23 Facts About Tom Chaloner

Tom Chaloner was an English jockey who won ten British Classic races, each of them except the 1,000 Guineas at least once.

Tom Chaloner was baptized on 10 July 1839 in Manchester Cathedral.

Tom Chaloner fell in love with Osborne's daughter, Ellen, and married her in spring of 1865.

Tom Chaloner won the Great Metropolitan Handicap on Telegram at the start of 1858, and, building an association with some of the leading owners of the time, he won the Bath and Somersetshire Stakes on East Langton, the Royal Hunt Cup on Hesperithusa, the Chesterfield Stakes on Peggy Taft, and the Chesterfield Cup on Sunbeam.

Tom Chaloner won the 1860 Goodwood Stakes on Wallace and Liverpool July Cup on Moorcock.

Tom Chaloner rode in the Derby for the first time, finishing third behind Thormanby on Horror.

Tom Chaloner had his first ride in the 2,000 Guineas in 1861 on Gardener, though the horse performed poorly.

Tom Chaloner was not even the original jockey for the race.

Tom Chaloner won a second St Leger the same year, on The Marquis.

Tom Chaloner backed him throughout the winter to win the following year's Derby.

Tom Chaloner was booked to ride throughout the horse's three-year-old season.

At the furlong marker Lord Clifden was still ahead, but Fordham looked round at a crucial moment, allowing Tom Chaloner to take his chance.

From l'Anson, Tom Chaloner picked up a ride on Blair Athol, winner of the 1864 Derby.

The horse's regular jockey, Jim Snowden was an alcoholic, so Tom Chaloner was made his replacement for the valuable Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

On course, Tom Chaloner was threatened with physical attack and the crowd threw things at horse and jockey on the way to the start.

Tom Chaloner won further St Legers on Achievement and Formosa, and dead heated for the 1868 2,000 Guineas on Moslem in a finish that "will never be forgotten".

Tom Chaloner won the 1869 Middle Park Plate on Frivolity, beating the highly regarded Sunshine and Kingcraft.

Tom Chaloner won the 1870 Ascot Stakes on Musket, and, in the same week, the 1870 Alexandra Plate on Trocadero.

Tom Chaloner did not win any of the biggest races of 1871, but his "nerve, judgement, and resolute style of finishing" were still in evidence, and although losing on Sterling in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, it is said he was "never seen to greater advantage".

Tom Chaloner was "a reliable and unassuming man" and from his racing earnings bought a pub for his parents.

Tom Chaloner did have one major success - trained the 1884 2,000 Guineas winner, Scot Free.

Tom Chaloner had a peculiarity in his seat when he rode, but was still considered the "beau ideal" of a jockey, "combining coolness with consummate ability".

Tom Chaloner was a great judge of pace, and very patient.