Thomas Brown won the John Smith’s Cup during seven years in the saddle until he got injured and has now retrained in a different profession
10:45, 05 Nov 2025
A big race-winning jockey has made a dramatic career switch by joining the ambulance service. Thomas Brown, 33, rode for seven years based with top Flat trainer Andrew Balding in Kingsclere, Berkshire, when he partnered Educate to win the 2016 John Smith’s Cup, one of 123 career winners.
Injury was to end his time in the saddle and without an idea of what he could do next, he turned to the Jockeys Education & Training Scheme for advice. Since its establishment 30 years ago the charity has helped numerous current and former professional jockeys plan and achieve a secure future.
Brown said: “I injured my left knee. I ruptured my ACL. I couldn’t ride out and I didn’t really know where I was going and where my career could progress too.
“JETS helped me. They got hold of one of the racecourse doctors so I could see the paramedics that help out on racedays.
“I was 30 years old at the time and I wondered whether that was too late to start in a completely new role, which they assured me it wasn’t. They like people that come from other industries that have a bit of life experience.
“I didn’t even know what a good heart rate was at the time and JETS also helped to put me on a first aid course, a few weeks from starting my training, just so I had a general idea of what I was getting myself into.
“So I started as an emergency care assistant for which you work on an ambulance with a clinical member of staff and you learn the basics of the role. I then move on to being a student emergency medical technician and then I will move on a student paramedic pathway.”
Brown found he had some transferable skills from his time as a jockey, including communicating with people and how to handle pressure.
His success has been recognised with the top prize in the JETS 2025 Richard Davis Awards, for which he was presented with a cheque for £3,000.
He said: “I feel I have carried forward the determination, discipline and ability to perform under pressure as a jockey into my second career working for the Ambulance Service.
“I have had to adapt to a completely new profession, balancing academic study with the demands of long and unpredictable shifts but I’m proud to give back to others and have a positive impact on the community every day.”
He went on: “It’s amazing to have won this award. I feel like I’ve put a lot in to get where I am now. It’s nice to be recognised for that.
It’s good to put out there that other people can retire from being a jockey and go on and have great careers in something completely different.”