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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Tommy Smith

1986 (printed 2018)
Gary Ede

inkjet print on paper (sheet: 43.0 cm x 29.5 cm, image: 39.1 cm x 25.7 cm)

Tommy Smith (1916-1998), racehorse trainer, was born at Jembaicumbene near Braidwood, NSW. He worked in the bush until he was 15, when he moved to Melbourne to become a jockey. After a bad fall, he gained a trainer's licence, winning his first race with Bragger, a 'mad brumby' he had found at Cootamundra, at Rosehill in 1942. His first major win came when George Moore won the AJC Derby on Playboy at 100-1in 1949. He went on to win an unsurpassed string of 33 training premierships - he won the Sydney Trainer's Premiership every year from 1953 to 1985 - and collected six Golden Slippers, seven Cox Plates and two Melbourne Cups along the way. Variously known as 'The Little General' and 'The Dominator', Smith maintained one of Australia's biggest stables at his property, Tulloch Lodge. His daughter, Gai Waterhouse, has successfully continued his profession and his business.

Purchased 2018
© Gary Ede

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Gary Ede (age 40 in 1986)

Tommy Smith (age 70 in 1986)

Subject professions

Sports and recreation

Supported by

Wayne Williams (30 portraits supported)

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency