Tom Marquand (born 30 March 1998)[1] is a British jockey who competes in flat racing.
Background
Marquand spent his childhood near Cheltenham and, although not from a racing background, grew up around horses. After pony racing and riding out for local trainers, he joined the Wiltshire yard of trainer Richard Hannon as an apprentice at the age of 16.[2]
On 4 July 2020, Marquand had his first ride in the Epsom Derby. He had ridden English King to win the Lingfield Derby Trial but lost the Derby ride on the fancied runner to Frankie Dettori. Instead he secured a ride on 50/1 outsider Khalifa Sat and finished in second place behind Serpentine.[5][6]
Marquand's first Classic win came on Galileo Chrome in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster on 12 September 2020. He had only been given the ride the previous day, when jockey Shane Crosse tested positive for Covid-19.[7]
Marquand (and Doyle to his left holding a placard) at the ceremony celebrating his first Japanese victory in 2022
Marquand had a career-best 176 winners in Great Britain in 2021, including a Group 1 victory in the July Cup on Starman, trained by Ed Walker. Addeybb provided him with a further Group 1 in Australia when he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for the second year in a row.[3] In 2022 there were three Group 1 victories, with Marquand finishing the season in joint second place in the jockeys' championship with his partner Hollie Doyle before the couple set off to ride in Japan for two months, having ridden in Hong Kong the previous two winters.[8][9]
In February 2023 Marquand was injured in a fall at Randwick soon after arriving in Australia, suffering a concussion and a shoulder injury, but was able to ride Dubai Honour, trained by Haggas, to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April.[10] Back in England, Marquand received another injury when he was kicked on the way to the start at Newmarket on 5 May 2023 and missed rides in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas that weekend.[11] A highlight of the 2023 season was Marquand's victory in the Goodwood Cup when 16/1 outsider Quickthorn, trained by Hughie Morrison, streaked clear of the field in the early stages of the race and never relinquished his lead. He had used similar tactics on Quickthorn to win the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York the previous August. After the Goodwood Cup, Marquand said "I've had a bit of fun on him before on some big days and he just loves bowling away.... There was no masterplan. Everybody knows what he is going to do and it's testament to him."[12]
On 4 September 2023 Marquand rode his 1000th winner in Britain. The next day he rode the joint shortest-priced loser in British racing history when 1/25 favourite Doom came second in a two-horse race at Ripon, equalling the record held by Royal Forest (ridden by Gordon Richards) since 1948.[13] From November to December, he and Doyle would again ride in Japan.[14]
Personal life
Marquand is married to jockey Hollie Doyle. The couple met in their pony racing days, and they were for a time apprentices together at Richard Hannon's yard.[2] They became engaged in 2020 and married on 21 March 2022 in the parish church of the village of Ivington in Herefordshire.[15]
