Gwyn R. Tompkins
Encyclopedia
Gwyn R. Tompkins was an American Thoroughbred horse racing
trainer
and owner in both steeplechase
and flat racing
.
Tompkins owned and trained Rossfenton who in 1910 won the most prestigious steeplechase event in the United States, the American Grand National. http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/AmGrandNational.html Fifteen years later he gained national prominence in flat racing when he took over from Louis Feustel
in 1923 as head trainer for Sam Riddle's
famous Glen Riddle Farm
.
While training for Riddle, 1925 Gwyn Tompkins accomplished something extraordinary in Thoroughbred racing when he conditioned the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (Friar's Carse
), the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (Maid at Arms
), and the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (American Flag
). In addition, that same year Tompkins prepared the then two-year-old Crusader
who would earn 1926 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and Horse of the Year honors. For 1925, Gwyn Tompkins was the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings
.
A story in the November 1, 1925 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune
was headlined: America's Leading Race Trainer Near Death at Laurel. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/449590272.html?dids=449590272:449590272&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Nov+01%2C+1925&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=America's+Leading+Race+Trainer+Near+Death+at+Laurel&pqatl=google Tompkins recovered from his illness but five weeks later the New York Times reported that he had resigned as trainer for Glen Riddle Farm
due to his health problems. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60F1FF83E5D13738DDDAA0894D9405B868EF1D3 However, he soon signed on with Isabel Dodge Sloane
, heiress and owner of Brookmeade Stable
. For Mrs. Sloane, he trained horses that won in both steeplechase
and flat racing
.
A resident of Warrenton, Virginia
where Mrs. Sloan maintained her stable, in November 1938 the then seventy-seven-year-old Gwyn Tompkins took a heavy fall on ice and died in hospital as a result of his injuries.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
and owner in both steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
and flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
.
Tompkins owned and trained Rossfenton who in 1910 won the most prestigious steeplechase event in the United States, the American Grand National. http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/racecharts/AmGrandNational.html Fifteen years later he gained national prominence in flat racing when he took over from Louis Feustel
Louis Feustel
Louis C. Feustel was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer best known as the trainer of the legendary Man o' War.-The August Belmont Years:...
in 1923 as head trainer for Sam Riddle's
Samuel D. Riddle
Samuel Doyle Riddle . He was born in Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania, a small town southwest of Philadelphia given the family name in honor of his grandfather....
famous Glen Riddle Farm
Glen Riddle Farm
Glen Riddle Farm was a large horse farm in Berlin, Maryland in the United States. Located on what today is Route 50 between Ocean City and Berlin, it was owned by a wealthy textile businessman Samuel D...
.
While training for Riddle, 1925 Gwyn Tompkins accomplished something extraordinary in Thoroughbred racing when he conditioned the American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (Friar's Carse
Friar's Carse
Friars' Carse is a mansion house and estate situated southeast of Auldgirth on the main road to Dumfries, Parish of Dunscore, Scotland. The property is located on the west bank of the River Nith and is known for its strong associations with Robert Burns who lived for a while at the nearby...
), the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (Maid at Arms
Maid at Arms
Maid At Arms was an American Champion Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Her sire was the century's best race horse, Man O' War, a son of three-time Leading sire in North America Fair Play. Her dam was Trasher, a daughter of Trap Rock...
), and the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (American Flag
American Flag (horse)
American Flag was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by Samuel D. Riddle, who owned his sire, Man o' War, he was out of the dam Lady Comfey....
). In addition, that same year Tompkins prepared the then two-year-old Crusader
Crusader (horse)
Crusader was a chestnut Thoroughbred colt sired by Man o' War from the mare Star Fancy. Bred by Samuel D. Riddle, he was raced by his Glen Riddle Farm and was ridden by Earl Sande and Albert Johnson....
who would earn 1926 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and Horse of the Year honors. For 1925, Gwyn Tompkins was the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings
United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings
There is recognition for the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings but no formal award is given to the trainer in Thoroughbred flat racing whose horses earned the most purse money in North American Thoroughbred racing....
.
A story in the November 1, 1925 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
was headlined: America's Leading Race Trainer Near Death at Laurel. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/449590272.html?dids=449590272:449590272&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Nov+01%2C+1925&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=America's+Leading+Race+Trainer+Near+Death+at+Laurel&pqatl=google Tompkins recovered from his illness but five weeks later the New York Times reported that he had resigned as trainer for Glen Riddle Farm
Glen Riddle Farm
Glen Riddle Farm was a large horse farm in Berlin, Maryland in the United States. Located on what today is Route 50 between Ocean City and Berlin, it was owned by a wealthy textile businessman Samuel D...
due to his health problems. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60F1FF83E5D13738DDDAA0894D9405B868EF1D3 However, he soon signed on with Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Cleves Dodge Sloane was an American heiress and socialite who owned a major Thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm....
, heiress and owner of Brookmeade Stable
Brookmeade Stable
Brookmeade Stable was a successful thoroughbred horse racing stable owned by heiress and socialite Isabel Dodge Sloane. Sloane first won using the name Brookmeade Stable at the Manly Memorial Steeplechase at Pimlico in 1924....
. For Mrs. Sloane, he trained horses that won in both steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
and flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
.
A resident of Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
where Mrs. Sloan maintained her stable, in November 1938 the then seventy-seven-year-old Gwyn Tompkins took a heavy fall on ice and died in hospital as a result of his injuries.