David Thom
David (or Dave) Thom is best remembered as a racehorse trainer. However, he also rode seven winners under National Hunt rules, first as an amateur and then as a professional jockey.
David (or Dave) Thom is best remembered as a racehorse trainer. However, he also rode seven winners under National Hunt rules, first as an amateur and then as a professional jockey.
David Trenchard Thom was one of five children and was born at Pollokshields, near Glasgow on July 13, 1925. At the age of 16, he lied about his age so he could join the Royal Marines and took part in the D-Day landings and the battle of Walcheren. He became a Sergeant Major when aged 19 and went on to fight the Japanese before being demobbed at 21. After his war service, he moved from his native Scotland to Hertfordshire where he travelled horses, hunted and rode in point-to-points and also under NH rules.
David Trenchard Thom was one of five children and was born at Pollokshields, near Glasgow on July 13, 1925. At the age of 16, he lied about his age so he could join the Royal Marines and took part in the D-Day landings and the battle of Walcheren. He became a Sergeant Major when aged 19 and went on to fight the Japanese before being demobbed at 21. After his war service, he moved from his native Scotland to Hertfordshire where he travelled horses, hunted and rode in point-to-points and also under NH rules.
He rode his first winner on Ocean Gem, whom he also trained, in a novices’ chase at Folkestone’s United Hunts’ Meeting on April 25, 1955. It was more than three years before he rode his second, on novice hurdler Rampark at Market Rasen on December 27, 1958.
He rode his first winner on Ocean Gem, whom he also trained, in a novices’ chase at Folkestone’s United Hunts’ Meeting on April 25, 1955. It was more than three years before he rode his second, on novice hurdler Rampark at Market Rasen on December 27, 1958.
David took out a trainer’s licence in 1959, based initially at Exeter House in Newmarket, and soon sent out his first winner, La Vana, ridden by Michael Bloom, in the Kimbolton Chase at Huntingdon on October 24, 1959. He continued to ride in races but, as trainers were not then allowed to ride as amateurs, he was obliged to turn professional.
David took out a trainer’s licence in 1959, based initially at Exeter House in Newmarket, and soon sent out his first winner, La Vana, ridden by Michael Bloom, in the Kimbolton Chase at Huntingdon on October 24, 1959. He continued to ride in races but, as trainers were not then allowed to ride as amateurs, he was obliged to turn professional.
In the early 1960s he moved to Harraton Court Stables in Exning, which would become his base for almost 40 years. He rode five winners during the 1960/61 season, all over hurdles. He trained four of them himself, however what proved to be his final winner as a jockey was gained on Whitehall Bloom in a Uttoxeter selling hurdle for owner-trainer Peter Poston.
In the early 1960s he moved to Harraton Court Stables in Exning, which would become his base for almost 40 years. He rode five winners during the 1960/61 season, all over hurdles. He trained four of them himself, however what proved to be his final winner as a jockey was gained on Whitehall Bloom in a Uttoxeter selling hurdle for owner-trainer Peter Poston.
He had his final ride on Just My Mark in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham) on Whit Monday, June 3, 1963.
He had his final ride on Just My Mark in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham) on Whit Monday, June 3, 1963.
The best horses he trained were Narratus, who won the 1962 Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom and the 1963 Chester Cup; and Prince Hansel, whose five victories in 1965 included the Bessborough Stakes at Royal Ascot, Epsom’s Moet and Chandon Silver Magnum and the Doncaster Cup.
The best horses he trained were Narratus, who won the 1962 Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom and the 1963 Chester Cup; and Prince Hansel, whose five victories in 1965 included the Bessborough Stakes at Royal Ascot, Epsom’s Moet and Chandon Silver Magnum and the Doncaster Cup.
He also trained Touch Of Grey, who won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in 1986, and the speedy juveniles Absent Chimes, winner of Goodwood’s Molecomb Stakes in 1984, and Forty Winks, second in the 1976 Gimcrack Stakes.
He also trained Touch Of Grey, who won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in 1986, and the speedy juveniles Absent Chimes, winner of Goodwood’s Molecomb Stakes in 1984, and Forty Winks, second in the 1976 Gimcrack Stakes.
His best jumper was Master Mascus, who won four times over hurdles and seven times over fences including the valuable Tote Investors’ Handicap Chase at Ascot.
His best jumper was Master Mascus, who won four times over hurdles and seven times over fences including the valuable Tote Investors’ Handicap Chase at Ascot.
A great character within Newmarket’s racing community, he had to deal with personal tragedy in 1999 when his second wife Allison, whom he had married in June 1985, died from a brain tumour, aged just 41
A great character within Newmarket’s racing community, he had to deal with personal tragedy in 1999 when his second wife Allison, whom he had married in June 1985, died from a brain tumour, aged just 41
He relinquished his trainer’s licence in 1999 but maintained his involvement with horses. On Friday, February 18, 2005, he had been out feeding his mare and two yearling colts when he was involved in a car crash in Heath Road, Burwell at around 5pm, dying from his injuries. He was 79. His funeral was held on Tuesday at St Martin’s Church, Exning, four days later.
He relinquished his trainer’s licence in 1999 but maintained his involvement with horses. On Friday, February 18, 2005, he had been out feeding his mare and two yearling colts when he was involved in a car crash in Heath Road, Burwell at around 5pm, dying from his injuries. He was 79. His funeral was held on Tuesday at St Martin’s Church, Exning, four days later.
A biography of the trainer – ‘David Trenchard Thom: A Man Before His Time’ by Terry Jennings – was published in 2006.
A biography of the trainer – ‘David Trenchard Thom: A Man Before His Time’ by Terry Jennings – was published in 2006.
David Thom’s winning rides were, in chronological order:
David Thom’s winning rides were, in chronological order:
1. Ocean Gem, Folkestone, April 25, 1955
1. Ocean Gem, Folkestone, April 25, 1955
2. Rampark, Market Rasen, December 27, 1958
2. Rampark, Market Rasen, December 27, 1958
3. Penciller, Folkestone, September 26, 1960
3. Penciller, Folkestone, September 26, 1960
4. Rampark, Towcester, October 29, 1960
4. Rampark, Towcester, October 29, 1960
5. Rampark, Leicester, January 9, 1961
5. Rampark, Leicester, January 9, 1961
6. Just My Mark, Windsor, March 1, 1961
6. Just My Mark, Windsor, March 1, 1961
7. Whitehall Bloom, Uttoxeter, March 18, 1961
7. Whitehall Bloom, Uttoxeter, March 18, 1961