Tom Dreaper
Encyclopedia
Thomas William Dreaper was a successful Irish
steeplechase
racehorse trainer. He is best known for being the trainer of Arkle
and Flyingbolt
.
Tom was born into a farming family in Donaghmore
near Ashbourne
on the County Meath-County Dublin border, and educated at St. Andrew's College, Dublin. In 1916, he left school to work on the family farm with his father and elder brother. However, the lure of steeplechasing proved irresistible and by the 1920s he was a successful point-to-point jockey. In 1930, his parents bought Greenogue, a 300-acre farm a few miles from Donaghmore, which Tom farmed himself, and in 1931 he took out a public licence. His serious amateur career came to an end with a fall at Naas
1938, which left him in hospital for eight weeks, unconscious for two of them.
Since he viewed himself primarily as a cattle-farmer, his training career was slow to take off. His first major success was with Prince Regent, who won the Irish Grand National in the winter of 1942, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup
and was third in the Grand National
in 1945 and fourth in the Grand National in 1946. In the following years, he cemented his reputation as Ireland's leading trainer with horses such as Storm Head, Hasty Bits, Shagreen and the great Fortria
.
However, his greatest successes came with the horses owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, a partnership which produced 97 wins, 43 second place and 33 third place finishes by horses such as Cashel View, Ben Stack, Sea Brief and the greatest of them all—Arkle. At one time he had in in stables both Arkle and Flyingbolt, the two highest-rated
steeplechasers of all time.
In all, he trained 26 winners at the Cheltenham Festival
including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Arkle Challenge Trophy five times each and the Champion Chase
six times. He won the Irish Grand National
ten times, seven times consecutively (from 1960 to 1966). The only major race that he never won was the Grand National, coming second in 1970 with Vulture and in 1971 with Black Secret, ridden by his son Jim.
He married Betty Russell in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, in 1945, and had a son and two daughters. His son, Jim Dreaper, took over his stables on his retirement in 1971.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
racehorse trainer. He is best known for being the trainer of Arkle
Arkle
Arkle was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, his grandsire was the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath by Mrs. Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin...
and Flyingbolt
Flyingbolt
Flyingbolt was a famous racehorse.- Overview :Officially he is the second best National Hunt racehorse of all time, after Arkle, but not nearly as well known as his rival. Flyingbolt's racing career was dogged by illness and injury...
.
Tom was born into a farming family in Donaghmore
Donaghmore
Donaghmore is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, about five kilometres northwest of Dungannon. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 947 people...
near Ashbourne
Ashbourne, County Meath
Ashbourne, historically called Killeglan or Kildeglan , is a town in County Meath, Ireland. It is about 20 km north of Dublin city centre and is bypassed by the M2 motorway.-History:...
on the County Meath-County Dublin border, and educated at St. Andrew's College, Dublin. In 1916, he left school to work on the family farm with his father and elder brother. However, the lure of steeplechasing proved irresistible and by the 1920s he was a successful point-to-point jockey. In 1930, his parents bought Greenogue, a 300-acre farm a few miles from Donaghmore, which Tom farmed himself, and in 1931 he took out a public licence. His serious amateur career came to an end with a fall at Naas
Naas Racecourse
Naas Racecourse is a horse racing venue in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, approximately 18 miles from Dublin. The course stages both Flat racing and National Hunt racing and in 2010 fifteen race meetings were held there....
1938, which left him in hospital for eight weeks, unconscious for two of them.
Since he viewed himself primarily as a cattle-farmer, his training career was slow to take off. His first major success was with Prince Regent, who won the Irish Grand National in the winter of 1942, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
and was third in the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
in 1945 and fourth in the Grand National in 1946. In the following years, he cemented his reputation as Ireland's leading trainer with horses such as Storm Head, Hasty Bits, Shagreen and the great Fortria
Fortria Chase
The Fortria Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Navan over a distance of about 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
.
However, his greatest successes came with the horses owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, a partnership which produced 97 wins, 43 second place and 33 third place finishes by horses such as Cashel View, Ben Stack, Sea Brief and the greatest of them all—Arkle. At one time he had in in stables both Arkle and Flyingbolt, the two highest-rated
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
steeplechasers of all time.
In all, he trained 26 winners at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Arkle Challenge Trophy five times each and the Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase 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 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
six times. He won the Irish Grand National
Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
ten times, seven times consecutively (from 1960 to 1966). The only major race that he never won was the Grand National, coming second in 1970 with Vulture and in 1971 with Black Secret, ridden by his son Jim.
He married Betty Russell in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, in 1945, and had a son and two daughters. His son, Jim Dreaper, took over his stables on his retirement in 1971.