Editor's note: This is part one of a two-part story about local jockey and trainer Tom Kidwell. Read part two at this link.

How many of us are fortunate enough to fulfill our childhood dream of becoming a firefighter, a nurse, or even an astronaut? Not just for a time, but for the majority of our life. Tom Kidwell is one of those fortunate people. Sure he has had his share of misfortune as well, but only because his dream job is fraught with danger. As a jockey danger literally looms at every turn of the track.

It is no surprise Tom wanted to work with horses, having grown up on a horse and cattle ranch. Thomas Wesley Kidwell was born April 25th, 1957 in the Republic Hospital which at that time was located on Main Street. His father Samuel worked as a forklift operator at the mill for 25 years while mother Rose stayed home to care for her large brood which in addition to Tom included 4 girls and 4 more boys. As a child and young boy, folks from the area who knew Tom fondly called him Tommy. At one point the ranch consisted of 7 kids, 7 horses and 7 cows. They also had 25-30 chickens for meat and eggs. Two more children came later. With that many children running around mischief was bound to happen. On one occasion two of Tom’s brothers along with two cousins were in the barn lighting matches under the calves in an attempt to make them stand up so the boys could ride them. Everyone knows what kind of disasters can happen when people of any age play with matches. Well, the barn caught on fire and eventually burned down. In the meantime Tom and brother Billy were in the family’s aluminum bathtub taking a bath. The youngsters had to be scooped out of the tub, wrapped in towels, put into the station wagon and driven away in case the fire spread to the house.

Tom’s father broke horses for other people, so he usually rode the wilder ones. Mother Rose had a saddle horse named Old Joe that the kids learned to ride on. The children also had a Shetland pony later on, but according to sister Brenda, "It was a little stinker." One day Tom’s dad put him on a horse to jockey and act as exercise boy. Tom was smitten.

Tom said he ran his first race in Republic when he was a little kid.

"I was totally hooked on horseracing. It’s been in my blood ever since. I love it." According to daughter Margaret, Tom was 12 years old when he began jockeying on the bush circuit. The bush or fair circuit races are run by amateurs and consist of the Ferry, Okanogan, and Waterville Fairs. As soon as he was old enough Tom began riding as a professional. First he rode for one season in Canada, then he began attending high school in Spokane in order to ride at Playfair, the local track there. After breaking his leg, Tom was forced to move back home where he finished high school. Tom laughingly tells how he graduated on crutches.

After graduating, Tom moved to Oregon to ride at Portland Meadows. Tom jockeyed there for two seasons and then worked as a valet (pronounced val-let). Each valet is assigned a certain number of jockeys. The valet is responsible for getting the jockey’s food and drink, putting the weights in the saddle, and even buying soap for the jockey. The valet does absolutely everything and is at each jockey’s beck and call. Talk about being run ragged! The upside for Tom and most valets is twofold: One, they are working with and around horses and doing what they love to do and two, they are paid a percentage of each jockey’s earnings which has the potential to be a goodly sum. In addition to being assigned jockeys, each valet is also assigned one horse for every race. It is his or her responsibility to take the saddle on and off before and after the race.

After spending several years in Oregon, Tom moved to California. He worked in both the northern and southern parts. Tom fondly reminisced, "I had fun down there. I would still be there if a horse hadn’t fallen on me and broken my hip, ankle, and pelvis." This wasn’t the only time a horse fell on Tom. A dangerous occupation indeed. Tom’s favorite horse was Agent No. Seven. Tom said, "He was just a character." Agent No. Seven was the Michael Jordan of horseracing. When he ran he would hang his tongue out and flop it around. He also liked people to play with his tongue. As a trainer, Tom won many races with him.

After he grew too big to be a jockey Tom became a trainer. He was based out of Longacres Racetrack in Renton, and often traveled to the bay area for a race. As a trainer Tom got horses ready for racing by grooming them, putting on their gear, and telling the jockey how to ride that particular horse. He also taught horses how to run. He traveled to California to train numerous horses and then brought them back to Seattle where they ran.

While working as an assistant trainer for Kathy Walsh at the famed Santa Anita Park in southern California, Tom met Terri, his wife-to-be. Terri had the honor of delivering flowers to the winners. Tom found the young Portuguese woman to be both beautiful and exotic. He decided to ask her on a date. She told him no, he would have to ask her father who also worked at the track as a jockey. He told Tom to ask his wife who ran the gift shop at the track and she said, "Just ask Terri." Talk about a family affair. Tom asked Terri on another date and this time she said yes. Eventually the pair married in 1981 and moved up to Maple Valley. Tom worked at Longacres where he had his own barn. On March 17th, 1986 a beautiful baby girl was born. Tom and Terri named her Margaret Irene. The couple was married for eleven years before divorcing and remained good friends.

In spite of a busy schedule Tom visited Margaret every Wednesday and every other weekend. The dedicated father drove all the way from Yakima or Spokane clear over to Port Orchard to spend time with his daughter. He would be there to pick Margaret up when she got off the bus after school. His dedication continued for 2-3 years until he moved to California where Margaret spent several weeks with her dad during the summer. The two also spent time together during all the major holidays and they spent a great deal of time talking on the phone.

While Tom was staying on a friend’s cattle ranch in Idaho and caretaking, Terri suffered an aneurism and was rushed to the hospital. Tom came over the next day to be with Margaret. He then went home, got his belongings, and moved into Terri’s house with Margaret to care for her. Tragically, Terri went into a coma and passed away two weeks later.

Tom had never been a full-time parent all on his own. Margaret was very impressed with the way he stepped in. Margaret proudly stated, "He was my absolute best friend." Just as impressive was the hard work Tom continued to put in at the track in order to provide for Margaret and himself. While caring for her he worked as a valet. In addition he transported horses mainly up and down the coast. Margaret said they took a lot of horses to the airport. "It was fun for me, loading horses on a plane." One of Tom’s more potentially dangerous jobs was working on a gate crew loading high strung, revved up thoroughbreds into the starting gate before races. Tom also worked as an exercise rider which entailed riding horses in the morning. Margaret proudly stated that she heard many people in many locations say that Tom was one of the best exercise riders on the West Coast.

After caring for his daughter for two years more tragedy befell Tom and Margaret in 2002 when Tom suffered a stroke. Paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak Tom went in to rehab. Margaret went to live with one of her aunts for a few months and then moved in with her Aunt Artie. Tom worked extremely hard to come back from the brink. He has a smile and enthusiasm that is infectious. In spite of his circumstances he tends to be quite positive and upbeat. Like he said, "Stuff happens."