The Scudamore riding dynasty ends as Tom, the 10th most successful jockey of all time, retires… with the 40-year-old calling time on a 25-year career amid concussion concerns
- Jockey Tom Scudamore rode 1,511 winners during a successful 25-year career
- His biggest win came in the Thistlecrack in the 2016 King George at Kempton
- He made his decision after losing to Leicester on Thursday
Tom Scudamore, one of the most successful jump jockeys of all time, has retired with immediate effect, bringing to an end one of racing’s greatest riding dynasties.
Scudamore broke the news to trainer David Pipe, for whom he has been a stable rider since 2007, on Thursday night. The 40-year-old made his decision after being knocked out by Ya Know Yaseff in Leicester on Thursday.
In a career that spanned a quarter of a century, Scudamore rode 1,511 winners, a number that places him 10th on the all-time list of jockeys.
Jockey Tom Scudamore rode 1,511 winners during a successful 25-year career
His decision, prompted by a series of concussions caused by falls, ends the presence of the Scudamore name in the weight room.
Tom’s father Peter, the eight-time champion jockey, rode 1,692 winners, while his late grandfather Michael won the 1959 Grand National at Oxo and the 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup at Linwell.
Tom said: “I had a concussion 10 days ago and I’ve been concussed a few times before. At my age you have to be careful. I feel like I had a warning and the falls I could take in the past are harder to deal with now.
“I wasn’t concussed after going down in Leicester but I took a proper kick and I thought I had my warning now. Not everyone can go out on their own terms, but I am. I’m not retiring, I’m just changing jobs, although I don’t know what that job will be yet!’
Scudamore’s biggest win came on Thistlecrack in the 2016 King George VI Chase at Kempton
Scudamore with father Peter (left), the eight-time champion jockey, who rode 1,692 winners
Scudamore’s biggest win came on Thistlecrack in the 2016 King George VI Chase at Kempton. His 10 wins at Cheltenham include the 2014 Ryanair Chase on Dynaste.
There was also an emotional 2015 Festival win in the Grand Annual Chase on Next Generation, trained by his brother Michael.
Reflecting on his career, Tom said: “There is not a single winner that has given me more satisfaction. I feel blessed to have won the number of winners that I did. I was driving 150 winners the season AP McCoy retired. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but not many have and two of them are Scudamores! There are two Scudamores in the top 10 jump jockeys of all time.
“Those are two of the things I’m most proud of. When the time comes, I can look my father and grandfather in the eye, shake hands and be equal.’