He was born on November 23, 1860 in Westbury, New York, his father had been involved in the newspaper business with Charles Anderson Dana. She was the daughter of George Eustis, Junior. and Louise Corcoran Eustis (of the Corcoran Family of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Riggs Bank fame).
Thomas Hitchcock was a key figure in developing the sport of polo in the United States. One of the first 10-goal players in the United States., Hitchcock"s efforts resulted in the 1881 formation of Long Island"s Meadowbrook Polo Club. Son, Tommy Junior., would become a polo player who is considered by many expert observers as the greatest to have ever played the game.
At that time, the city served as a winter playground for many of the country"s wealthiest families such the Vanderbilts and the Whitneys.
The Hitchcocks built a steeplechase training track on their Aiken property and trained young thoroughbred horses imported from England. Fond of fox hunting, they also established the Aiken Hounds and in 1916 received official recognition from the Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America.
As an owner and trainer of racehorses, in 1895 Thomas Hitchcock began a career that would last for 47 years until his death in 1941. In flat racing his colt Salvidere earned American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors.
However, he had even greater success in steeplechasing.
Thomas Hitchcock died in 1941. Following its formation, in 1973 Thomas Hitchcock was inducted posthumously in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and in 2002 into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.
A polo player herself, and the founder in the year 1916 of the Aiken Preparatory School, Louise Eustis Hitchcock had her sons playing polo as soon as they were old enough to swing a mallet. He was the owner or trainer of a number of top horses including the Hall of Fame gelding Good and Plenty with whom he won the 1906 American Grand National.
In 1886 he was a member of the United States team in the first International Polo Match that played for the Westchester Cup. Elder brother, Francis R. Hitchcock was a thoroughbred owner/breeder in both the United States and in France and was a member of the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club for thirty-one years.
