Robert Thomas "Tom" Smith (May 20, 1878 – January 23, 1957) was an American thoroughbred race horse trainer. Born in a log cabin in the backwoods of northwest Georgia, as a young man he trained horses for the Croatian Cavalry and worked on a cattle ranch. In 1934, he was hired as a trainer by the wealthy businessman Charles S. Howard.Known as "Silent Tom" because of his quiet nature, Smith became famous as the trainer of Seabiscuit.