Tom Thatcher
Born circa 1883, National Hunt jockey Thomas Thatcher rode 46 winners over jumps between 1900 and 1910. They included the last race ever run at Sheffield & Rotherham.
Born circa 1883, National Hunt jockey Thomas Thatcher rode 46 winners over jumps between 1900 and 1910. They included the last race ever run at Sheffield & Rotherham.
Tom rode his first winner on Drone in an eventful Glasgow Maiden Chase at the old Hamilton Park course on January 2, 1900. Five horses ran but they all fell at some point. Drone was the only one to be remounted and duly finished alone.
Tom rode his first winner on Drone in an eventful Glasgow Maiden Chase at the old Hamilton Park course on January 2, 1900. Five horses ran but they all fell at some point. Drone was the only one to be remounted and duly finished alone.
In November 1901, Tom won a selling chase at the Sheffield & Rotherham meeting. Although it was the first race of the day, it turned out to be its last.
In November 1901, Tom won a selling chase at the Sheffield & Rotherham meeting. Although it was the first race of the day, it turned out to be its last.
Both Sheffield and Rotherham had staged independent race meetings in the past. There are references to races on Sheffield’s Crook’s Moor as early as 1711. Rotherham is first mentioned in the Racing Calendar in 1823, when there was a two-day meeting. Jump racing was taking place at Rotherham on a course at East Dene by the middle of the century.
Both Sheffield and Rotherham had staged independent race meetings in the past. There are references to races on Sheffield’s Crook’s Moor as early as 1711. Rotherham is first mentioned in the Racing Calendar in 1823, when there was a two-day meeting. Jump racing was taking place at Rotherham on a course at East Dene by the middle of the century.
Their combined revival came on May 6, 1889 when the ‘Sheffield and Rotherham Hunt’ fixture took place under National Hunt rules on land farmed by a Mr Gilberthorpe at Rotherham. Three more meetings took place that year, despite strong protestations from the local vicar who organised a series of public meetings to voice his disapproval.
Their combined revival came on May 6, 1889 when the ‘Sheffield and Rotherham Hunt’ fixture took place under National Hunt rules on land farmed by a Mr Gilberthorpe at Rotherham. Three more meetings took place that year, despite strong protestations from the local vicar who organised a series of public meetings to voice his disapproval.
Several good horses ran there including Wild Man From Borneo, who won the West Riding Half-Bred Chase as a four-year-old in November 1892, going on to win the 1895 Grand National in the hands of Joe Widger, having finished third the year before.
Several good horses ran there including Wild Man From Borneo, who won the West Riding Half-Bred Chase as a four-year-old in November 1892, going on to win the 1895 Grand National in the hands of Joe Widger, having finished third the year before.
The organisers hoped to bring Flat racing back to Rotherham – and they nearly succeeded. The stumbling block was a rule then in force which started that any new course must possess a straight mile. A consortium was organised to purchase some adjoining land, which would produce a straight seven furlongs with a slight bend in the remainder. The Jockey Club granted the application subject to the land being acquired. But soon afterwards, the owner of the land, Mr Jupp, died and the various wills he left behind were in such disarray that the racecourse was unable to acquire a legal title for the land, then Jupp’s heir to the estate refused to allow racing on it, causing the scheme to be abandoned.
The organisers hoped to bring Flat racing back to Rotherham – and they nearly succeeded. The stumbling block was a rule then in force which started that any new course must possess a straight mile. A consortium was organised to purchase some adjoining land, which would produce a straight seven furlongs with a slight bend in the remainder. The Jockey Club granted the application subject to the land being acquired. But soon afterwards, the owner of the land, Mr Jupp, died and the various wills he left behind were in such disarray that the racecourse was unable to acquire a legal title for the land, then Jupp’s heir to the estate refused to allow racing on it, causing the scheme to be abandoned.
The consortium did not consider it viable to race under National Hunt rules only and decided that racing at Sheffield & Rotherham should cease. The final two-day meeting brought an ignominious end to what should have been a successful venture. The first day on Monday, November 4, 1901, was abandoned when thick fog enveloped the course. The programme was carried over to the Tuesday and that day’s card abandoned. The first race, the Fitzwilliam Selling Chase, over two miles was won by Burton Pidsea, ridden by Tom Thatcher, beating Oroide by ten lengths. There was no betting on the race and, during its running, the fog came down again and wiped out the remainder of the meeting.
The consortium did not consider it viable to race under National Hunt rules only and decided that racing at Sheffield & Rotherham should cease. The final two-day meeting brought an ignominious end to what should have been a successful venture. The first day on Monday, November 4, 1901, was abandoned when thick fog enveloped the course. The programme was carried over to the Tuesday and that day’s card abandoned. The first race, the Fitzwilliam Selling Chase, over two miles was won by Burton Pidsea, ridden by Tom Thatcher, beating Oroide by ten lengths. There was no betting on the race and, during its running, the fog came down again and wiped out the remainder of the meeting.
Tom rode a treble at Wetherby’s Easter fixture on April 2, 1907, winning the Montague Handicap Hurdle on Iman, the Springs Selling Hurdle on Hepburn, and the Bramham Moor Chase on Bookbinder. The Montague Hurdle was a relatively important race at the time and Iman was the best horse Tom rode during his career. He won seven races on him between 1906 and 1908 including the Croydon Handicap Hurdle at Gatwick and was placed twice on him in Gatwick’s Grand International Hurdle, finishing second in 1907 and third in 1908. Those two years were also his most successful numerically, riding ten winners in each.
Tom rode a treble at Wetherby’s Easter fixture on April 2, 1907, winning the Montague Handicap Hurdle on Iman, the Springs Selling Hurdle on Hepburn, and the Bramham Moor Chase on Bookbinder. The Montague Hurdle was a relatively important race at the time and Iman was the best horse Tom rode during his career. He won seven races on him between 1906 and 1908 including the Croydon Handicap Hurdle at Gatwick and was placed twice on him in Gatwick’s Grand International Hurdle, finishing second in 1907 and third in 1908. Those two years were also his most successful numerically, riding ten winners in each.
Tom Thatcher’s seven wins on Iman were, in chronological order:
Tom Thatcher’s seven wins on Iman were, in chronological order:
1. April 10, 1906: Bedale Handicap Hurdle, Catterick Bridge
1. April 10, 1906: Bedale Handicap Hurdle, Catterick Bridge
2. May 24, 1906: Palace Handicap Hurdle, Hamilton Park
2. May 24, 1906: Palace Handicap Hurdle, Hamilton Park
3. October 22, 1906: Welbeck Handicap Hurdle, Nottingham
3. October 22, 1906: Welbeck Handicap Hurdle, Nottingham
4. December 5, 1906: Croydon Handicap Hurdle, Gatwick
4. December 5, 1906: Croydon Handicap Hurdle, Gatwick
5. April 2, 1907: Montagu Handicap Hurdle, Wetherby
5. April 2, 1907: Montagu Handicap Hurdle, Wetherby
6. October 7, 1908: Black Hill Hurdle, Hexham
6. October 7, 1908: Black Hill Hurdle, Hexham
7. December 14, 1908: Welbeck Handicap Hurdle, Nottingham
7. December 14, 1908: Welbeck Handicap Hurdle, Nottingham
Tom rode the last of his 46 winners on Galloper, who dead-heated with Ernie Piggott’s mount Domino in the Garswood Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on December 9, 1910. He had his final ride at the corresponding Haydock meeting twelve months later, finishing last of ten on Viyella in the Maiden Hurdle on December 8, 1911.
Tom rode the last of his 46 winners on Galloper, who dead-heated with Ernie Piggott’s mount Domino in the Garswood Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on December 9, 1910. He had his final ride at the corresponding Haydock meeting twelve months later, finishing last of ten on Viyella in the Maiden Hurdle on December 8, 1911.