Tom Scudamore (born 22 May 1982) is a third-generation British flat and

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

jockey. He is the son of eight-time champion jockey

Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore MBE (born 29 June 1958), often known as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey (including one title shared with John Francome), riding 1,678 winning horses in his c ...

; his grandfather

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

won the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap st ...

on Oxo in

1959 Events January * January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...

.Townsend, Nick, "Tom Scudamore: 'My Pipe dream ride- it's like joining Man Utd or Ferrari". ''The Independent'', 8 April 2007
Retrieved 2011-06-02.

Background

Scudamore grew up in the tiny village of

Naunton Naunton is a village in Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the River Windrush in the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Stow-on-the-Wold is about 6 miles to the east. Community The population of Naunton in 2000 was 371, whic ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of ...

, which is deep in the heart of British

jump racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

. He has been riding since the age of two.Irish, Oliver, "Contender: Tom Scudamore". ''The Observer'', 3 February 2002
Retrieved 2011-06-02. Scudamore was educated at Cheltenham College Junior School, and then

Cheltenham College ("Work Conquers All") , established = , closed = , type = Public school Independent School Day and Boarding School , religion = Church of England , president = , head_label = Head , head = Nicola Hugget ...

. Although Tom began riding as a jockey whilst still at Cheltenham College, there was always an educational back-up; he obtained two A-levels while maintaining a busy training schedule.

Career

At 5'8" tall and 9 stone 12 lbs. (138 lbs.), Scudamore's first flat win was on Nordic Breeze at

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined wit ...

in July 1998. His first steeplechase win was aboard Young Thruster at

Newton Abbot Racecourse Newton Abbot Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located on the north bank of the River Teign in the parishes of Kingsteignton and Teigngrace just north of Newton Abbot, Devon, England. The course is a tight, flat left-handed oval ...

in November of the same year. He was British amateur champion jockey in 2001 (riding his first Grand National that year as an amateur, on Northern Starlight). Scudamore turned professional in October 2001, winning his first professional race at

Chepstow Racecourse Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing course located just north of the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, near the southern end of the Wye Valley and close to the border with England. It is one of 16 racecourses operated by ...

on Belle d'Anjou that month. Notable wins are the Ladbroke Hurdle on Desert Air, the Red Square Gold Cup aboard Heltornic, the Eider Chase on Nil Desperandum and the VC Casino Gold Cup aboard Madison Du Berlais. In 2013–2014, he amassed 100 wins. In 2014-15 he rode 150 winners. Riding first for trainer

Martin Pipe Martin Charles Pipe (born 29 May 1945), is an English former racehorse trainer credited with professionalising the British racehorse training industry, and as of 2021 the most successful trainer in British jump racing. The son of a West-Coun ...

, since March 2007 Scudamore has been stable jockey for David Pipe (Martin's son) in Nicholashayne, Devon. He is currently 9th in the all time jump jockeys list. Tom Scudamore won the King George chase at Kempton in Dec 2016 on Thistlecrack

Family

He became engaged to Charlotte Stucley, daughter of Sir Hugh and Lady Stucley, and the couple married in 2005. They had their first daughter, Margot, in September 2006 and their second daughter, Myrtle, in May 2008. Charlotte and Tom separated in February 2017.

Cheltenham Festival winners (10)

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles ...

- (1)

Thistlecrack Thistlecrack (foaled 29 March 2008) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt races. Unraced until he was five years old, he recorded his first win in a National Hunt Flat race in 2014. In the 2014/15 National Hunt season ...

(2016) *

Arkle Challenge Trophy The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, England, over a dista ...

- (1) Western Warhorse (2014) *

Champion Bumper The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ f ...

- (1) Moon Racer (2015) * Ryanair Chase - (1) Dynaste (2014) *

Festival Trophy Handicap Chase The Festival Trophy is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 mil ...

- (3) An Accordion (2008), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016,2017) *

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a d ...

- (1) Next Sensation (2015) * Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase - (2) Salut Flo (2012), Ballynagour (2014)

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It ...

King George VI Chase The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of ...

- (1)

(2016) *

Long Walk Hurdle The Long Walk Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 ...

- (2) Lough Derg (2007),

(2015) *

Kauto Star Novices' Chase The Kauto Star Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase 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 (4,828 metres ...

- (2) Grands Crus (2011), Dynaste (2012) *

Finale Juvenile Hurdle The Finale Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles (2 miles and 11 yards, o ...

- (1) Adagio (2020) *

Clarence House Chase The Clarence House Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 ...

- (1) Tamarinbleu (2008) *

Betway Bowl The Betway Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 m ...

- (1) Madison du Berlais (2009) *

Mildmay Novices' Chase The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade One National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Mildmay course at Aintree over a distance of about 3 ...

- (1) Dynaste (2013) *

Liverpool Hurdle The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong ...

- (2) Maid Equal (2001),

(2016) *

Celebration Chase The Celebration Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 1 mile 7½ furlongs (1 mile, 7 fur ...

- (1) I'm So Lucky (2010)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scudamore, Tom 1982 births Living people British jockeys