Darren Thomas 

Darren Thomas

Article by Alan Trout

After winning four races on the Flat, Darren Thomas turned to the jumps and added another eight. 

Apprenticed to Lynda Ramsden, his first ride was in the Raceform Apprentice Handicap at Doncaster on March 25, 1993, the traditional opening race of the Flat turf season. He failed to become leading jockey for half an hour as he could only finish 13th of the 20 runners on Laburnum. 

He did not have all that long to wait for his first win, which came at Beverley on June 9, courtesy of the five-year-old Self Expression, who made all and was unchallenged to take the University of Humberside Handicap by two lengths. His next success came at Carlisle on July 23, when Island Magic, making his racecourse debut, came with a strong late run to overhaul stable companion Rafferty’s Rules and win the Chas Kendall Auction Stakes by a neck. 

Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori, Michael Roberts and John Lowe had all failed to finish in the first three on Self Expression, so Darren was given another opportunity at Redcar on August 3, making the most of it by running on strongly to take the G + H McGill Handicap by a neck. 

His last victory on the Flat was at Newcastle on April 4, 1994 and, again, it was Self Expression he had to thank, as the now six-year-old came through smoothly to lead inside the final furlong and win the 4 Para Squadron R.E. Apprentice Handicap by half a length. 

He only had a few rides on the Flat that season. By the end of the year he had had his first win over jumps when Top Cees, trained by Mrs Ramsden and later to become the subject of a high-profile Court case in which the Ramsdens sued the Sporting Life over comments insinuating that the horse had not run on its merits, won the Boxing Day Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby. Coming through to lead after four out, the four-year-old held the challenge of Express Gift, the mount of Graham Lee, to score by a neck. 

There were four more wins before the season ended, then three spread over the next two campaigns, ending with victory by half a length in the Jevington Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on Easter Monday, March 31, 1997, when the four-year-old Anna Soleil, trained by Oliver Sherwood, battled on gamely to beat Palamon. He rode for one more season without success. 

Darren Thomas’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. Self Expression, Beverley, June 9, 1993

2. Island Magic, Carlisle, July 23, 1993

3. Self Expression, Redcar, August 3, 1993

4. Self Expression, Newcastle, April 4, 1994

5. Top Cees, Wetherby, December 26, 1994

6. Hot Punch, Kelso, April 11, 1995

7. Festive Lassie, Market Rasen, April 17, 1995

8. Hot Punch, Perth, May 17, 1995

9. T O O Mamma’s, Cartmel, May 27, 1995

10. Alltime Dancer, Market Rasen, July 29, 1995

11. Uncle Mouse, Newcastle, November 28, 1995

12. Anna Soleil, Plumpton, March 31, 1997