Tommy Skelton
Encyclopedia
Thomas Skelton, known as Tommy, was a jockey who rode the winner of the 1886 Grand National
steeplechase
aboard Old Joe. In his first 4 attempts to win the race he achieved third place, then first, second and fourth in 4 attempts before being unplaced on 2 subsequent attempts. his riding name was Tommy Skelton but his real name was Thomas Cheshire Tagg.
The silks Skelton wore to victory in 1886 are today in the possession of Aintree Racecouse and are occasionally displayed in the weighing room bar on Grand National day.
So goes a story that has been about for some little while. But though Thomas Tagg (1868-1946) later trained racehorses under both Rules - he held a Flat licence on and off between 1915 and 1925 - he was not (as most would guess from his date of birth) Old Joe's jockey. Thomas Skelton was the actual name of the rider. He was born at Lichfield on 21 November 1856 and apprenticed to Tom Stevens at Chilton
in Berkshire. He was basically a good Flat jockey who also rode under National Hunt Rules where he achieved his greatest success. He was very light and in the words of one authority "although always thought of as a somewhat delicate man to be engaged in the hazardous trade of jump jockey, his determination and flair had long been acknowledged" . Tom Skelton also rode winners of the Grand Sefton and the Lancashire Chase before losing an eye in a shooting accident near Newmarket in 1890, which effectively ended his riding career. From 1884 he also trained racehorses for over ten years, mostly near Newmarket but also at Headbourne Worthy
and Hednesford
. He then took an inn at Kidderminster
. Skelton was arranging to return to live at Newmarket but died while visiting friends at Kentford
close to that town on 27 November 1900.
This above information is quite true to a degree accept Tom Tagg would have been 18yrs old when he won the national, so why would you not win a national at 18, It states in newspaper articles about his win and in a book called Buxton under the Duke of Devonshire. He also appeared in the 1933 Dick Turpin film and the right up in the newspaper said veteran steeplechase jockey in a film, underneath it says Tom Tagg veteran of six grand nationals. When he died his obituaries said in his younger days a steeplechase jockey rode in the grand national six times and won it in 1886 on old joe. Tom Skeltons obituary says Death and Funeral of Mr T Skelton, well known in the district having carried out his business of a trainer of racehorses at the Regal Lodge etc, not once does it mention a grand national win when normally there would be a mention. Tagg rode on the flat and won his first race at the age of 11 at of all places Lichfield. Its just a view but i think the two men knew each other quite well one trained the other rode.
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
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...
aboard Old Joe. In his first 4 attempts to win the race he achieved third place, then first, second and fourth in 4 attempts before being unplaced on 2 subsequent attempts. his riding name was Tommy Skelton but his real name was Thomas Cheshire Tagg.
The silks Skelton wore to victory in 1886 are today in the possession of Aintree Racecouse and are occasionally displayed in the weighing room bar on Grand National day.
So goes a story that has been about for some little while. But though Thomas Tagg (1868-1946) later trained racehorses under both Rules - he held a Flat licence on and off between 1915 and 1925 - he was not (as most would guess from his date of birth) Old Joe's jockey. Thomas Skelton was the actual name of the rider. He was born at Lichfield on 21 November 1856 and apprenticed to Tom Stevens at Chilton
Chilton
- People :Surname* Chilton Given name* Chilton Allan , American lawyer and politician* Charles Chilton Moore* Chilton Price* Joseph Chilton Pearce- Place Names :England* Chilton, Buckinghamshire* Chilton, County Durham** Great Chilton...
in Berkshire. He was basically a good Flat jockey who also rode under National Hunt Rules where he achieved his greatest success. He was very light and in the words of one authority "although always thought of as a somewhat delicate man to be engaged in the hazardous trade of jump jockey, his determination and flair had long been acknowledged" . Tom Skelton also rode winners of the Grand Sefton and the Lancashire Chase before losing an eye in a shooting accident near Newmarket in 1890, which effectively ended his riding career. From 1884 he also trained racehorses for over ten years, mostly near Newmarket but also at Headbourne Worthy
Headbourne Worthy
Headbourne Worthy is a village and former manor within the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England.-External links:***...
and Hednesford
Hednesford
Hednesford is a small town and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, within Cannock Chase District. It adjoins Cannock Chase to the north, and the town of Cannock to the south. It had a 2010 mid-year estimated population of 16,928.-History:...
. He then took an inn at Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
. Skelton was arranging to return to live at Newmarket but died while visiting friends at Kentford
Kentford
Kentford is a village and civil parish in the Forest Heath district of Suffolk in eastern England. In 2005 it had a population of 420. Located just off the A14, close to the border with Cambridgeshire, it is served by nearby Kennett railway station....
close to that town on 27 November 1900.
This above information is quite true to a degree accept Tom Tagg would have been 18yrs old when he won the national, so why would you not win a national at 18, It states in newspaper articles about his win and in a book called Buxton under the Duke of Devonshire. He also appeared in the 1933 Dick Turpin film and the right up in the newspaper said veteran steeplechase jockey in a film, underneath it says Tom Tagg veteran of six grand nationals. When he died his obituaries said in his younger days a steeplechase jockey rode in the grand national six times and won it in 1886 on old joe. Tom Skeltons obituary says Death and Funeral of Mr T Skelton, well known in the district having carried out his business of a trainer of racehorses at the Regal Lodge etc, not once does it mention a grand national win when normally there would be a mention. Tagg rode on the flat and won his first race at the age of 11 at of all places Lichfield. Its just a view but i think the two men knew each other quite well one trained the other rode.