415 Tommy LoatesNames on the buses
Connections with Brighton and Hove : Tommy Loates was champion jockey three times and rode 222 winners in 1893, a record that stood for 40 years. Born in Derby in 1867, he rode his first winner when only 15. Six years later he was champion jockey. He won the Derby on the famous horse Donovan who even had a steam locomotive named after him. He was a small, light man, even for a jockey, weighing six and a half stones and he had a drink problem. Loates was champion jockey again in 1890 and retired for two years through drink until his 1893 comeback. He had three bad accidents in 1896, breaking his thigh in one of them, but continued to ride until 1900. Loates formed a brilliant partnership with Islinglass. In 1893, they won the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger, following that with the Ascot Gold Cup the next year. He retired to Brighton where he died aged only 43. Unlike many other jockeys, he was careful with his money and left £75,000, a fortune in those days. He received good advice from the Rothschild family and invested cash carefully. His achievement of 222 winners in one year is remarkable when he did not have helicopters for travelling or the benefit of evening meetings and all-weather tracks.
415 Volvo Gemini - carried name since delivery in April 2011 on Route 7. Route 7 branding removed September 2012. Route 49 branding added November 2012. Route 49 branding removed February 2018. Repainted into new standard livery July 2018.