15 Facts About Tom Thorp

Thomas Joseph Thorp was an American college football player and coach, sports writer, and football and horse racing official.

Tom Thorp was born on March 6,1884, in Manhattan, in the neighborhood known as the Roaring Forties.

Tom Thorp enrolled at Columbia University, where he played at the tackle position for the school's football teams in 1903 and 1904.

Tom Thorp was named to Walter Camp's All-America team, and was selected as an All-American in both 1903 and 1904.

Tom Thorp next went to the University of Virginia, where he was enrolled and played football.

Tom Thorp worked for a time for the New York American and the New York World.

Tom Thorp continued to work as a journalist until 1936, when he became employed as a full-time official at horse racing tracks.

When he was not coaching, Tom Thorp worked as an official for college football games.

Tom Thorp officiated at many of the significant eastern games and was the first easterner to be invited to officiate at a Rose Bowl Game.

When pari-mutuel was permitted in New England in 1933, Tom Thorp became employed in the horse racing business.

Tom Thorp served as the presiding steward at several race tracks, including Suffolk Downs, the Pagodas at Rockingham Park, Narragansett Park, and Tropical Park in Florida.

Tom Thorp was the general manager at the Empire City track in Yonkers, New York, for a time.

When Seabiscuit was matched against War Admiral, Tom Thorp was the presiding steward at the race.

In late June 1942, after presiding over the races at Suffolk Downs, Tom Thorp suffered a heart attack at a Boston hotel; he died a week later at Wyman House in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Tom Thorp was unmarried and was survived by his mother and two brothers.