Leslie Thomas
On Saturday afternoon, May 19, 1956, Welsh jockey Leslie ‘Taffy’ Thomas, aged 24, was riding 20-1 outsider Tottenham in the Summer Handicap at Warwick. He was at the rear of the nine-horse field as it approached the turn into the straight. About a furlong and a half from home, Thomas attempted to take a path between another runner and the inside rail. As he did so, the horse in front of him closed in. Thomas’s mount struck the rails and stumbled, unseating the jockey and throwing him headlong against a concrete upright. He was rushed to Warwick Hospital with a suspected fractured skull but died shortly after admission.
On Saturday afternoon, May 19, 1956, Welsh jockey Leslie ‘Taffy’ Thomas, aged 24, was riding 20-1 outsider Tottenham in the Summer Handicap at Warwick. He was at the rear of the nine-horse field as it approached the turn into the straight. About a furlong and a half from home, Thomas attempted to take a path between another runner and the inside rail. As he did so, the horse in front of him closed in. Thomas’s mount struck the rails and stumbled, unseating the jockey and throwing him headlong against a concrete upright. He was rushed to Warwick Hospital with a suspected fractured skull but died shortly after admission.
Thomas had begun race-riding in 1952 and had had five winners as an apprentice, two of them having come at Warwick in 1954. He had served his apprenticeship with Major Tim Fitzgeorge-Parker but was by now out of his time and riding as a freelance. Tottenham, trained at Baydon, in Wiltshire, by George Spann, was only his third mount since returning from a fractured thigh incurred in a fall at Warwick in July 1955.
Thomas had begun race-riding in 1952 and had had five winners as an apprentice, two of them having come at Warwick in 1954. He had served his apprenticeship with Major Tim Fitzgeorge-Parker but was by now out of his time and riding as a freelance. Tottenham, trained at Baydon, in Wiltshire, by George Spann, was only his third mount since returning from a fractured thigh incurred in a fall at Warwick in July 1955.
At the inquest, his wife, Sheila, told the coroner that he had returned to work only three weeks earlier after recovering from his thigh injury. Clerk of the course Malcolm Hancock did not apportion blame on anyone for the accident. However, he commented that a crash helmet would be of great assistance to Flat race jockeys, especially when the going was hard. Trainer Spann, who had booked Thomas to take the ride as a late substitute for the intended jockey, agreed, adding that a helmet had often saved him from serious injury in his days as a National Hunt jockey.
At the inquest, his wife, Sheila, told the coroner that he had returned to work only three weeks earlier after recovering from his thigh injury. Clerk of the course Malcolm Hancock did not apportion blame on anyone for the accident. However, he commented that a crash helmet would be of great assistance to Flat race jockeys, especially when the going was hard. Trainer Spann, who had booked Thomas to take the ride as a late substitute for the intended jockey, agreed, adding that a helmet had often saved him from serious injury in his days as a National Hunt jockey.
Dr Alan Prior, the pathologist, said Thomas died as a result of lacerations to the brain as a result of an extensive fracture to the skull. He agreed that a protective helmet might well have saved his life. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
Dr Alan Prior, the pathologist, said Thomas died as a result of lacerations to the brain as a result of an extensive fracture to the skull. He agreed that a protective helmet might well have saved his life. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
The coroner suggested to the jury that they might add a recommendation that Flat jockeys should wear helmets. Curiously, although the benefits of a crash helmet for Flat race jockeys had been stressed by three well-informed people during the hearing, the jury made no such recommendation.
The coroner suggested to the jury that they might add a recommendation that Flat jockeys should wear helmets. Curiously, although the benefits of a crash helmet for Flat race jockeys had been stressed by three well-informed people during the hearing, the jury made no such recommendation.
Crash helmets, better known in racing as skull caps, had been mandatory under National Hunt rules since the 1920s. They finally became compulsory on the Flat in Britain in 1961. It is likely that the catalyst, at least partly, was the death of leading jockey Manny Mercer in 1959 after being thrown against the rails on the way to the start at Ascot.
Crash helmets, better known in racing as skull caps, had been mandatory under National Hunt rules since the 1920s. They finally became compulsory on the Flat in Britain in 1961. It is likely that the catalyst, at least partly, was the death of leading jockey Manny Mercer in 1959 after being thrown against the rails on the way to the start at Ascot.