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Thomas, known as Tom, born on April 1st 1901 was the second of three sons born to John Christopher and Jane Spain. John Christopher was the oldest and a third son, Leslie Michael (Mick) was born on the 14th August 1906. Both became talented sportsman but in quite diverse fields, Tom as a Jockey and Mick as an Amateur League footballer for Underdale. Tom had four older sisters, Margaret Mary, Eileen Helen, Dora May and Ethel. (Two-year-old Rose died in June 1896).
Tom attended the ‘Observation School’ in Currie Street, a school designed for training teachers to hone their skills. (It now operates as the Adelaide Remand Centre.)
As a youth, Tom’s skills and passion developed as a jockey, riding professionally in 1917 in the Steeplechase. He sustained his first major accidents as a 23-year-old but went on to become one of the most highly acclaimed riders in both this field and on the track. By 1923 he was extremely successful at Morphetville, having four mounts and being successful on each. Tom quickly came to the attention of owners and punters as one of the most versatile horsemen in the state, responsible for bringing his mount along with well-timed runs, with richly deserved successes.
John married Florence Catherine in November ’24 with the Sport newspaper reporting that ‘Tom Spain, who has done particularly well in the saddle lately, both in the flat and over obstacles, was married last Saturday.’ He continued to excel in ‘racing over the sticks as well as on the flat’ rather than specialising, being ranked as one of the top jockeys in both fields. The January issue of Sport enthused that ‘There was not a single jumping event on the programme and yet this cross-country horseman was equal to piloting three winners and a second out of the four rides he had for the afternoon.’ This admiration and performance continued to be repeated as he travelled interstate.
Today’s concerns about sporting concussion were barely acknowledged in ’25. The Melbourne ‘Sporting Globe’ newspaper of June ’25 praised Tom who had ‘been riding over jumps for only eight years, but in that time he has sustained injuries which would cause many a less fearless Jockey to "turn it up." Once when Spain fell with Cheer Up at Quorn (S.A.) about five years ago, he sustained serious head injuries. He was unconscious for five days, and for seven months he was blind in the right eye. He went to Mount Gambier, to recuperate, staying for 18 months unable to ride for the first nine months. In all, at that stage, Tom had 40 stitches inserted in wounds on his head and face, including eyelids, ears, lips and nose. On seven occasions Spain has sustained concussion of the brain, while he broke a bone in one of his hands once, and on another occasion, he received a fractured ankle. Altogether he has fallen nearly 50 times in races. He had eleven falls In succession at one period of his career. But all these Injuries have not dimmed Spain's grit. He is as plucky and as dashing as when he had his first ride in 1917.’ Tom was just 24 when this was written.
Tom also acknowledged the challenges of racing ‘on the flat’ and having to ‘waste’ and be on restricted meals. Later, as a 36-year-old Tom shared that he had been wasting for more than 10 years taking off as much as 15 lb. to ride in a race, and in one year 'wasted' 350 lb. in 12 months.'
Tom was also conscious of the well-being of others outside his successful sport. In May ’30 he captained a Morphettville jockeys’ team in a football match against jockeys from Victoria Park with the funds raised going to a Semaphore family experiencing severe poverty. Similarly, following the horrific ’39 bushfires in South Australia Tom again was involved in raising funds for victims through a Donkey Polo match against Adelaide radio announcers from 5AD as part of the Chinese Pageant celebrations.
By ’38, after twenty years as a steeple jump rider, Tom relinquished competing in that field on the advice of his doctor. His list of falls suggest that concussion was a major contributing factor. A perceptive summary appeared in the Adelaide Mail, titled ‘Lucky to be Alive To Tell His Story’. It highlighted that “In his own words he 'has tasted the dust on nearly every course in this State.' He had concussion 12 times, broken his collarbone five times, his ribs twice and his hands twice. He has had 48 stitches in wounds on various parts of his body.”
“It strongly indicates that a jockey needs pluck and nerve as well as ability to reach the top of the ladder In the jumping game. Spain has retired from riding In jumping races after a career extending over nearly 20 years. He has ridden most of the good horses that crossed a jump in his time; yet the big- races always seemed to elude him. He won the Oakbank Hurdle Race on Simon Castle and Sir Myram, but the closest he ever got to winning a Great Eastern Steeplechase was a fourth on Wyreema, on whom Spain had his first ride in a Great Eastern. He was 19 at the time.”
In January ’40 Tom rode in the Northern Territory where he was presented with a gold-mounted whip in recognition of his topping the list, and a silver-mounted whip for a similar feat at the Alice. The actual race experience was typical Territorian with Tom later sharing that “The winning-post was In front of the hotel door, and before each race the starter had to pull the "jockeys" out of the bar to get them to ride.” However, most of the spectators appreciated this "service."
Despite his health diagnosis Tom and his younger brother, Mick both enlisted on the same day, 5th July ’40 in Adelaide. 39-year-old Tom was allocated the number SX7908 and his 34-year-old footballer brother, Leslie (Mick) was SX7931 with both placed in the in the 2/48th Battalion Reinforcements. When questioned as to why he had enlisted, Tom quipped that “I'm sick of walking from the jockeys' room to the stand and watching races."
The following day Tom stepped in to ride a winner, Hegemonic at Morphettville (the designated rider having been injured in a fall. He suggested Tom be given the ride as “he rides plenty of work and will ride her as well as anybody."). That suggestion was correct with Tom quipping that he had won his first race and his last, adding he hoped to get back and don silk again when the world gets back to normal. Fellow jockeys were delighted at his success and rallied round in force to congratulate him on his enlistment. The Chronicle reported ‘Spain was given a good reception by the crowd, and on his return to scale people gathered round the mounting enclosure fence and clapped heartily. Jockeys flocked round him as soon as weight had been declared, and it undoubtedly will be a day that will always live in Spain's memory.’
In a cruel blow, the following week, the sons attended their 69-year-old mother, Jane’s funeral. She was buried with her own mother, and her baby daughter, Rose in the West Terrace Cemetery.
Much was made by local newspapers of the brothers’ enlistments with the News carrying a photo of Tom being sworn in by Lieut J W McKechnie at Wayville.
Tom arrived in the Middle East in March ’41. Soldiers were quick to have a laugh and while in the Middle East Tom became recognised as the battalion’s ‘official alarm’. Soldiers needing to arise early just let Tom know the previous evening and were assured of being called. This was based on Tom arising at 4 o'clock almost every morning when at home. In a letter home, Tom also shared that he was able to watch Mick, one of the best forwards in Adelaide’s Amateur League, kick seven goals in an inter-battalion football match. He asked for friends back home to write, giving his address as Cpl. T. Spain. SX 7908. 2 48th Battalion. 2nd Reinforcements, A.I.P. Abroad.
Inevitably, Tom caught up with other jockeys including Leslie Booth SX11173 serving with the sister battalion 2/43RD who reported that "The boys are in great fettle, putting everything into their work. and it won't be long before Hitler will get a thorough trouncing,' said Booth, who humorously described some of the donkey races in which he had ridden in. It was quite a coincidence that Mrs. Spain should call just after I had read Booth's letter, and she showed me a photograph of Tom Spain on the horse of an Arab sheik. The sheik was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the last war. According to his letter to Mrs. Spain, Tom is very fit, and although he has plenty of hard work still he says it is not doing him any harm.” He described Tom as being ‘in the pink’.
However, by October Tom was classified as being ‘fit for duties other than active service with field conditions’. He returned to Australia via Perth. Both brothers were soon granted a fortnight’s compassionate leave following the death of his father,73 year old John who died in July ’42 and Corporal Spain was discharged on the 11th March ’43, just prior to his 43rd birthday ‘fit for employment in civilian life’. His record recognised that Tom had post-concussion syndrome.
Ironically Tom returned to the work he loved. In July ’43 when he took off his uniform and donned silk to ride Hegemonic to victory it was the finest ovation ever given on a race. The Mail in March ’44 also ambitiously reported that ‘Spain May Ride Again Tom Spain, former prominent jockey Is regularly riding work at Victoria Park and It is his intention to attempt a comeback in the near future.’
Tom and Florence turned their focus to training horses, with Tom riding and working them. His most favoured horse, ‘Burra’ (a gift to his wife) had huge potential, including winning the Gawler Summer handicap in ’48. Indicative of his love of this horse, despite having ‘Burra’ up for sale, at the last moment, Tom refused all offers, saying “it would have felt like selling a friend” This faith was repaid with Burra winning the Gawler Winter Cup, followed by the McKinlay Handicap.
By mid-’50 Tom was hospitalised. Aged 49, he died at his Plympton home on October 10th, with many newspapers in the city and country carrying the sad news. The Naracoorte Herald added extra poignancy with the announcement ‘Last week Tom Spain, well-known as a jockey and latterly as a horse trainer, died in Adelaide at the age of 49 years. With his wife he raced Burra with some success. Tom Spain was well-known in the South-East when he was connected with the stables of ex-trainer A. W. Orchard at Mount Gambier.’
By December that year, Florence did what Tom struggled to do and put Burra up for private sale.
Tom was buried with his father, mother Jane and his 67-year-old brother John (who died in September ’53) in the West Terrace Cemetery.
His brother, Mick lived to be 75 and died May ’82. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.