Tom Olliver
Encyclopedia
Thomas 'Tom' Olliver born Oliver or Olivere, was a steeplechase
jockey
and racehorse trainer
, who won three Grand National
s as a rider in the 1840s and 50s.
Tom Olliver began riding at the age of six, not uncommon for the times, before becoming a stable lad to his uncle, one Mr Page, and later progressing into racing over obstacles, falling in his first ride at Finchley
.
Olliver was among the seventeen riders who participated in the first official running of the Grand National
in 1839
, finishing second on Seventy Four. He went on to ride in a record nineteen Nationals.
His first victory came in 1842
when he piloted Gaylad
and became the first dual winning rider the following year when he rode Vanguard. The latter horse was later presented to Olliver as a gift and he held the horse in such high esteem that when Vanguard died Olliver had his hide used to make a sofa, which today is the property of Aintree racecourse
.
Olliver's final victory in the National came aboard the veteran Peter Simple
in 1853, telling the owner before the race "Sometimes he means it and I don't, sometimes I means it he don't but today we both mean it." but Olliver also had several near misses. In addition to the aforementioned Seventy Four, beaten three lengths, he also finished as runner up on St Leger, 1847, beaten a length and The Curate, 1848, beaten half a length, thus missing a record six victories, which would have still stood to this day, by four and a half lengths. In Olliver's other National rides he was third once and failed to complete the course ten times.
Away from the course Tom was known for his swarthy dark looks, which led many to believe that his ancestry was either Spanish or Gypsy or even both. This led him to be known as 'Black' Tom and made him irresistible to women. Not that Tom minded that much as they were equally irresistible to him. This, combined with his love of a party coupled with a great sense of generosity often saw Tom in grave financial difficulties. On one occasion when he had been placed in the 'Pokey' (Debtors prison), Tom was visited by some cavalry officers. The sory goes that when asked if there was anything they could provide for him he replied "Get me a damn good wall jumper." Olliver described himself as "Hopelessly insolvent." even going to the length of adding the second l to his original surname Oliver, claiming that "It is better to have an extra £ in hand." L being the symbol for the British pound.
Olliver's last National was in 1858, after which time he retired from the saddle and became the landlord of 'The Star' public house in Leamington but he soon grew to miss racing and set himself up as a trainer in Wroughton
in Wiltshire
. In the winter of 1873 Tom set about preparing his George Frederick for a crack at the 1874 Epsom Derby
but his health began to deteriorate and in January 1874 he died at the age of sixty-one. Olliver's head lad continued the preparations of the horse who went on to win the richest prize in English racing that summer.
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and racehorse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, who won three 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...
s as a rider in the 1840s and 50s.
Tom Olliver began riding at the age of six, not uncommon for the times, before becoming a stable lad to his uncle, one Mr Page, and later progressing into racing over obstacles, falling in his first ride at Finchley
Finchley
Finchley is a district in Barnet in north London, England. Finchley is on high ground, about north of Charing Cross. It formed an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, becoming a municipal borough in 1933, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965...
.
Olliver was among the seventeen riders who participated in the first official running of 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 1839
1839 Grand National
The 1839 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the first official annual running of a steeplechase which later became known as the Grand National.It was held at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 26 February 1839 and attracted a field of seventeen runners.Although recorded by the press at...
, finishing second on Seventy Four. He went on to ride in a record nineteen Nationals.
His first victory came in 1842
1842 Grand National
The 1842 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the fourth official annual running of a Steeple-chase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase handicap Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on March 2, 1842 and attracted fifteen runners.Although recorded by the...
when he piloted Gaylad
Gaylad (racehorse)
Gaylad was a racehorse that beat fourteen rivals to win the 1842 Grand National, ridden by Tom Olliver. It won in a time of 13 minutes 30 seconds....
and became the first dual winning rider the following year when he rode Vanguard. The latter horse was later presented to Olliver as a gift and he held the horse in such high esteem that when Vanguard died Olliver had his hide used to make a sofa, which today is the property of Aintree racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
.
Olliver's final victory in the National came aboard the veteran Peter Simple
Peter Simple (racehorse)
Peter Simple was the third racehorse in history to win the Grand National steeplechase twice, emulating The Duke and Abd-El-Kader. After winning in 1849 the horse failed to complete the course during the next three years before winning again in 1853 at the age of 15, the oldest ever winner.A full...
in 1853, telling the owner before the race "Sometimes he means it and I don't, sometimes I means it he don't but today we both mean it." but Olliver also had several near misses. In addition to the aforementioned Seventy Four, beaten three lengths, he also finished as runner up on St Leger, 1847, beaten a length and The Curate, 1848, beaten half a length, thus missing a record six victories, which would have still stood to this day, by four and a half lengths. In Olliver's other National rides he was third once and failed to complete the course ten times.
Away from the course Tom was known for his swarthy dark looks, which led many to believe that his ancestry was either Spanish or Gypsy or even both. This led him to be known as 'Black' Tom and made him irresistible to women. Not that Tom minded that much as they were equally irresistible to him. This, combined with his love of a party coupled with a great sense of generosity often saw Tom in grave financial difficulties. On one occasion when he had been placed in the 'Pokey' (Debtors prison), Tom was visited by some cavalry officers. The sory goes that when asked if there was anything they could provide for him he replied "Get me a damn good wall jumper." Olliver described himself as "Hopelessly insolvent." even going to the length of adding the second l to his original surname Oliver, claiming that "It is better to have an extra £ in hand." L being the symbol for the British pound.
Olliver's last National was in 1858, after which time he retired from the saddle and became the landlord of 'The Star' public house in Leamington but he soon grew to miss racing and set himself up as a trainer in Wroughton
Wroughton
Wroughton is a large village in Wiltshire, England. It is part of the Borough of Swindon and is south of Swindon.-History:The earliest evidence of human presence in the area is from the Mesolithic period, although this is fairly limited...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. In the winter of 1873 Tom set about preparing his George Frederick for a crack at the 1874 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
but his health began to deteriorate and in January 1874 he died at the age of sixty-one. Olliver's head lad continued the preparations of the horse who went on to win the richest prize in English racing that summer.