Tom Clayton
Encyclopedia
Tom Clayton was an Australian jockey
of the early 1900s.
Born in a Sydney harbourside suburb on the north shore, Clayton was indentured to famous Randwick
trainer Isaac Earnshaw and rode for him some of the best horses of the time. He was best known for his association with the champion Poseidon
and accumulated an impressive record of major wins with this horse. Thanks to Poseidon, Clayton became the first jockey to win the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double in 1906. When Poseidon won the Caulfield Cup for a second time in 1907, Clayton became the first jockey to win consecutive Caulfield Cups.
Before teaming up with Poseidon, Clayton went close to winning the Cups double with Acrasia in 1904. Acrasia finished second in the Caulfield Cup, but went on to win the Melbourne Cup two weeks later. Courtesy of Warroo, Clayton achieved another second placing in the 1905 Caulfield Cup. Another of Clayton's major wins came in the 1908 Futurity Stakes
on Antonio.
At 28 years of age, Tom Clayton sustained a compound fracture of the pelvis, broken ribs and internal injuries when his mount "All Blue" was one of twelve horses to fall during the running of the Trial Stakes at Rosehill on 20 March 1909. He died as a result of these injuries on 24 March 1909.
On 24 March 2004 the presentation whips Clayton was given for his Melbourne Cup wins on Acrasia and Poseidon were sold at Public Auction
in Victoria. The Acrasia whip was sold for $750 and the Poseidon whip was sold for $3,750 (figures in Australian dollars). After Tom's death, these whips had been passed in succession to his wife, his daughter and then his grandson.
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
of the early 1900s.
Born in a Sydney harbourside suburb on the north shore, Clayton was indentured to famous Randwick
Randwick Racecourse
Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters...
trainer Isaac Earnshaw and rode for him some of the best horses of the time. He was best known for his association with the champion Poseidon
Poseidon (horse)
Poseidon was an Australian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He won 19 races over distances ranging from five furlongs to three miles...
and accumulated an impressive record of major wins with this horse. Thanks to Poseidon, Clayton became the first jockey to win the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double in 1906. When Poseidon won the Caulfield Cup for a second time in 1907, Clayton became the first jockey to win consecutive Caulfield Cups.
Before teaming up with Poseidon, Clayton went close to winning the Cups double with Acrasia in 1904. Acrasia finished second in the Caulfield Cup, but went on to win the Melbourne Cup two weeks later. Courtesy of Warroo, Clayton achieved another second placing in the 1905 Caulfield Cup. Another of Clayton's major wins came in the 1908 Futurity Stakes
Futurity Stakes (Australia)
The Futurity Stakes is a Group 1 Australian weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. For most of its history it was a 1400 metre race but since 2006 it has become the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge series, and its distance has changed to 1600 metres...
on Antonio.
At 28 years of age, Tom Clayton sustained a compound fracture of the pelvis, broken ribs and internal injuries when his mount "All Blue" was one of twelve horses to fall during the running of the Trial Stakes at Rosehill on 20 March 1909. He died as a result of these injuries on 24 March 1909.
On 24 March 2004 the presentation whips Clayton was given for his Melbourne Cup wins on Acrasia and Poseidon were sold at Public Auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
in Victoria. The Acrasia whip was sold for $750 and the Poseidon whip was sold for $3,750 (figures in Australian dollars). After Tom's death, these whips had been passed in succession to his wife, his daughter and then his grandson.