Michael Tory
Michael Tory was a leading amateur rider under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points from the mid-1950s to the mid-70s. He rode over 150 winners including 57 under NH rules.
Michael Tory was a leading amateur rider under National Hunt rules and in point-to-points from the mid-1950s to the mid-70s. He rode over 150 winners including 57 under NH rules.
Michael Stewart Tory was born in Wimborne, Dorset on August 18, 1935, the son of trainer Stewart Tory. The horse that kick started his race riding career was Sydney Jones, who gave him his first win, the Blackmore Vale Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on February 9, 1956. The combination won again at Buckfastleigh in May.
Michael Stewart Tory was born in Wimborne, Dorset on August 18, 1935, the son of trainer Stewart Tory. The horse that kick started his race riding career was Sydney Jones, who gave him his first win, the Blackmore Vale Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on February 9, 1956. The combination won again at Buckfastleigh in May.
Graduating to handicap company the following season, Michael rode Sydney Jones to win the Mickey Bouncer Chase at Wincanton on December 6, 1956, the first leg of a double that day, completed by novice chaser Ballyhahill. Michael and Sydney Jones then won the Somerset Farmers’ Cup at Taunton’s Christmas meeting, followed by two Wincanton victories, most significantly the Lord Stalbridge Cup on February 7, 1957. They finished third in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and then lined up for the 1957 Grand National, completing the course in seventh place behind Sundew.
Graduating to handicap company the following season, Michael rode Sydney Jones to win the Mickey Bouncer Chase at Wincanton on December 6, 1956, the first leg of a double that day, completed by novice chaser Ballyhahill. Michael and Sydney Jones then won the Somerset Farmers’ Cup at Taunton’s Christmas meeting, followed by two Wincanton victories, most significantly the Lord Stalbridge Cup on February 7, 1957. They finished third in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and then lined up for the 1957 Grand National, completing the course in seventh place behind Sundew.
Michael rode eleven winners the following season, four of them on Ballyhahill, including the Red Rower Handicap Chase at Wincanton. He partnered Sydney Jones in the 1958 Grand National, only to be brought down at Becher’s second time round.
Michael rode eleven winners the following season, four of them on Ballyhahill, including the Red Rower Handicap Chase at Wincanton. He partnered Sydney Jones in the 1958 Grand National, only to be brought down at Becher’s second time round.
He enjoyed his best season in 1959/60 when riding twelve winners. The highlight was winning the Rhymney Breweries Handicap Chase at Chepstow on The Bell for Letcombe Basset trainer Tom Yates. He also won three races on Harry Dufosee’s fine hunter chaser Bantry Bay, first at Taunton, then the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Gold Memorial Vase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, and climaxing in the Final Champion Hunters’ Chase (better known as. the Horse and Hound Cup) at Stratford.
He enjoyed his best season in 1959/60 when riding twelve winners. The highlight was winning the Rhymney Breweries Handicap Chase at Chepstow on The Bell for Letcombe Basset trainer Tom Yates. He also won three races on Harry Dufosee’s fine hunter chaser Bantry Bay, first at Taunton, then the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Gold Memorial Vase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, and climaxing in the Final Champion Hunters’ Chase (better known as. the Horse and Hound Cup) at Stratford.
Michael rode Bantry Bay to a second ‘Horse and Hound’ victory in May 1961. That same month he won a pair of novice chases on a useful sort named Badbury Rings. His five wins for the 1961/62 campaign comprised two apiece on Badbury Rings and Bantry Bay plus a Wincanton chase on Tom Yates’ Magical Way. Badbury Rings was Michael’s sole success of the 1962/63 season when winning at Kempton in November.
Michael rode Bantry Bay to a second ‘Horse and Hound’ victory in May 1961. That same month he won a pair of novice chases on a useful sort named Badbury Rings. His five wins for the 1961/62 campaign comprised two apiece on Badbury Rings and Bantry Bay plus a Wincanton chase on Tom Yates’ Magical Way. Badbury Rings was Michael’s sole success of the 1962/63 season when winning at Kempton in November.
After a blank season in 19963/64, Michael was back in the winner’s enclosure when Reventure won the Bogskar Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton in February 1965. They won again at Fontwell the following month.
After a blank season in 19963/64, Michael was back in the winner’s enclosure when Reventure won the Bogskar Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton in February 1965. They won again at Fontwell the following month.
Michael, who listed his interests as hunting, shooting and farming, began to wind down his riding commitments during the second half of the 1960s. He rode the last of his 57 winners under National Hunt rules on Shraden Sparkle in a Uttoxeter hunters’ chase on 12th April 1977.
Michael, who listed his interests as hunting, shooting and farming, began to wind down his riding commitments during the second half of the 1960s. He rode the last of his 57 winners under National Hunt rules on Shraden Sparkle in a Uttoxeter hunters’ chase on 12th April 1977.
He had married Aline Sharp, who bore him two sons, Nicolaus and Anthony, and one daughter, Michelle. Anthony Tory became a successful professional jumps jockey and is best remembered for his partnership with Docklands Express, on whom he won the 1991 Whitbread Gold Cup and back-to-back runnings of the Racing Post Chase in 1991 and 1992.
He had married Aline Sharp, who bore him two sons, Nicolaus and Anthony, and one daughter, Michelle. Anthony Tory became a successful professional jumps jockey and is best remembered for his partnership with Docklands Express, on whom he won the 1991 Whitbread Gold Cup and back-to-back runnings of the Racing Post Chase in 1991 and 1992.