Tommy Weston

Thomas Weston (February 1902 – 1981), born Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, was a British horse racing jockey. One of the most successful jockeys of the inter-war years, he won eleven English Classics, eight as stable jockey for the Earl of Derby including two Derby Stakes winners in Sansovino and Hyperion. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey in 1926.

Early life Weston was the son of a railway waggon driver. Through his father, who was a fan of multiple championship winning jockey Steve Donoghue, he developed an interest in the sport of horse racing. Aged 14 and weighing just 4 st 3 lb (26.8 kg), he became apprentice to Middleham trainer Ned McCormack, a stable controlled by a bookmaker.

Career

He rode his first winner at Newmarket on 30 October 1918 on a horse called Miss Richard. He would go on to ride the Horse of the Year in five of the next seven seasons – Colorado (1927), Fairway (1928 and 1929), Gold Cup winner Bosworth (1930) and Hyperion (1933), who would go on to become one of the 20th century's foremost sires.

It is argued that Weston should have won himself another Derby with Fairway, but his chance was lost after fans mobbed the horse at the start. He won in a then record time of 2 minutes, 34 seconds. For a time he was stationed at Ebrington Barracks in Derry. Future speed record breaker Donald Campbell and composer Ivor Novello frequented the cafe opposite.

Major wins Great Britain 1000 Guineas Stakes – Fair Isle (1930) 2000 Guineas Stakes – (2) – Colorado (1926), Happy Knight (1946) Derby Stakes – (2) – Sansovino (1924), Hyperion (1933) Oaks Stakes – (3) – Beam (1927), Toboggan (1928), Lovely Rosa (1936) St Leger Stakes – (3) – Tranquil (1923), Fairway (1928), Hyperion (1933) Ascot Gold Cup – (2) – Bosworth (1930), Tiberius (1935) Ascot Gold Vase – Gainslaw (1933) Champion Stakes – (3) – Pharos (1924), Fairway (1928), Fairway (1929) Coronation Cup – (2) – Salmon Leap (1932), Cecil (1937) Dewhurst Stakes – (2) – Toboggan (1927), Hyperion (1932) Eclipse Stakes – (3) – Colorado (1927), Fairway (1928), Caerleon (1931) Goodwood Cup – (3) – Salmon Leap (1931), Tiberius (1935), Cecil (1936) July Cup – Phalaros (1926) Middle Park Stakes – Pharamond (1927) Princess of Wales's Stakes – Colorado (1927) Richmond Stakes – Bobsleigh (1934) Stewards' Cup – Figaro (1934) St. James's Palace Stakes – Andrea (1932)

Biography