Brian Toomey's Remarkable Journey After First Two-Year-Old Winner

Brian Toomey's continuing success in the training ranks remains one of horse racing's good news stories and the trainer sent out his maiden two-year-old winner when Electrical scored at Newbury earlier this month.

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A Triumph Over Adversity

Toomey, who grew up in Limerick, was a promising rider before a life-altering accident in 2013.

He suffered a horror fall at Perth and was pronounced clinically dead for seven seconds. He then had part of his skull removed and a titanium plate fitted before undergoing a near two-year recovery.

Having been given just a three per cent hope of survival by medics, Toomey continues to defy expectations, even briefly getting back to race-riding. His return was relatively short-lived, retiring with 81 winners in the UK.

He has always been keen to move on from his tag as the miraculous survivor, instead determined to forge a new career.

Launching A New Chapter

Absolutely delighted to have my first runner at Royal Ascot owned by Tony Bloom just under 20months into training pic.twitter.com/001WcrdKRC

— Brian Toomey (@BToomeyRacing) June 20, 2025

He received his license to train horses in October 2023 and is now in situ at Bowstridge Farm under the Toomey Racing moniker.

He took over the yard from the now retired Martin Bosley and said at the time that training had always been on his radar long term.

"It was always my goal to train horses but I wasn't born into it and I come from fairly humble beginnings, so this hasn't been handed to me on a plate," said Toomey at the time.

"I got in touch with Martin, who invited me to look at the yard. When I did, I was blown away. It's something special. Oisin Murphy and James Reveley have looked at it with me and both were really impressed."

Taking out his license at 34-years-old, Toomey had to battle to find his way in the training ranks but he's well versed in defying the odds and wasn't going to shirk that challenge.

"I'm hooked on the sport and I think I've already shown my energy, determination and passion for racing," Toomey told the Racing Post.

"I'm obviously not in a position to turn down any support that comes my way but ideally I would like to focus on the Flat, with my aim being to get the best out of every horse. I want to operate with a hands-on approach, building strong relationships with the horses and their owners. Attention to detail is going to be incredibly important."

Promising Early Results

Things have moved slowly and steadily. He sent out 71 runners in 2024 and earned three winners, with 16 more hitting the frame.

So far in 2025, his strike-rate has improved to an impressive 17 per cent with five winners from 29 runners at the time of writing.

One of those was Electrical in the Fidelity Energy Green Future Novice Stakes over 6f at Newbury earlier this month, the Nathaniel colt becoming Toomey's first two-year-old winner.

He won that six-runner event at odds of 25/1 in the hands of Jason Watson, defeating runners from the yards of Tom Clover, Hugo Palmer and Charlie Hills in doing so, as well as Eve Johnson Houghton's odds-on jolly Goldwork.

There are no obvious plans or entries for Electrical just yet, but his trainer will be thrilled to have a promising youngster on his books.

Upset at @NewburyRacing!

Electrical is bred for to be useful in time but is a surprise winner on debut, showing lots of promise to open his account at the first time of asking for @BToomeyRacing and @_JasonWatson! pic.twitter.com/4iNdvx1qV4

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 3, 2025