Tommy Skelton

Tommy Skelton was a jockey who rode the winner of the 1886 Grand National. In his first 4 attempts to win the race he achieved third place, then first, second and fourth in 4 attempts before being unplaced on 2 subsequent attempts.

It is believed that the jockey had the professional name of Tommy Skelton but was really Thomas Cheshire Tagg, born at Newhall in Derbyshire in 1868.He started his racing career at the age of 11yrs old, on the flat at Lichfield, Staffordshire and came first, he also rode on the continent. Once his professional riding days were over he maintained his interest in horses on the ( London to Dorking) road as coachman on the Perserverance Coach.He was also Coachman on the Reynard (london to windsor) and the Red Rover ( Folkstone to Canterbury ).In 1882 he drove the Little Wonder Postal Coach in the Derbyshire area ( Buxton to Matlock )he was at the time 14 yrs old. Many references are available showing his close links with coaching stables before he joined Bertram Mills circus, owned by the famous Bertram Mills. He was Mills Master of the Horse. Tommy Tagg died on 11th September 1946 at Cranborne,Dorset.

External links

* [http://www.greyhoundderby.com greyhoundderby - site for further information on this, or any other, Grand National]