Robert Thompson Retires from Riding

Jockey Robert Thompson has retired at the end of a stellar 49 year riding career, reports racingnsw.com.au. The 63-year-old jockey hasn't ridden since July 3, 2021 and had planned to ride in the Cairns Amateurs event in September but COVID prevented him from travelling. "Twelve months ago I knew I had one more round in me with all the travelling and the wasting," Thompson said. "After 49 years I've had a good innings, I knew it had come to an end. When I couldn't get up there (to Cairns) that put the final nail in." Thompson has ridden an Australian record of 4,447 winners, with his first ride in April 1973. "I was only 14 and 9 months old at the time," he revealed. His first win came within the same month on It's Regal (Epistle-Duchess Belle, by Brentloch) at Wyong. Thompson won seven Group 1 races, but the race that holds a special part in his heart is the Jungle Juice Cup at Cessnock, a race he won eleven times. His first win was in 1982 on Top Hat Joe (George Spelvin-Glamorama, by Bellborough), trained by his father Arthur. "A lot of people don't believe me but I actually rode the horse to the races that day and it won the Cup a few hours later. It played up that badly on the truck dad had to take him off and he said, 'You better throw the saddle on and ride him over'. We lived the other side of town but as the crow flies it was only about two and a half miles to the track. I had to ride him through the open cut and through the bush. He didn't play up coming home, he got on the truck and got a ride home." Thompson regards Gr1 Goodwood Handicap winner Romantic Dream (Baguette-Star Song, by Rhythmic Light) as the best horse he's ridden.

Indefatigable Robert Thompson (pic: Steve Hart)