- More
The day I won the Derby: a 99-year-old groom with a head full of memories
Racing writer of the year Lee Mottershead meets an Epsom hero of the past
According to the Pathe newsreel, more than a million people were at Epsom on the day of the 1949 Derby. Even the more conservative published estimate of 500,000 is hard to compute. However many were there, one remains alive and just months from his 100th birthday. That man is the last remaining winner of the 170th Derby.
The Queen was still Princess Elizabeth when, in the absence of her poorly father, she led the royal party on a Saturday afternoon that delivered sunshine and gales to the famous Downs. Alongside the young princess were her husband, mother and the late king's consort, Queen Mary. There were pearly queens, pearly kings, a prince called Monolulu and Winston Churchill, then leader of His Majesty's Opposition.
There was also a 26-year-old Irishman, born and raised in the County Limerick town of Kilmallock. Johnny Tolton won the Derby that afternoon. He was not formally recognised as part of the triumphant team and still has only photographic proof of his role in the victory of Nimbus, the first horse to claim Epsom Classic glory in a photo-finish. In the mind of that man, it all continues to be wonderfully vivid.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inInterviews
Last updated
Copy- 'As soon as Christmas dinner was over my mind would be on Boxing Day and Silviniaco Conti at Kempton'
- 'You're all doom and gloom but you don't know what's been going on, so I hope we can prove you all wrong and shut you all up'
- It's been a quarter of a century since we started - here's how we've seen the sport we love change
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'As soon as Christmas dinner was over my mind would be on Boxing Day and Silviniaco Conti at Kempton'
- 'You're all doom and gloom but you don't know what's been going on, so I hope we can prove you all wrong and shut you all up'
- It's been a quarter of a century since we started - here's how we've seen the sport we love change
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'