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Thomas (Tos) Taaffe was born on August 11, 1933. He was twice Ireland's champion jockey, in 1956 and 1957, and formed a successful alliance with Vincent O’Brien, as well as riding plenty of winners for his father Tom.
Thomas (Tos) Taaffe was born on August 11, 1933. He was twice Ireland's champion jockey, in 1956 and 1957, and formed a successful alliance with Vincent O’Brien, as well as riding plenty of winners for his father Tom.
He scored his greatest victory in the 1960 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Olympia for Tom Dreaper. He won the two big races at Galway, landing the 1953 Galway Plate on Gallant Wolf for his father and winning the Galway Hurdle in 1964 aboard the Dick Hoey-trained Extra Stout.
He scored his greatest victory in the 1960 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Olympia for Tom Dreaper. He won the two big races at Galway, landing the 1953 Galway Plate on Gallant Wolf for his father and winning the Galway Hurdle in 1964 aboard the Dick Hoey-trained Extra Stout.
Other notable victories included his 1956 Thyestes Chase win on Sam Brownthorn, the Kerry National in 1954 and 1957 on Carey’s Cottage and Trinculo, and six Troytown Chase wins at Navan on Icelough (1955), Mr What (1957), Soltown (1958), Double Crest (1959), Loving Record (1961) and Solfen (1962). He also won the 1962 Downshire Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown on Rainlough.
Other notable victories included his 1956 Thyestes Chase win on Sam Brownthorn, the Kerry National in 1954 and 1957 on Carey’s Cottage and Trinculo, and six Troytown Chase wins at Navan on Icelough (1955), Mr What (1957), Soltown (1958), Double Crest (1959), Loving Record (1961) and Solfen (1962). He also won the 1962 Downshire Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown on Rainlough.
He enjoyed a particularly successful year in 1963 when his major successes included the Webster Cup at Navan on Loving Record, the St Patrick’s Day Handicap Chase at Baldoyle and Listowel’s Double Diamond Handicap Hurdle both on Corrigadillisk, the Purdyburn Hurdle at Down Royal on Sandcloud, while at Leopardstown he won the Independent Cup on Rainlough and the Tower Handicap Hurdle on Irish Day.
He enjoyed a particularly successful year in 1963 when his major successes included the Webster Cup at Navan on Loving Record, the St Patrick’s Day Handicap Chase at Baldoyle and Listowel’s Double Diamond Handicap Hurdle both on Corrigadillisk, the Purdyburn Hurdle at Down Royal on Sandcloud, while at Leopardstown he won the Independent Cup on Rainlough and the Tower Handicap Hurdle on Irish Day.
Tos also won the Christmas Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on the Vincent O’Brien-trained Mirabile in 1956 and repeated the feat five years later on Loving Record for his father.
Tos also won the Christmas Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on the Vincent O’Brien-trained Mirabile in 1956 and repeated the feat five years later on Loving Record for his father.
Mirabile had been Tos’s first winner in Britain when landing a Haydock Park novices’ chase on February 4, 1956. He returned to the Lancashire venue in January1957, landing a double on novice chaser Stroller and four-year-old hurdler Swifty.
Mirabile had been Tos’s first winner in Britain when landing a Haydock Park novices’ chase on February 4, 1956. He returned to the Lancashire venue in January1957, landing a double on novice chaser Stroller and four-year-old hurdler Swifty.
He rode in nine Grand National between 1954 and 1963, finishing fourth of Churchtown in 1954, third on Carey’s Cottage in 1955 when the race was won by his elder brother Pat on Quare Times, third again on Royal Tan in 1956, and third once more on Mr What in 1959.
He rode in nine Grand National between 1954 and 1963, finishing fourth of Churchtown in 1954, third on Carey’s Cottage in 1955 when the race was won by his elder brother Pat on Quare Times, third again on Royal Tan in 1956, and third once more on Mr What in 1959.
He rode two winners at the 1958 Cheltenham National Hunt Meeting, the Cotswold (now Arkle) Chase on Fortria, and the National Hunt Handicap Chase on Sentina, both trained by Tom Dreaper.
He rode two winners at the 1958 Cheltenham National Hunt Meeting, the Cotswold (now Arkle) Chase on Fortria, and the National Hunt Handicap Chase on Sentina, both trained by Tom Dreaper.
Tos registered his biggest success in Britain when winning the 1963 Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup on the Danny Morgan-trained Limeking, beating compatriot Tommy Carberry on Flying Wild by two lengths.
Tos registered his biggest success in Britain when winning the 1963 Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup on the Danny Morgan-trained Limeking, beating compatriot Tommy Carberry on Flying Wild by two lengths.
He was also a successful trainer and twice won the Thyestes with Greek Vulgan in 1967 and 1969.
He was also a successful trainer and twice won the Thyestes with Greek Vulgan in 1967 and 1969.
Tos Taaffe died at the age of 86 on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. He was survived by his wife Ann and his five daughters, Anna, Noreen, Fionnuala, Patricia and Sarah. His funeral mass took place at the Church of the Nativity in Saggart, followed by burial in Saggart Cemetery.
Tos Taaffe died at the age of 86 on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. He was survived by his wife Ann and his five daughters, Anna, Noreen, Fionnuala, Patricia and Sarah. His funeral mass took place at the Church of the Nativity in Saggart, followed by burial in Saggart Cemetery.
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