South Yorkshire Times June 21, 1947

Ex Pit Lads Ascot Win

Joy At Mexborough over Tom Sidebotham’s Change Of Luck

A former Mexborough pit lad, Tommy Sidebotham, on Wednesday rode Master Vote, a 25 to one chance, to victory in the Royal Hunt Cup at fashionable Ascot.

Tom Sidebottom is here seen holding the bridal of the famous Airborne, which he looked after and groomed throughout last season. The jockey mounted on Airborne is T Lowery.

Worked at Manvers

Tommy’s mother and father (an admiring brother and sister Keith, 11, and Vera, 10) live at 162 White Lee Rd. His father is a painter at Manvers Main Colliery, where Tommy once worked, and both parents listened in to radio commentary on the race.

“It all seemed to be over so quickly I didn’t realise at first that Tommy had won” his mother told a “South Yorkshire Times” representative who called to congratulate them on Wednesday.

Mr Sidebotham comment was: “He’s had a bit of bad luck recently. We Hope this win means a change of luck for him.”

A month ago when Tommy was riding Bula Boda at Manchester the saddle broke. He was thrown and sustained a cut on the leg. Flown back to Newmarket he had a short spell in hospital, but was soon riding again. At Brighton and Lingfield Park he was twice just beaten into second place, and the day before his big Ascot win was unluckily thrown when well placed on Nightcap fighter in the Ascot Stakes. His only previous win this season was Patron Saint in the Ayrshire Cup.

Always fond of Horses, an old boy of Roman Terrace School, Tommy has always been very fun of horses and for a while was with Mr W Smallwood at Swinton. After that he went to the pit, but the miners were always urging him that with his physique (he stands 4’ 10 ½” and weighs 7 stone) he was wasting his time on Pit work.

Unknown to spare he wrote to Lord Derby’s trainer and asked to be taken on as an apprentice.