Tom Chaloner (2 June 1839 – 3 April 1886) was an English jockey who won ten British Classic races, each of them except the 1,000 Guineas at least once.

His biggest win of the season was in the Doncaster Cup on Sabreur, but getting his first ride in the St Leger at the same track, he finished nowhere on Wallace.

[2] Tattenham Corner was treacherous, and as the runners bunched on the turn, jockey D Hughes on second favourite, and vanquished Guineas rival, Saccharometer screamed for room.

Another horse, Fantastic, jumped over the stricken Saccharometer and fell on his nose and knees, bringing down Johnny Daley on King of the Vale in the process.

At the furlong marker Lord Clifden was still ahead, but Fordham looked round at a crucial moment, allowing Chaloner to take his chance.

Fordham then switched his whip, Lord Clifden faltered twice, the second time after treading on a piece of orange peel, and Macaroni was forced up to win by a head.

The horse's regular jockey, Jim Snowden was an alcoholic, so Chaloner was made his replacement for the valuable Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

[2] Chaloner won further St Legers on Achievement (1867) and Formosa (1868), and dead heated for the 1868 2,000 Guineas on Moslem in a finish that "will never be forgotten".

He did not win any of the biggest races of 1871, but his "nerve, judgement, and resolute style of finishing" were still in evidence, and although losing on Sterling in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, it is said he was "never seen to greater advantage".

[1] Among 29 victories in 1872, were the Alexandra Plate on Musket, the Queen's Gold Vase on Albert Victor, the Great Yorkshire Stakes on Dalnacardoch, and six wins on Cantiniere.

Two more Classics were still to come - the 1873 2,000 Guineas on Gang Forward and the 1875 St Leger on Craig Millar, but over the rest of the 1870s his win record progressively tailed off, until, struggling to reach riding weight, he retired.

[2] His wife Ellen retained her husband's training license – an unusual occurrence for the times - and continued to ride out until well into her nineties, dying on 5 March 1944.

[2] Their son, Tom Chaloner Jr, won the 1895 Cambridgeshire Handicap, dedicating it to the memory of his father, and became a trainer at Newmarket.

Chaloner had a peculiarity in his seat when he rode, but was still considered the "beau ideal" of a jockey, "combining coolness with consummate ability".