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B. Douglas Thomas (born September 1, 1945, Toronto, Canada) is a retired Canadian-American thoroughbred racing jockey. His long, successful and popular riding career spanned from the late ‘60s to the late ‘90s. Thomas retired on his 52nd birthday at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ in 1997.[1]

Referred to by his colleagues and fans as either “Doug” or “Dougie”, Thomas’ career began in Toronto with the legendary Canadian trainer Jerry Meyer at the age of seventeen. Under the ‘old-school’ tutelage of Meyer, Thomas learned all aspects of the sport, from breaking and training to hand-making tack. In addition to quickly exhibiting excellent riding dexterity, Thomas proved to possess a cunning horse sense that was uncommon among jockeys.[2]

His first victory (aboard Fort Apache) at Fort Erie Racetrack in Fort Erie, Canada paid over an astonishing $300.00. In retrospect this dramatic payoff proved to be symbolic of Thomas’ career. While Thomas experienced the glory of great success and the love and respect of an enduring fan-following through the years, he suffered from a frustrating amount of bad racing luck. Although Thomas won numerous graded stakes races and was a member of the legendary elite jockey colony of Monmouth Park in the 1970s and ‘80s, he lost over two years worth of racing due to several serious injuries, including but not limited to a broken back, a broken wrist, a broken shoulder, and a multi-fractured orbital bone. But in 1990, at the age of 45, Thomas experienced the worst of his injuries. After going down in a race, he was clipped by a trailing horse that crushed in his forehead, causing hundreds of bone fragments to enter his frontal lobe.[3]

Well over a year later, at the age of 47, Thomas returned to racing. Before the eyes of a doubtful public, Thomas proved to the racing world that he was, perhaps, one of the physically and mentally toughest jockeys of all-time.

During his 30-plus-year career, Thomas won more than 2,000 races with a winning percentage of 12% and finished ‘in the money’ almost 40% of the time. [4] In 1968 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Thomas was the leading apprentice rider. His earnings of over $900,000.00 was the highest for any ‘bug’ rider in the country that year. From 1977 to ’81 Thomas was the all-time leading rider at the Meadowlands.[5]

While Thomas rode up and down the east coast, the heart of his career was based in the New Jersey-New York-Pennsylvania circuit. During the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, he experienced popular rivalries with the likes of Don MacBeth, Craig Perret, Angel Cordero, Jr., Vincent “Jimbo” Bracciale, Jr., Don “The Boot” Brumfield, and Carlos Lopez, Sr. at Monmouth Park and Meadowlands Racetracks.

Through the years, Thomas had consistent success aboard some of the country’s most impressive fillies and mares. In 1978, he won the Monmouth Oaks on Sharp Belle at Monmouth Park Racetrack. Aboard Spruce Fir, Thomas won the Queen Charlotte Handicap at The Meadowlands Racetrack in 1987 and 1989 and The Matchmaker at Atlantic City Racecourse in 1989. In 1993, at the age of 48, Thomas rode Miss Indy Anna, one of the fastest fillies in North America at the time. At Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland, they won the Safely Kept Stakes (renamed from Columbia Stakes), one of only a handful of graded races for fillies that lead to the Breeders’ Cup. Their stakes record of 1:09.12 for seven furlongs still stands. Unfortunately, however, as racing luck would have it, Thomas and Miss Indy Anna never made it to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at the Breeders’ Cup due to bone chips in her left front knee.[6]

Respected for his courage, keen horsemanship, gentlemanly demeanour, ability to consistently win on long-shots, and turf-riding prowess, Thomas was consistently popular with the racing public throughout his career. He was the consummate jockey who truly loved the spirit of the sport, a true ambassador of racing.[7] His career took him beyond the borders of North America, winning races and fans alike at Turrfontein Racecourse and Greyville Racecourse in South Africa, Ngong Racecourse in Kenya, and Tokyo Racecourse and Kyoto Racecourse in Japan.

In the 1980s and 90s, Thomas became disenchanted by jockey agents and sporadically managed his own ‘book’. During these moments of challenging horse racing tradition, Thomas had surprising success.[8] In truth, many trainers and owners found Thomas’ agent-less approach to be refreshing and productive.

Always willing to sign an autograph and give a reporter an articulate quote, Thomas’ charm was legendary. He maintained an array of interesting friendships with notable sports celebrities such as sportscaster Jim McKay and artist LeRoy Neiman.

After retiring from riding, Thomas never returned to any kind of life in horse racing, despite the pressure from his family, close friends and colleagues to become a steward.[9] He now resides in Nevada.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Monmouth Park Racetrack Press Release, September, 1997
  2. ^ 60 Minutes, CBS, 1968
  3. ^ Monmouth Park Racetrack Press Release, June, 1990
  4. ^ www.equibase.com
  5. ^ Meadowlands Racetrack Thoroughbred Facts Book, 1982
  6. ^ The Boston Globe (Boston, Mass); July 17, 1994
  7. ^ Monmouth Park Racetrack Press Release, September, 1997
  8. ^ The Meadowlands Racetrack Press Release, December, 1989
  9. ^ Monmouth Park Racetrack TV interview, 1997
[edit]

Jockeys' Guild Inc. (La Grange, KY: House Star Cards, 1995)


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