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Thomas Willmott
Thomas Willmott
Yorkshire-based Jump Jockey Thomas Willmott rode 48 winners over jumps before his career was ended by injury.
Yorkshire-based Jump Jockey Thomas Willmott rode 48 winners over jumps before his career was ended by injury.
Born on 3 February 2000, Thomas had his first point-to-point ride in 2016 before going on to ride as a conditional jockey. He rode his first winner on Rivabodiva for trainer Lucinda Russell in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Ayr on 30 October 2017. He rode out his claim for the same trainer when winning a two and a half mile handicap chase at Perth aboard Katalystic on 25 September 2019.
Born on 3 February 2000, Thomas had his first point-to-point ride in 2016 before going on to ride as a conditional jockey. He rode his first winner on Rivabodiva for trainer Lucinda Russell in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Ayr on 30 October 2017. He rode out his claim for the same trainer when winning a two and a half mile handicap chase at Perth aboard Katalystic on 25 September 2019.
He then moved to West Yorkshire to join the fellow Grand National-winning yard of Sue and Harvey Smith. He recorded his most successful season in 2021/22 with 17 winners. They included three Class 2 handicaps on Romeo Brown, notably the Go North Cab On Target Series Final at Kelso on 26 March, and the Pertemps Networks Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock on 7 May.
He then moved to West Yorkshire to join the fellow Grand National-winning yard of Sue and Harvey Smith. He recorded his most successful season in 2021/22 with 17 winners. They included three Class 2 handicaps on Romeo Brown, notably the Go North Cab On Target Series Final at Kelso on 26 March, and the Pertemps Networks Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock on 7 May.
Also that year he received the BHA Development Award and £1,000 prize at the 2022 JETS Richard Davis Awards. Named in memory of Richard Davis who had started planning for his future before his fatal race fall in 1996, JETS (Jockeys Education and Training Scheme) helps jockeys prepare for their futures to secure a successful transition from riding. The Award acknowledged Thomas’s dual career away from the saddle as he started to gain qualifications and experience working for a funeral directors in the Scottish Borders, near to where he grew up.
Also that year he received the BHA Development Award and £1,000 prize at the 2022 JETS Richard Davis Awards. Named in memory of Richard Davis who had started planning for his future before his fatal race fall in 1996, JETS (Jockeys Education and Training Scheme) helps jockeys prepare for their futures to secure a successful transition from riding. The Award acknowledged Thomas’s dual career away from the saddle as he started to gain qualifications and experience working for a funeral directors in the Scottish Borders, near to where he grew up.
Sadly, his retirement came sooner than expected. At Catterick on 3 February 2023, his 23rd birthday, he rode the 48th and final winner of his career on Prairie Wolf for Sue Smith in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.
Sadly, his retirement came sooner than expected. At Catterick on 3 February 2023, his 23rd birthday, he rode the 48th and final winner of his career on Prairie Wolf for Sue Smith in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.
However, on his very next ride that afternoon he was unseated from the winner’s stablemate North Parade, who sprawled on landing at the third last fences in a 1m 7½f novices’ handicap chase. Thomas was kicked by North Parade after being unshipped, breaking the humerus between the shoulder and the elbow on his right arm and also breaking his left foot in four places. The bone was nearly through the skin and the arm was almost hanging off from the top.
However, on his very next ride that afternoon he was unseated from the winner’s stablemate North Parade, who sprawled on landing at the third last fences in a 1m 7½f novices’ handicap chase. Thomas was kicked by North Parade after being unshipped, breaking the humerus between the shoulder and the elbow on his right arm and also breaking his left foot in four places. The bone was nearly through the skin and the arm was almost hanging off from the top.
The operation to repair the damaged arm was complicated as it involved moving the nerve in the arm to be able to plate the bone back together.
The operation to repair the damaged arm was complicated as it involved moving the nerve in the arm to be able to plate the bone back together.
He underwent intensive rehabilitation at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Jack Berry House in Malton from May to December. However, after consultation with his surgeon and the British Horseracing Authority’s chief medical adviser Jerry Hill, he was forced to take the decision to stop race riding. Faced with the possibility of losing the functionality of his right arm should he sustain another fall, he announced his retirement on medical grounds on 19 March 2024, at the age of just 24.
He underwent intensive rehabilitation at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Jack Berry House in Malton from May to December. However, after consultation with his surgeon and the British Horseracing Authority’s chief medical adviser Jerry Hill, he was forced to take the decision to stop race riding. Faced with the possibility of losing the functionality of his right arm should he sustain another fall, he announced his retirement on medical grounds on 19 March 2024, at the age of just 24.
It was a shattering blow. He had always believed, however long it took, he would eventually be back riding in races.
It was a shattering blow. He had always believed, however long it took, he would eventually be back riding in races.
“I probably didn’t give respect to the nerve damage that was in the arm and the complications that it would have further on down the line,” he acknowledged to the Racing Post on confirming his retirement.
“I probably didn’t give respect to the nerve damage that was in the arm and the complications that it would have further on down the line,” he acknowledged to the Racing Post on confirming his retirement.
“What I didn’t realise was that I wouldn’t be able to use crutches because I’d done my left leg and my right arm. I was completely dependent on a wheelchair for about three months and completely dependent on (his partner) Amy and my family.
“What I didn’t realise was that I wouldn’t be able to use crutches because I’d done my left leg and my right arm. I was completely dependent on a wheelchair for about three months and completely dependent on (his partner) Amy and my family.
“I haven’t sat on a horse since I had the fall,” he added. “My arm is actually very strong. It’s more the nerve damage in my arm and sometimes I get some pain in my elbow. The concern is if a horse is to try and run off with me and I was trying to stop it, that the nerve might catch and I might not be able to stop it.
“I haven’t sat on a horse since I had the fall,” he added. “My arm is actually very strong. It’s more the nerve damage in my arm and sometimes I get some pain in my elbow. The concern is if a horse is to try and run off with me and I was trying to stop it, that the nerve might catch and I might not be able to stop it.
“I’m very fit to ride but the arm isn’t fit to fall. That was the big turning point in deciding to retire because if the arm got another fall and I had another heavy impact then I could lose the use of it completely. That hit home when the surgeon told me that.
“I’m very fit to ride but the arm isn’t fit to fall. That was the big turning point in deciding to retire because if the arm got another fall and I had another heavy impact then I could lose the use of it completely. That hit home when the surgeon told me that.
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