Derek Thompson bringing the curtain down on commentary career

Irish Examiner

6 days ago

Derek Thompson feels the time was right to end his commentary career, as he prepares to pick up the microphone for the final time at Wolverhampton on Tuesday night.
Thompson is one of the most recognisable figures in the racing industry having spent time commentating on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, Channel 4, At The Races, and Sky Sports Racing during a nearly 60-year broadcasting career.
The 74-year-old was even part of a three-strong party alongside Lord Oaksey and The Sun's Peter Campling that attempted to negotiate the release of Shergar after the 1981 Derby winner was kidnapped.
He also enjoyed time in the spotlight when what became his famous catchphrase, "Are you well? I thought you were", appeared on Radio One courtesy of Greg James before going viral, as did an At The Races clip of him when he mistook a man for a woman during an exchange with Robert Cooper.
But now 'Tommo' is taking a step back and Dunstall Park will be the last time he calls them home at a race meeting.
Thompson said: "I'll be brutally honest, it's not going to be easy because I still love it to this day and I'm so proud that I'm one of about 20 people that do the race calling in the UK.
"I've been doing it for so many years that it's time to move on. It's not getting any easier, but I still love it. I've been very lucky, I'm paid to go to the races. Other people have to pay to get in. I've got the best seat in the house.
"I'm absolutely stunned by the amount of people that have come up — and that's not just older people like me, but younger people as well — and said can I have a selfie, can I have your autograph. It's just lovely. The messages I've been getting on social media, thank you so much, it's lovely, it almost brought a tear to my eye. It's very moving and it makes me feel very proud.
While Thompson will be putting down his binoculars, he certainly does not plan to be a stranger to the racecourse and hopes to take his affable style around Britain.
Thompson said: "I'll still be presenting at the racetracks around the country and hoping to organise a little tour called, 'Are you well? I thought you were', or 'It's a man actually, Derek', so we're hoping to continue the fun side of racing because I'm a great believer in enjoying racing.
"The memories, and there's some great stories, many of which we can't tell, but the ones we can I'd love to, we're hoping to start a podcast. I will still be going (racing) because I enjoy working. I've been very lucky over the years, working with people like John Francome, Brough Scott."
Thompson also famously once raced against the then future King in a charity event and remembers the race fondly.
He said: "I beat him, Prince Charles as he was then. I rode a horse for Nicky Henderson called Classified and I beat him at Plumpton.
"There were about 12 runners, it was a two-mile Flat race and it was incredible.
"We occasionally have a chat at the races, Royal Ascot and stuff and we get together sometimes.
"I always say, 'Sir, I'm sorry I beat you all those years ago and he says 'don't worry, I forgave you', but the (late) Queen goes, 'but I haven't, Tommo'. It was incredible."
Reflecting on his illustrious career behind the microphone, one of Thompson's favourite memories was calling Frankel's racecourse debut at Newmarket when Henry Cecil's charge launched the beginning of an unbeaten 14-race career.
And Thompson has fond memories of the late, great Cecil and the empathy he showed when he was dealing with bowel cancer in 2012.
He said: "I did the first commentary on Frankel when he won at Newmarket — what a horse.
"I used to go and sit with Henry Cecil on the gallops. I remember I had cancer and I was coming out of hospital and I was very weak and I used to go on the gallops at Newmarket.
"I remember him saying, 'come on, sit down next to me', and we watched the horses because I could hardly stand up. It was just lovely and I remember watching Frankel coming up there and he was one of my favourite horses. I miss Henry to this day."
Red Rum's first Grand National victory in 1973 will forever remain one of the fondest from the many commentaries — in this case radio — Thompson has done during his career.
He said: "The 1973 Grand National, Red Rum and Crisp. I'm the youngest ever commentator, 22, of the Grand National.
"There was Michael Seth-Smith at the first, Michael O'Hehir was at Becher's, I was at Valentine's and then I handed back to Peter Bromley and he did the best commentary I've ever heard on a race finish.
"Crisp and Richard Pitman were 30 lengths clear passing me and Red Rum got up on the line to win.
"Red Rum was probably the greatest horse of all time. There's so many — Frankel, Brigadier Gerard, Nijinsky, Shergar, I've been lucky enough to see all of those."