Tom Scudamore (born 22 May 1982) is a retired third-generation British flat and

steeplechase SteepleChase Records is a jazz record company and label based in Copenhagen, Denmark. SteepleChase was founded in 1972 by Nils Winther, who was a student at Copenhagen University at the time. He began recording concerts at Jazzhus Montmartre, ...

jockey. He is the son of eight-time champion jockey

Peter Scudamore Peter Michael Scudamore MBE (born 29 June 1958), often known as 'Scu', is a trainer and former jockey in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey (including one title shared with John Francome), riding 1,678 winning horse ...

; his grandfather

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...

won the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

on Oxo in

1959 Events January * January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...

.Townsend, Nick, "Tom Scudamore: 'My Pipe dream ride- it's like joining Man Utd or Ferrari". ''The Independent'', 8 April 2007
Retrieved 2011-06-02.

Background

Scudamore grew up in the tiny village of

Naunton Naunton is a village in Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the River Windrush in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, area of outstanding natural beauty. Stow-on-the-Wold is about 6 miles to the east. Community The populati ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

, which is deep in the heart of British jump racing. He has been riding since the age of two.Irish, Oliver, "Contender: Tom Scudamore". ''The Observer'', 3 February 2002
Retrieved 2011-06-02. Scudamore was educated at Cheltenham College Junior School, and then

Cheltenham College Cheltenham College is a public school ( fee-charging boarding and day school for pupils aged 13–18) in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school opened in 1841 as a Church of England foundation and is known for its outstanding linguis ...

. Although Tom began riding as a jockey whilst still at Cheltenham College, there was always an educational back-up; he obtained two A-levels while maintaining a busy training schedule.

Career

At 5'8" tall and 9 stone 12 lbs. (138 lbs.), Scudamore's first flat win was on Nordic Breeze at

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined wit ...

in July 1998. His first steeplechase win was aboard Young Thruster at

Newton Abbot Racecourse Newton Abbot Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located on the north bank of the River Teign in the parishes of Kingsteignton and Teigngrace just north of Newton Abbot, Devon, England. The course is a tight, flat left-handed oval ...

in November of the same year. He was British amateur champion jockey in 2001 (riding his first Grand National that year as an amateur, on Northern Starlight). Scudamore turned professional in October 2001, winning his first professional race at

Chepstow Racecourse Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing course located just north of the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, near the southern end of the Wye Valley and close to the border with England. It is one of 16 racecourses operated by t ...

on Belle d'Anjou that month. Notable wins are the Ladbroke Hurdle on Desert Air, the Red Square Gold Cup aboard Heltornic, the

Eider Chase The Eider Chase is National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain. It is run at Newcastle Racecourse in February, over a distance of about 4 miles and 1 furlongs (4 miles, 1 furlong and 56 yards, or ) and d ...

on Nil Desperandum and the VC Casino Gold Cup aboard Madison Du Berlais. In 2013–2014, he amassed 100 wins. In 2014-15 he rode 150 winners. Riding first for trainer

Martin Pipe Martin Charles Pipe (born 29 May 1945), is an English former racehorse trainer credited with professionalising the British racehorse training industry, and as of 2021 the most successful trainer in British jump racing. The son of a West Coun ...

, from March 2007 Scudamore was stable jockey for Martin's son David Pipe in Nicholashayne, Devon. He rode 1,499 winners over jumps in Britain and Ireland, and at the time of his retirement was tenth on the all-time jump jockeys winners' list.

Retirement

Scudamore announced his retirement with immediate effect on 17 February 2023 after being unseated at Leicester from Ya Know Yaseff, who is trained by Scudamore's long-term ally David Pipe. The incident came shortly after suffering from a concussion in fall two weeks earlier at Chepstow.

Family

He became engaged to Charlotte Stucley, daughter of Sir Hugh and Lady Stucley, and the couple married in 2005. They had their first daughter, Margot, in September 2006 and their second daughter, Myrtle, in May 2008. Charlotte and Tom separated in February 2017.

Cheltenham Festival winners (10)

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 m ...

- (1) Thistlecrack (2016) *

Arkle Challenge Trophy The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, England, over a ...

- (1) Western Warhorse (2014) *

Champion Bumper The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 m ...

- (1) Moon Racer (2015) * Ryanair Chase - (1) Dynaste (2014) * Festival Trophy Handicap Chase - (3) An Accordion (2008), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016,2017) *

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Chelte ...

- (1) Next Sensation (2015) * Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase - (2) Salut Flo (2012), Ballynagour (2014)

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

King George VI Chase The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a dis ...

- (1) Thistlecrack (2016) *

Long Walk Hurdle The Long Walk Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 3 miles and half a furlon ...

- (2) Lough Derg (2007), Thistlecrack (2015) * Kauto Star Novices' Chase - (2) Grands Crus (2011), Dynaste (2012) * Finale Juvenile Hurdle - (1) Adagio (2020) *

Clarence House Chase The Clarence House Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong ( ...

- (1) Tamarinbleu (2008) *

Betway Bowl The Alder Hey Aintree Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 fu ...

- (1) Madison du Berlais (2009) *

Mildmay Novices' Chase The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade One National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the ...

- (1) Dynaste (2013) *

Liverpool Hurdle The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is run a ...

- (2) Maid Equal (2001), Thistlecrack (2016) *

Celebration Chase The Celebration Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 1 mile 7½ furlongs (1 mile, 7 ...

- (1) I'm So Lucky (2010)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scudamore, Tom 1982 births Living people British jockeys