Champion Horse Trainer: Tommy Smith – success – EzineMark

Born in Jembaicumbene, New South Wales, Thomas John Smith AM MBE was a hard working boy who assisted his father in breaking in horses from an early age. Although he lacked a formal education, he went on to become one of the most sought after trainers in Australia.

As a child, Tommy enjoyed riding horses for his father at picnic races. In 1955 was the start of Tommy Smith’s 33 successive Sydney training premierships. However, Tommy yearned to become a jockey, a desire that took him to Melbourne and then Sydney. During this time, he also worked at Wagga for Mark Sawyer, a country nobleman. A bad fall during while riding over hurdles resulted in a broken hip, which marked the end of his career as a jockey.

With his dream to become top jockey short lived, Smith acquired a trainer’s license in 1941, which brought him almost instant success with Bragger, a horse that he broke in and also owned. His hard work continued while he rented two horses boxes in Kensington, living in one, and housing Bragger in the other. Bragger proved to be much more than a ‘brag’, winning 13 races including the Tramway Stakes at Group level. His success established Smith’s reputation as a trainer, success that he flaunted with flashy suits, hired cars and drinking. However, it was Bragger who came to the rescue once again, who, until he was ten continued his winning streak. Unfortunately, Bragger eventually died in a float fire.

Playboy continued from where Bragger left off, winning the 1949 AJC Derby, which was Smith’s first Group 1 winner, and also the first of 35 derby winners that Smith trained. Playboy at 100/1, brought his horse trainer a substantial sum of money. A large controversy for Tommy Smith in December of 1950 led to a 5 years suspension which was later upheld by the AJC. Smith got away with a reprimand and had his license reinstated in January 1951.

Smith’s 33 successive Sydney training premierships began in 1953. Success continued with Australia’s richest race, the Melbourne Cup, coming his way where Toparoa in 1955 defeated Rising Fast. His next Melbourne Cup was to come from Just a Dash in 1981. The other high class horses to excel from Smith’s stable in the 1950s were Redcraze and the invincible Tulloch, whose major victories included the Caulfield Cup in 1957 and

Apart from a steady run of 33 consecutive premierships, Smith’s next training premiership came in the 1987-88 season. His long list of trophies included a record breaking 16 Chelmsford Stakes, 7 Cox Plates, and 6 Golden Slippers. Not to forget, 35 derby wins across the continent. During his exemplary career, Smith had 279 Group 1 winners to his credit. The champion trainer left his mark on every track throughout Australia, leaving his legacy to his daughter Gai Waterhouse. The T J Smith Stakes, while his records will undoubtedly last a very long time, this race run at Randwick Racecourse annually is held in his memory.