Tommy Stack
Tommy Stack will forever be associated with the legendary Red Rum. It was Tommy who rode Rummy to his record breaking third Grand National at Aintree in 1977 'a feat that will probably never be repeated.' Many a champion jockey has turned their hand to training but few have enjoyed a similar level of success. Stack, originally from Moyvane in County Kerry, is one fo the few to make the transition.
Concentrating on the Flat rather than over the jumps, he has gained two Classic victories – with 'Las Meninas' (1000 Guineas) and 'Tarascon' (Irish 1000 Guineas) as well as a host of other big race victories. His skill with two year olds, in particular, is unparalleled. When the lavishly endowed 'Cartier Million' race was launched in 1988, it was he who saw off the best trainers in Britain and Ireland, to take the prize with 'Crowyn Bay'. Another serious jackpot came his way in 2001, when he won the Goffs 100,000 Challenge Race with 'Serious Play'.
As you might expect with his background, Stack also has an eye for a jockey. When his star filly 'Tarascon' won the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes, it gave future champion Pat Smullen his initial Group One success, while the following season it was another future champion, Jamie Spencer, who achieved his Classic breakthrough on the same horse in the Irish 1000 Guineas. The racing world is getting smaller all the time and like most top trainers, Stack doesn't limit himself to the domestic scene. In 2004, he sent 'Fearless Flyer' over to Toronto in Canada to gain a famous victory in the Grade 3 Natalama Stakes.