Tommy Wallace
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Thomas Joseph Wallace was a former leading Irish apprentice who carved out a successful career in both Ireland and India before crossing the water to England.
Thomas Joseph Wallace was a former leading Irish apprentice who carved out a successful career in both Ireland and India before crossing the water to England.
Tommy was born on June 29, 1929 and served his apprenticeship with Captain Darby Rogers at the Curragh. His first important success came on Think Again in the 1947 Ulster Cesarewitch at Downpatrick for trainer ‘Ginger’ Wellesley. He rode 19 winners in 1948, highlighted by Signal Service for Darby Rogers in the Royal Whip at the Curragh, the Pretty Polly Stakes on Cobaltic and the Nass November Handicap on Proud Point.
Tommy was born on June 29, 1929 and served his apprenticeship with Captain Darby Rogers at the Curragh. His first important success came on Think Again in the 1947 Ulster Cesarewitch at Downpatrick for trainer ‘Ginger’ Wellesley. He rode 19 winners in 1948, highlighted by Signal Service for Darby Rogers in the Royal Whip at the Curragh, the Pretty Polly Stakes on Cobaltic and the Nass November Handicap on Proud Point.
Losing his apprentice allowance early did not adversely affect his career. He got off to a bright start in 1949, notching a double at Phoenix Park on March 19. The following month he won the Enniskerry Handicap, also at Phoenix Park, on Darby Rogers’ colt Rockspring. On June 4 he won a Baldoyle maiden on a horse named Suas Le Alba, and just ten days later rode that horse in the Gold Vase on the opening day of Royal Ascot, finishing tenth of 15.
Losing his apprentice allowance early did not adversely affect his career. He got off to a bright start in 1949, notching a double at Phoenix Park on March 19. The following month he won the Enniskerry Handicap, also at Phoenix Park, on Darby Rogers’ colt Rockspring. On June 4 he won a Baldoyle maiden on a horse named Suas Le Alba, and just ten days later rode that horse in the Gold Vase on the opening day of Royal Ascot, finishing tenth of 15.
A double at Mallow in August and a win at Laytown’s beach course in September helped him progress to finish fourth in the 1949 jockeys’ table with 24 winners.
A double at Mallow in August and a win at Laytown’s beach course in September helped him progress to finish fourth in the 1949 jockeys’ table with 24 winners.
His total dropped to 17 in 1950, the year’s highlight being a Down Royal double completed by Eastern Fairy in the Thorn Cup. He failed to make the top ten in future years, his only other winner of note in Ireland being on Itaiassu in Her Majesty’s Plate at Bellewstown in 1954. Her Majesty’s Plate was a race with a long history, having been run continuously at Bellewstown’s annual summer fixture since 1800. (It was run for the final time in 1980.)
His total dropped to 17 in 1950, the year’s highlight being a Down Royal double completed by Eastern Fairy in the Thorn Cup. He failed to make the top ten in future years, his only other winner of note in Ireland being on Itaiassu in Her Majesty’s Plate at Bellewstown in 1954. Her Majesty’s Plate was a race with a long history, having been run continuously at Bellewstown’s annual summer fixture since 1800. (It was run for the final time in 1980.)
Following successful stints riding in India, Tommy eventually came to England and took out a jockey’s licence in 1957, only to relinquish it in March the following year. He renewed his licence in 1961, being based with Jack Fawcus at Middleham. He rode two winners from 43 rides that year, both for Fawcus, the first being on Crystal Blue in a Newcastle two-year-old maiden on April 3; the second coming on Brass Nail in a three-year-old handicap at Wolverhampton on May 15, beating Lester Piggott on the evens favourite Crown Derby by half a length..
Following successful stints riding in India, Tommy eventually came to England and took out a jockey’s licence in 1957, only to relinquish it in March the following year. He renewed his licence in 1961, being based with Jack Fawcus at Middleham. He rode two winners from 43 rides that year, both for Fawcus, the first being on Crystal Blue in a Newcastle two-year-old maiden on April 3; the second coming on Brass Nail in a three-year-old handicap at Wolverhampton on May 15, beating Lester Piggott on the evens favourite Crown Derby by half a length..
He continued riding in 1962 without success, although it could have been so very
He continued riding in 1962 without success, although it could have been so very
different had luck gone his way. On September 29 he came close to winning the Ayrshire Handicap on Towser Gosden’s Damredub at Ayr’s Western Meeting, going down by just a neck to Smuggler’s Joy, the mount of Peter Robinson. Later that afternoon, Tommy rode Gosden’s three-year-old Carrara in the Acorn Stakes, finishing fourth. They appear to have been the final two mounts of his career, for he had no more rides in 1962 and did not take out a licence thereafter.
different had luck gone his way. On September 29 he came close to winning the Ayrshire Handicap on Towser Gosden’s Damredub at Ayr’s Western Meeting, going down by just a neck to Smuggler’s Joy, the mount of Peter Robinson. Later that afternoon, Tommy rode Gosden’s three-year-old Carrara in the Acorn Stakes, finishing fourth. They appear to have been the final two mounts of his career, for he had no more rides in 1962 and did not take out a licence thereafter.
Damredub went on to win the Manchester November Handicap on his next start, ridden by apprentice Michael ‘Gerry’ Germon. Who knows whether Tommy would have kept the ride had he held on to win the Ayrshire Handicap?
Damredub went on to win the Manchester November Handicap on his next start, ridden by apprentice Michael ‘Gerry’ Germon. Who knows whether Tommy would have kept the ride had he held on to win the Ayrshire Handicap?
Tommy worked for several top trainers including Harry Wragg, Ryan Price, Walter Nightingall and Peter Walwyn during his lifetime’s career in racing, yet he died virtually friendless in 1989.
Tommy worked for several top trainers including Harry Wragg, Ryan Price, Walter Nightingall and Peter Walwyn during his lifetime’s career in racing, yet he died virtually friendless in 1989.
He was cremated at Oxford Crematorium. Injured Jockeys Fund almoner Sue Mills was keen to contact any relations or friends for the funeral service, saying of Tommy: “He was a very nice man but he was one of those sad people who have absolutely no one.”
He was cremated at Oxford Crematorium. Injured Jockeys Fund almoner Sue Mills was keen to contact any relations or friends for the funeral service, saying of Tommy: “He was a very nice man but he was one of those sad people who have absolutely no one.”