Jockey Tommie Jakes to be honoured with dedicated race in his memory at Goodwood

SportHorse racingThe 19-year-old apprentice, who had ridden 59 winners, was found dead at home in Newmarket in October last year hours after his final ride at Nottingham12:11, 01 Jun 2026Teenage jockey Tommie Jakes is to be honoured with a dedicated race at a special Goodwood racecourse fixture on Friday.‌The 19-year-old apprentice rider, who had ridden 59 winners in three seasons competing on the Flat, was found dead at his home near Newmarket in October last year hours after his final ride at Nottingham Racecourse..‌A statement from Suffolk Police said: “Police were called by the ambulance service at 5.45am this morning to reports of the sudden death of a man in Freckenham. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will now be prepared for the coroner."‌Since his death, Tommie’s mother, Tonie, has worked closely with the racing industry to raise awareness of mental health and the support available to young jockeys.Both Tommie’s parents will attend the all-apprentice race meeting on June 5 as special guests and present the trophy to the winners of the race named after their son. First introduced by Goodwood in 2022, the all-apprentice fixture was created to give emerging riders the opportunity to showcase their talent.‌The six-race card operates on a points-based system to crown Goodwood Racecourse’s Leading Apprentice Jockey of the evening, while a separate Performance of the Evening Award recognises an outstanding ride regardless of finishing position.Last year, Tyrese Cameron received the Performance of the Evening Award, while Joe Leavy secured the Leading Apprentice title before going on to be crowned the 2025 British Champion Apprentice.Article continues belowLeavy said: “The all-apprentice fixture at Goodwood is such an important meeting for young jockeys because you get the chance to ride for a variety of trainers you might not normally ride for and showcase your talent on a top Group 1 track.“Meetings like this can build momentum and open doors with new connections. It’s a brilliant platform for apprentices to gain experience, confidence and show what they’re capable of.”Adam McNamara, Senior Racing Executive at the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “We are incredibly pleased that Goodwood has included a dedicated race in memory of the late Tommie Jakes, who was a much-loved and respected member of the weighing room.”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Suffolk PoliceProfessional Jockeys AssociationMental healthNewmarket racecoursesNottingham racecourseGoodwood racecourse