A Race Was CANCELED at Nottingham Just Hours Before It Was Due to Start After the Death of Jockey Tommie Jakes Hours After His Victory There Last Week Shocked the Racing World
The hallowed turf of Nottingham Racecourse, long a bastion of British horse racing’s enduring spirit, fell eerily silent on a crisp November afternoon, its scheduled races scrapped in a gut-wrenching act of collective grief. Just hours before the first horse was set to thunder down the track, officials announced the cancellation of the entire card—a decision that rippled through the sport like a thunderclap. This somber turn came in the shadow of unimaginable loss: the sudden death of 19-year-old apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes, whose tragic passing the previous week had already left the racing fraternity reeling. Jakes, a beacon of youthful promise, had notched a triumphant victory at the very same venue only days earlier, a moment now etched in bittersweet memory.
It was October 18 when Jakes last tasted glory at Nottingham, guiding George Boughey’s Fouroneohfever to a stirring win in a competitive handicap race. The colt, under the teenager’s assured guidance, surged past rivals in the final furlong, crossing the line to cheers from the stands. For Jakes, attached to Boughey’s thriving Newmarket yard, it was a pinnacle in a career that had ignited like wildfire. At just 16, he had claimed his maiden victory aboard the veteran Suzi’s Connoisseur at Lingfield in March 2023—a feat made all the more remarkable by partnering a horse four years his senior. By the time of his Nottingham triumph, Jakes had amassed 59 winners from 519 rides, including 19 that season alone, amassing over £500,000 in prize money. Trainers like Linda Perratt, who supplied him with his most prolific successes, hailed him as a “dreadful loss,” while Brian Meehan, who saddled three of his 2025 triumphs, remembered a rider “full of life and talent.”
Yet, the joy of that victory proved fleeting. On October 29, Jakes returned to Nottingham for what would become his final ride, partnering the 125-1 outsider Guarantee for trainer Ismail Mohammed in a juvenile maiden over a mile. Finishing a respectable seventh of nine, he dismounted with the quiet determination that defined him—unaware it marked the end. The next morning, October 30, emergency services were called to his family home in Freckenham, near Newmarket, around 5:45 a.m. The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Suffolk Police swiftly confirmed the death was not suspicious, with a file prepared for the coroner, but the cause remains under investigation, leaving more questions than answers in its wake.
News of Jakes’ passing broke like a storm across the racing world. A joint statement from the Injured Jockeys’ Fund (IJF) and Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) captured the raw anguish: “It is with deep sadness that we report the death of licensed apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes, 19, who tragically died at home this morning near Newmarket. Tommie was a much-loved son and brother, and a popular member of George Boughey’s racing team. His parents, Jeremy and Tonie, ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time.” Boughey’s yard, where Jakes had become an “integral and much-loved member,” posted a heartfelt tribute on social media: “We are heartbroken… He will be missed immensely. Our thoughts are firmly with Tommie’s family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved him.”
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), led by acting CEO Brant Dunshea, echoed the devastation: “We are devastated to hear the news about Tommie. He was a gifted young rider with the world ahead of him.” In immediate response, racecourses across the country mobilized marks of respect. Jockeys donned black armbands at Chelmsford and Southwell that very evening, October 30, while a minute’s silence preceded Friday’s fixtures nationwide. Tributes poured in from peers and mentors alike. Fellow apprentice Mason Paetel, who rode his 31st winner of the season at Wolverhampton on November 4, choked back tears in a post-race interview, dedicating the victory to his “best friend”: “Tonight, a special night. I lost my friend Tommie the other day… that was for Tommie.” Hector Crouch, speaking at Newmarket, described Jakes as “a joy to be around—one of the kindest people in the weighing room,” though he hinted at unseen struggles: “He was obviously in a bad place.”
Jakes’ parents, both steeped in racing heritage—Jeremy had once worked for legendary trainer Michael Dickinson—painted a poignant picture of their son’s final hours. In a recent interview, they recalled him arriving home from Nottingham “dancing in the kitchen” after a chicken dinner he declared “the best ever.” Chatting animatedly on the phone past midnight, he spoke of future plans with infectious optimism. “He was brilliant,” Jeremy said, voice cracking. “Always smiling.” Their words underscored the cruel unpredictability of loss, transforming a vibrant life into a haunting reminder of fragility.
This week’s cancellation at Nottingham, scheduled for November 6, was no mere formality; it was a profound pause for reflection. With entries confirmed and punters en route, stewards consulted with stakeholders and opted to postpone the seven-race program indefinitely, citing the “overwhelming emotional impact” on participants. “The weighing room is still raw,” said one official. “Tommie rode here last, won here recently—it’s too soon.” The decision spared riders the torment of mounting up on ground soaked in recent memory, allowing space for counseling from the IJF and BHA support services. As of November 7, no rescheduling date has been set, but the sport presses on, forever altered.
Jakes’ story, though brief, embodied racing’s allure: grit forged in the saddle, dreams chased at a gallop. Born into a lineage of horsemen, he apprenticed under Jane Chapple-Hyam before thriving with Boughey, excelling at tracks like Newcastle where he notched 16 winners from 102 rides. Colleagues marveled at his humility, his rapport with horses, his unyielding work ethic. “He respected everyone,” Perratt noted. Yet beneath the silks lay a young man navigating pressures immense for his years—the relentless travel, the highs and heartbreaks, the unspoken toll of a high-stakes profession.
In the days since, social media has brimmed with anecdotes: Jakes’ laughter echoing in the jockeys’ lounge, his gentle encouragement to novices, his post-win grins that lit up yards. Friends shared photos from Catterick, where Fouroneohfever’s victory sealed his season on a high. One X post captured the sentiment: “A star snuffed out too soon—ride on, Tommie.” The outpouring has sparked calls for enhanced mental health resources, with the PJA vowing to bolster its welfare programs. Dunshea affirmed: “We welcome and encourage calls from anyone affected.”
As Nottingham’s fences stand idle, the racing calendar turns, but Jakes’ legacy endures. He leaves a void, yes—but also a spark: a testament to talent unfulfilled, to the human heart at the core of the gallop. In honoring him, the sport recommits to nurturing its young, guarding against shadows amid the spotlight. For now, the silence speaks loudest, a requiem on the wind-swept course where a boy’s dreams once soared.
