Apprentice jockey Tommie Jakes has died at the age of 19 at his family home near Newmarket in the early hours of Thursday.
The 5lb claimer rode at Nottingham on Wednesday when he partnered the Ismail Mohammed-trained Guarantee to finish seventh of nine runners in a juvenile maiden over a mile.
Based at the family home at Freckenham, Jakes rode 59 winners from 519 rides in a career which spanned only three years. Latterly he had been apprenticed to George Boughey, for whom he partnered his last winner, Fouroneohfever, at Catterick on October 18.
Jose Santos, assistant to Mohammed, said: “We’re really shocked. It’s hard to believe. I feel completely empty as he rode out for us twice a week and always seemed happy and positive. He never showed any signs of having any kind of problems. I know he didn’t smoke, I know he didn’t do drugs or drink, and for everyone in the yard it’s a massive shock.”
He added: “We were making plans and after he rode that horse for us at Nottingham yesterday I asked him to send a voice note to the owner and he said he would. He said he’d see me tomorrow and that was it. It was the last I spoke to him. I still don’t believe it. I just don’t get it.
Tommie Jakes rides his first winner on Suzi’s Connoisseur at Lingfield in March 2023Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
“We have a good team of two-year-olds and he loved our horse Lord Britain. He’d said we could turn the horse out over the winter at his home, where his family had land. He was coming to the yard twice a week and I treated him like my son.”
Alice Haynes also had Jakes as an apprentice. She said: “It’s very sad. He had one of his first jobs in racing with us. He was keen and very enthusiastic and rode well. He rode me my first winner at Newmarket. It’s really shocking news.
“He was apprenticed to us for a while before he moved on to George Boughey. He was a likeable lad who came from a lovely family and no-one had a bad word to say about him.”
Jakes was first apprenticed to Jane Chapple-Hyam and rode his first winner on the yard’s Suzi’s Connoisseur at Lingfield in March 2023.
Chapple-Hyam said: “It’s very sad news and all our thoughts are with his family.”
Scottish-based trainer Linda Perratt gave Jakes more rides than anybody in his career — 169 — and 17 winners.
She said: “It’s dreadful news. I’m really upset and my thoughts are with Tommie’s family. He rode lots of winners for us. His mum said I was like his second mother when he used to come and stay with us. We started using him and he rode most of them on the all-weather for us through the winter.
“We watched him on the telly riding yesterday and he even messaged my head girl last night. There are no words.”
This year Jakes had also ridden out for Brian Meehan at Manton. He had three winners from 17 rides for Meehan this season.
A joint-statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund and Professional Jockeys Association read: “It is with deep sadness that we report the death of licenced 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.”
If you have been affected by this sad news and would like to talk to someone, Racing Welfare’s team are available 24/7 via Racing’s Support Line on 0800 6300 443 or visit www.racingwelfare.co.uk, as are charity Samaritans by calling 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. A jockeys’ helpline is available at 07780 008877.
