Yorkshire based Jump Jockey Thomas Willmott has been announced today as the winner of the BHA Development Award and £1000 prize at the 2022 JETS Richard Davis Awards.
Conditional jockey to Grand National winning racehorse trainer Sue Smith and her husband Harvey Smith based near Bingley, the 22 year old rider has had 42 winners so far and last season reached his highest tally of 17 winners. When he’s not riding, he is also gaining experience away from racing working for a funeral directors in the Scottish Borders, near to where he grew up.
The prestigious JETS Richard Davis Awards, marking their 25th anniversary this year, highlight the career development of both former jockeys and current jockeys and showcase the services provided by JETS (Jockeys Education and Training Scheme) to help jockeys prepare for their futures in order to secure a successful transition from riding. The Awards are named in memory of the late Richard Davis who had started planning for his future before his fatal race fall in 1996.
Thomas first rode as a jockey in 2017 and has shown huge improvement since then with both his trainer Sue Smith and jockey coach, Brian Harding, praising his commitment to improving his technique, nutrition and performance mindset towards racing. The Award also acknowledges Thomas’s dual career away from the saddle as he has started to gain qualifications and experience working as a funeral director.
Thomas said:
“Everybody knows that a career as a jockey won’t last forever and I am lucky to know already what I want to do after racing, having a family background in funeral directing. I’m doing everything to make myself the best jockey I can be but it’s important to have an eye on the future and I also find dealing with people at the saddest times of their lives helps put racing losses on the track into perspective.”
JETS Manager, Lisa Delany said:
“Thomas has always shown a brilliantly proactive approach towards his second career. Obviously riding is his priority but he’s used time off with injury to start gaining the necessary qualifications which will stand him in good stead for the future. He is a role model for the dual career approach we encourage all jockeys to take.”
A profile and film about Thomas can be viewed on the JETS website.