Gary Thomson

Gary Thomson

Article by Alan Trout

A conditional jockey with William Fairgrieve, who trained at Selkirk in Scotland, Gary James Thomson made a perfect start to his career by winning on his first ride in public when Dr Guillotine made all and finished 12 lengths clear at the end of the Bankfoot Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle at Perth on October 9. 1986. 

Gary finished second on at least two occasions during the course of that season but it was not until November 17, 1990 that he registered his second success. By that time he was riding for leading trainer Ken Oliver and it was on his six-year-old Back Before Dawn that he ended the drought, staying on strongly to beat stable companion Majestic Ride by two lengths in the Glengoyne Highland Malt Tamerosia Series Novices’ Chase (Qualifier) at Ayr. 

Gary kept the ride and was placed twice from seven starts but had to wait until October 16, 1991 to win again. This time he took the lead from the start on Set The Standards and beat the favourite Swift Sword by seven lengths in the Goldsborough Three-Year-Old Hurdle. The winning pair had already been placed in all four of their starts together that season, hence the win was not coming out of turn. Again, he kept the ride and managed four more placed efforts from six subsequent starts. 

Set The Standards was trained by Alistair Whillans and he also supplied Gary with his fourth and final success when Sansool beat 17 others in the Sandhoe Novices’ Hurdle at Hexham on March 21, 1992. The six-year-old took the lead in the closing sages to score by a length. Their next outing, at Sedgefield on April 14, saw them finish second, but that was as close as Gary came to riding another winner.  

Gary Thomson’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Dr Guillotine, Perth, October 9, 1986

2. Back Before Dawn, Ayr, November 17, 1990

3. Set The Standards, Wetherby, October 16, 1991

4. Sansool, Hexham, March 21, 1992