Tommie Jakes: The Young Jockey Gone Too Soon

Nineteen-year-old jockey Tommie Jakes was found dead in the family home close to Newmarket on October 30th. He rode at Nottingham the day before. Just like that, a young, promising talent was gone.

It is one of those things that do not make sense. A strong teenager, doing what he loved, full of confidence about his future. And then one day, he isn’t here.

Growing Up Round Horses

Tommie was raised in Freckenham, just outside Newmarket, the epicentre of British horse racing. His mother, Tonie, said he’d been riding since he was little, mucking about on the family’s ponies and then going on to ride at Soham Pony Club.

His father, Jeremy, was also a jockey so Tommie was introduced to the sport at an early age. But it wasn’t just a family tradition that reeled him in. The kid genuinely loved it. When he was little, he used to tell his dad, “I’m going to be a jockey forever. Not a doubt in his mind.

At just 14, when his mates were still working out their GCSE options, Tommie was sent on a foundation course at Newmarket’s British Racing School. He knew precisely where he was going.

Making It as a Jockey

Tommie won his first race at the age of sixteen. Sixteen! Most people that age are learning to drive. He won on Suzi’s Connoisseur at Lingfield in March 2023, with his mum watching. Before he was able to drive himself to the races, she would take him everywhere.

In three years, Tommie Jakes had ridden 59 winners from 519 races. That’s good running for such a young runner. He was particularly effective at Newcastle — 16 wins from 102 rides — and forged strong relationships with trainers such as Linda Perratt, George Boughey and Michael Attwater.

It was Linda Perratt who provided him with more rides than anyone else. She said after the death, “His mum would say, ‘You’re like his second mother when he’d come and stay with us.'” That’s the kind of lad he was. Not some rider who just showed up, but someone that trainers invited into their homes.

The Last Day

Tommie rode at Nottingham on the 29th. There was nothing unusual about the day; he ended up seventh in one race and had two rides lined up for later the next evening at Chelmsford.

At 5.45am on October 30 police were called to his family home. Tommie had been discovered dead in his room. Police said they were not treating it as suspicious and would prepare a file for the coroner.

That’s all anyone knows officially. The reason remains unknown, and honestly, that’s none of our business. What matters is that a talented young man died suddenly, and many people are grieved.

What Tommie Jakes’s Parents Said

Jeremy and Tonie requested privacy at first but later agreed to speak publicly after several weeks. His mother said, “He’d had 59 winners – well, he’d actually had 60 but one of them was disqualified. He was so bright, he had such amazing friends and I thought nothing could be bothering him.”

That last part’s the hardest to hear. Nothing seemed wrong. No warning signs.

His father spoke of how professional Tommie was: “It’s all he wanted to do and he loved it. He was very professional and always figuring out how he could get better. He had been a feisty character throughout his life and he was in the best shape of his life; he was full of confidence.

Reading that makes it even worse. Here’s a kid who was fit, confident, and doing well. Everything is going for him. Then it’s just over.

Racing Responds

The tributes came flooding in straight away. George Boughey, whose yard Tommie was working for, said he was heartbroken. He called Tommie hugely talented and incredibly kind.

Trainer Brian Meehan said Tommie had been at his yard the Thursday before. Called him “a lovely lad” with “great promise”.

On the evening of October 30th, racecourses across Britain held moments of silence. Jockeys wore black armbands. The racing community pulled together, as it always does.

The Tommie Jakes GoFundMe

A family friend called Paul Corrigan, who said Tommie was “like a son to me”, set up a GoFundMe page. It’s already raised nearly £15,000 for funeral costs and creating some kind of lasting legacy in Tommie’s name.

Racing communities look after their own. That £15,000 shows how many lives this nineteen-year-old touched.

What People Remember

Everyone mentions his smile. His confidence. His dedication.

Alice Haynes, another trainer, said Tommie was keen and enthusiastic. He’d ridden her first-ever winner at Newmarket, which is the kind of moment trainers never forget.

Michael Attwater treated Tommie like his son. Tommie would come to the yard twice a week and had even offered to let one of the horses spend winter on his family’s land. That shows the relationships he built—it went beyond just work.

Linda Perratt, who gave him the most rides, was genuinely upset. You could hear it when she talked about him. He wasn’t just another apprentice to these people. He mattered.

The Racing Life

Being a jockey is brutal. You never stop managing your weight, have to cope with injuries and are up at stupid o’clock to trundle out in all weathers. The mental side can be rough too, as you’re only as good as your last ride, and everyone is fighting for opportunities.

After Tommie’s death, racing officials want it known that support services the likes of which Tommie sought are open to anyone who needs them. Perhaps tragedies like this can begin to crack the stigma around discussing mental health, particularly in traditional sports.

No one is saying that’s what happened with Tommie, as we don’t know. But his death has opened up conversations that need to happen.

What He Achieved

In 2025 alone, Tommie rode 19 winners from 188 rides. His most recent win came on George Boughey’s Fouroneohfever at Catterick on October 18th. Less than two weeks before he died.

He was building momentum. Getting more rides, winning more races, making a proper name for himself. In a few years, he could’ve been one of the top jockeys in Britain.

Fifty-nine wins might not sound massive compared to veteran jockeys with hundreds of winners. But Tommie was nineteen. He’d only been riding professionally for three years. Those 59 wins represent hours of work, early mornings, determination, and pure talent.

The Tommie Jakes Funeral

Funeral details will be available from Newmarket funeral director Southgate. When it happens, the racing world will turn out in force. That’s how these tight communities work—everyone comes together to say goodbye properly.

Three Weeks Later

It’s been just over three weeks since Tommie died. The initial shock’s worn off, but the sadness hasn’t. Racing continues because it has to, but there’s a Tommie-shaped hole at Newmarket.

His parents, Jeremy and Tonie, are trying to make sense of losing their son far too soon. The racing community’s rallying round them. The GoFundMe is growing. Plans are being made to honour Tommie’s memory.

What He Leaves Behind

More than race wins or statistics, Tommie leaves behind memories. Trainers who thought of him like a son. Fellow jockeys who respected his skill. A family who loved him and supported his dreams. Racing fans who watched him develop from a raw teenager into a proper talent.

His height was never a barrier in racing—he had the build and determination to succeed. His attitude mattered more than physical stats anyway.

His mum said, “He was brilliant; he had a lot of wonderful friends.” That’s a better legacy than any trophy.

The Bigger Picture

Tommie’s story’s a reminder that life’s fragile. You can be young, fit, successful, and surrounded by people who care about you, and still something can go wrong. It’s not fair, but life rarely is.

He wanted to be a jockey from when he was tiny. He achieved that dream. He was good at it. He made people smile, worked hard, and lived the life he wanted. Nineteen years wasn’t nearly long enough, but at least he spent them doing what he loved.

That’s something. Not much comfort when you’ve lost a child, a friend, a promising talent. But it’s something.

The racing world won’t forget Tommie Jakes. His 59 winners, his smile, his dedication, his kindness—all of it matters. All of it will be remembered.

Tommy Jakes (some sources spell it Tommy, others Tommie—doesn’t really matter) was just getting started. He had decades of riding ahead of him, potentially hundreds more winners, maybe even championships. Now there’s just memories and what-ifs.

Three weeks on, his family’s still processing the loss. The racing community’s still hurting. And somewhere in Newmarket, there’s an empty peg in the weighing room where Tommie’s gear used to hang.

Rest easy, Tommie. You were a good lad, and racing’s poorer for losing you.