Harry Thomson Jones
Encyclopedia
Harry Thomson Jones often known as Tom Jones, was a British racehorse
trainer
whose career lasted from 1951 to 1996. He was successful in National Hunt racing, training the winners of 12 Cheltenham Festival
races before switching to flat racing
and going on to train the winners of British Classic Races.
He was educated at Eton College
and was first licenced as a trainer in 1951. Amongst his notable National Hunt horses were Tingle Creek, winner of 11 races and a specialist at Sandown Park Racecourse, and Frenchman's Cove, winner of the 1962 Whitbread Gold Cup
and 1964 King George VI Chase
.
By the 1970s he had begun to concentrate on flat racing and trained his first Classic winner when Athens Wood
won the 1971 St. Leger
. In 1982 he trained Touching Wood to win the St. Leger and Irish St. Leger for Maktoum al Maktoum
, the first Classic winner owned by the Maktoum family. Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum
became his principal owner and the most successful horse he trained for Sheikh Hamdan was Al Bahathri, winner of the Lowther Stakes
in 1984 and the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes
and Child Stakes
in 1985.
His last winner came when Agdistis won at Worcester Racecourse
on 12 October 1996 and he retired later that year.
His son, Tim Thomson Jones, and daughter, Di Haine, are also racehorse trainers, his other son, Christopher Thomson Jones lives in South Carolina.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
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...
whose career lasted from 1951 to 1996. He was successful in National Hunt racing, training the winners of 12 Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
races before switching to 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...
and going on to train the winners of British Classic Races.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and was first licenced as a trainer in 1951. Amongst his notable National Hunt horses were Tingle Creek, winner of 11 races and a specialist at Sandown Park Racecourse, and Frenchman's Cove, winner of the 1962 Whitbread Gold Cup
Bet365 Gold Cup
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
and 1964 King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
.
By the 1970s he had begun to concentrate on flat racing and trained his first Classic winner when Athens Wood
Athens Wood
Athens Wood was a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning a British Classic, the St. Leger Stakes. He was bred by Kilcarn Stud near Navan in County Meath, Ireland. His sire was Celtic Ash, a British-born colt who raced in the United States where in 1960 he won an American Classic, the...
won the 1971 St. Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
. In 1982 he trained Touching Wood to win the St. Leger and Irish St. Leger for Maktoum al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:...
, the first Classic winner owned by the Maktoum family. Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates . He is the second son of the late ruler, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ....
became his principal owner and the most successful horse he trained for Sheikh Hamdan was Al Bahathri, winner of the Lowther Stakes
Lowther Stakes
The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
in 1984 and the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes
Coronation Stakes
The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
and Child Stakes
Falmouth Stakes
The Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in honour of...
in 1985.
His last winner came when Agdistis won at Worcester Racecourse
Worcester Racecourse
Worcester Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in the city of Worcester, Worcestershire, England.The course is laid out as an oval circuit of about 13 furlongs in length and situated by the south side of the River Severn....
on 12 October 1996 and he retired later that year.
His son, Tim Thomson Jones, and daughter, Di Haine, are also racehorse trainers, his other son, Christopher Thomson Jones lives in South Carolina.