Herbert Thompson

Herbert Thompson

Article by Alan Trout

Herbert Thompson rode seven winners under National Hunt rules and one on the Flat in the first years of the 20th century. 

Born in 1873, he had his first win at Haydock Park on February 3, 1900, when the four-year-old Highland Plaid came with a strong run on the flat to overhaul Bridal Knot and win the Selling Handicap Hurdle by three-quarters of a length. 

Another win on Highland Plaid, this time at Hamilton Park in November, coupled with one on the three-year-old Prevaricate at Shincliffe in October, appeared to herald a promising start to his career. However, he rode only one winner in the next four years. 

But 1905 proved better with three victories, the last at Haydock Park on February 25, when for the third time in just over seven weeks, Gallia proved too good for her opponents, winning the Saturday Selling Handicap Hurdle by a short head, and then surviving a “frivolous, vexatious and unwarrantable” objection. 

Gallia was sold for just 50 guineas after the race, but her owner, Mr G. Dodd, supplied Herbert with his sole win on the Flat when Peregoric landed the Blythswood Selling Welter Handicap at Paisley on August 10, 1906 in a very tight finish. Fred Howey finished second on Entente Cordiale, beaten a short head, with Billy Bullock just a head further away in third on Obtruder. 

A few weeks later, Herbert had what appears to have been his final ride over jumps when St. Jacut finished fifth of eight runners in the Palace Handicap Hurdle at Hamilton Park on September 24, 1906. He continued riding on the Flat for another year. 

Herbert Thompson’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Highland Plaid, Haydock Park, February 3, 1900

2. Prevaricate, Shincliffe, October 24, 1900

3. Highland Plaid, Hamilton Park, November 16, 1900

4. Trusty, Hamilton Park, March 31, 1902

5. Gallia, Hamilton Park, January 3, 1905

6. Gallia, Manchester, February 14, 1905

7. Gallia, Haydock Park, February 25, 1905

8. Paregoric, Paisley, August 10, 1906