David Thomas
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
British Flat racing was at one time inundated by high-profile Australian jockey plying their trade over here. Some had been doing so long before the last war but it was in the post-war years that they began arrive in numbers. Edgar Britt was among the first, along with Rae Johnstone and Tommy Burn. Scobie Breasley turned up in the early 1950s, while the 1960s saw the arrival of Ron Hutchinson, Bill Williamson, Neville Sellwood, Jack Purtell, Pat Glennon, Bill Pyers, Russ Maddock, Eddie Cracknell, Des Lake and several others. However, the much smaller band of Australian jump jockeys tended to keep to their own patch and it was rare for any of them to venture to Britain or Ireland, other than perhaps on a flying visit. One who did make a go of it was David Thomas, whose first season promised much for the future.
British Flat racing was at one time inundated by high-profile Australian jockey plying their trade over here. Some had been doing so long before the last war but it was in the post-war years that they began arrive in numbers. Edgar Britt was among the first, along with Rae Johnstone and Tommy Burn. Scobie Breasley turned up in the early 1950s, while the 1960s saw the arrival of Ron Hutchinson, Bill Williamson, Neville Sellwood, Jack Purtell, Pat Glennon, Bill Pyers, Russ Maddock, Eddie Cracknell, Des Lake and several others. However, the much smaller band of Australian jump jockeys tended to keep to their own patch and it was rare for any of them to venture to Britain or Ireland, other than perhaps on a flying visit. One who did make a go of it was David Thomas, whose first season promised much for the future.
David Kenneth Frederic Thomas arrived in England at the end of 1949, having ridden 14 winners in his home country, and began riding for Tom Hanbury’s Bishopstone stable. He got the new decade off to a flying start by winning on his second mount, Flying Cinders, at Plumpton, on January 2, 1950. His first ride had come earlier that same afternoon when a faller on Young Lackey at the third fence in the Worthing Novices' Chase.
David Kenneth Frederic Thomas arrived in England at the end of 1949, having ridden 14 winners in his home country, and began riding for Tom Hanbury’s Bishopstone stable. He got the new decade off to a flying start by winning on his second mount, Flying Cinders, at Plumpton, on January 2, 1950. His first ride had come earlier that same afternoon when a faller on Young Lackey at the third fence in the Worthing Novices' Chase.
He then rode a fine race to win on Deuces Wild in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on January 11, left, making most of the running, coming again after being headed and getting up on the line to score by a head.
He then rode a fine race to win on Deuces Wild in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on January 11, left, making most of the running, coming again after being headed and getting up on the line to score by a head.
He came close to winning two big handicaps that season, finishing second, beaten a length, on Deuces Wild, right, in the 1950 Imperial Cup behind Tommy Cusack’s mount Secret Service. Four days later he finished second on Desire in the Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences, five lengths behind Dick Curran on Culworth. He rode 100/1 outsider Stockman in the 1950 Grand National but fell at the thirteenth fence.
He came close to winning two big handicaps that season, finishing second, beaten a length, on Deuces Wild, right, in the 1950 Imperial Cup behind Tommy Cusack’s mount Secret Service. Four days later he finished second on Desire in the Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences, five lengths behind Dick Curran on Culworth. He rode 100/1 outsider Stockman in the 1950 Grand National but fell at the thirteenth fence.
David finished that season with a respectable score of 13 winners. In contrast, the following season yielded just four and there was only one the next. He went back to Australia at the end of 1951 and did not return until 1957, when he rode one winner, Isle of Inishfree in the Abergavenny Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Plumpton on Easter Monday.
David finished that season with a respectable score of 13 winners. In contrast, the following season yielded just four and there was only one the next. He went back to Australia at the end of 1951 and did not return until 1957, when he rode one winner, Isle of Inishfree in the Abergavenny Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Plumpton on Easter Monday.
He stuck around for the start of the 1957/58 season and had around two dozen rides, winning three times on Frank Muggeridge’s novice chaser Energy, at Newton Abbot on August 5 and August 16 and at Fontwell on September 16.
He stuck around for the start of the 1957/58 season and had around two dozen rides, winning three times on Frank Muggeridge’s novice chaser Energy, at Newton Abbot on August 5 and August 16 and at Fontwell on September 16.
He returned for another short stay at the start of the 1958/59 campaign and renewed his acquaintance with Energy, winning on him at Newton Abbot on August 15. He then scored an easy eight-length victory on 5/2 favourite Vicomte III in a Devon & Exeter handicap hurdle on August 21.
He returned for another short stay at the start of the 1958/59 campaign and renewed his acquaintance with Energy, winning on him at Newton Abbot on August 15. He then scored an easy eight-length victory on 5/2 favourite Vicomte III in a Devon & Exeter handicap hurdle on August 21.
David won again on Energy at Fontwell on September 16, 1958. He returned to Australia almost immediately afterwards so was not in the country when Energy completed a hat-trick at Newton Abbot under Tim Brookshaw ten days later. He came back in March 1959 and rode a few more races, including some on Energy, but had no more winners.
David won again on Energy at Fontwell on September 16, 1958. He returned to Australia almost immediately afterwards so was not in the country when Energy completed a hat-trick at Newton Abbot under Tim Brookshaw ten days later. He came back in March 1959 and rode a few more races, including some on Energy, but had no more winners.