Derek Thompson to retire end 2025

[reynold]

'It's been my whole life and I still love it' – Tommo to give up commentating at end of 2025

Are you well? I thought you weren’t — the big fella is going to hang up his microphone after nearly 60 years. Derek 'Tommo' Thompson, the racing... Read More

www.racingpost.com

Called his first race at 15. What a career but I can see him now finding all the travelling exhausting.

 

[Spotherisk]

I didn’t know he was still commentating! That’s hell of a career.

 

[Clodagh]

I don’t particularly rate him as a commentator but I do remember someone… John Francombe? Alistair Down? Saying if you had a gap to fill he could interview a smoked salmon sandwich.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Met him in Paris at the Arc meeting 19 years ago. Really nice gentleman, had a lovely long chat with him.

 

[Maddie Moo]

I met him at Lingfield when I was on a work experience day and they took me up to the stewards viewing area which is either above or below the commentary box (darn brain fog). Very lovely man and he was very encouraging.

On a side note, I got to go in the chase vehicles in every race and my goodness do they go much faster than it looks on tv

 

[honetpot]

I don’t particularly rate him as a commentator but I do remember someone… John Francombe? Alistair Down? Saying if you had a gap to fill he could interview a smoked salmon sandwich.

I used to love watching the old Morning Line, it was like the weekend starts here, and I have no real interest in racing, he wa the glue that held it all together, it just annoys me now. I have seen him live, I think it was at a Newmarket sales event and he is very good with an audience

 

[reynold]

'This isn't retirement - I'm only hanging up my binoculars' - Derek Thompson confirms his final commentary shift and future plans

The Racing Grapevine is exclusive to Racing Post+ subscribers from 4pm every Sunday. Here is a free-to-read excerpt from this week's with Derek... Read More

www.racingpost.com

Last commentary to be 22nd July

Hope his book sales do well for xmas. Should be a good read.

 

[Brummyrat]

I used to love watching the old Morning Line, it was like the weekend starts here, and I have no real interest in racing, he wa the glue that held it all together, it just annoys me now. I have seen him live, I think it was at a Newmarket sales event and he is very good with an audience

Totally agree with this, the banter was fantastic with Lord Oaksey, Tommo and Francombe etc. I used to watch with my then boyfriend who wasn't at all interested in racing but he found The Morning Line a great hour of telly. Tommo always comes across as a nice gent, he's had health problems too if I remember rightly so best of luck to him, time to put his feet up.

 

[reynold]

His final commentary is tonight at Wolverhampton. Sounds like the track is giving him a good sendoff.

'I'd imagine he'll be quite emotional' - Tommo's 60-year commentary career comes to an end at Wolverhampton on Tuesday

The curtain will come down on a commentary and TV career spanning 60 years on Tuesday night when Derek Thompson, better known as Tommo, calls his... Read More

www.racingpost.com