry died in 1945, aged 80.
That dream came alive again when his grandson, Tommy, was born, but Harry died in 1945, aged 80.
During the run-up to the National, a coughing epidemic swept through Lambourn.
During the run-up to the National, a coughing epidemic swept through Lambourn.
Jay Trump was immediately isolated and Tommy literally lived with the horse up to the race. It was a good move: the horse was one of the few to escape infection and arrived at Aintree in top form.
Jay Trump was immediately isolated and Tommy literally lived with the horse up to the race. It was a good move: the horse was one of the few to escape infection and arrived at Aintree in top form.
Aged 75, Crompton died on 5 March 2013 in Upperco, Maryland
Aged 75, Crompton died on 5 March 2013 in Upperco, Maryland