Robert Thompson
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
When 20-year-old Robert Thompson brought the Arthur Stephenson-trained Uncle Tittlefeet with a strong late run to land the Castle and Anchor Apprentice Handicap at Teesside Park on June 19, 1967, it looked as though he’d just ridden his first winner. However, the stewards thought otherwise and demoted Uncle Tittlefeet to second place for bumping and boring. For a young lad with less than a dozen rides under his belt, it must have been a demoralising blow.
When 20-year-old Robert Thompson brought the Arthur Stephenson-trained Uncle Tittlefeet with a strong late run to land the Castle and Anchor Apprentice Handicap at Teesside Park on June 19, 1967, it looked as though he’d just ridden his first winner. However, the stewards thought otherwise and demoted Uncle Tittlefeet to second place for bumping and boring. For a young lad with less than a dozen rides under his belt, it must have been a demoralising blow.
However, he only had to wait a little over a month for his luck to turn. He was reunited with Uncle Tittlefeet in the one-mile Cleghorn Apprentice Handicap at Lanark on July 20 and romped home four lengths clear of his nearest rival. This time there was no disqualification.
However, he only had to wait a little over a month for his luck to turn. He was reunited with Uncle Tittlefeet in the one-mile Cleghorn Apprentice Handicap at Lanark on July 20 and romped home four lengths clear of his nearest rival. This time there was no disqualification.
Robert, or Bobby, to give him the name by which he was more popularly known in racing, rode the second winner of his career just over a fortnight later, also at Lanark, on the Tom Hudson-trained Morning Service. He rode one more winner on the Flat the following year before rising weight determined that his future lay over jumps.
Robert, or Bobby, to give him the name by which he was more popularly known in racing, rode the second winner of his career just over a fortnight later, also at Lanark, on the Tom Hudson-trained Morning Service. He rode one more winner on the Flat the following year before rising weight determined that his future lay over jumps.
Having begun his racing career as an apprentice with Arthur Stephenson, he remained with the Bishop Auckland maestro when he came out of his time, riding his first winner over jumps on Stephenson’s handicap hurdler Rigton Prince at Hexham on May 1, 1969.
Having begun his racing career as an apprentice with Arthur Stephenson, he remained with the Bishop Auckland maestro when he came out of his time, riding his first winner over jumps on Stephenson’s handicap hurdler Rigton Prince at Hexham on May 1, 1969.
Easily the most prolific winner he rode during his career was Interview II. This was a horse that thrived on racing and was having his twelfth start of the season when Bobby first teamed up with him, finishing second at Wetherby in April 1971. Later that month they claimed their first victory together, winning the Roxburghe Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.
Easily the most prolific winner he rode during his career was Interview II. This was a horse that thrived on racing and was having his twelfth start of the season when Bobby first teamed up with him, finishing second at Wetherby in April 1971. Later that month they claimed their first victory together, winning the Roxburghe Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.
Bobby rode Interview II in most of his 17-race hurdling season in 1971/72, winning four times, at Newcastle, Ayr, Haydock and back at Newcastle, although he was replaced by the more experienced David Goulding for his biggest success in the B.P. Shield at Liverpool on Grand National day 1972. Bobby was back on Interview II next time out, finishing fourth behind Coral Diver in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
Bobby rode Interview II in most of his 17-race hurdling season in 1971/72, winning four times, at Newcastle, Ayr, Haydock and back at Newcastle, although he was replaced by the more experienced David Goulding for his biggest success in the B.P. Shield at Liverpool on Grand National day 1972. Bobby was back on Interview II next time out, finishing fourth behind Coral Diver in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
Interview II won seven of his 16 races during 1972/73, ridden each time by Bobby, thus accounting for almost half of the jockey’s tally of 15 winners for the season. Put over fences, Interview won a three-mile novice chase at Market Rasen on the first day of December 1972 and then three more such contests, all at Catterick, within the space of a month. Campaigned thereafter in handicap company, Interview II won the valuable Trial Handicap Chase at Leicester on February 6, 1973, added the Arthur Challenge Cup at Ayr on March 10, and finally the Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup Chase at Uttoxeter on April 7. Another chaser on whom Bobby did well in 1972/73 was the grey Poker Pal, scoring at Wetherby in November and at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.
Interview II won seven of his 16 races during 1972/73, ridden each time by Bobby, thus accounting for almost half of the jockey’s tally of 15 winners for the season. Put over fences, Interview won a three-mile novice chase at Market Rasen on the first day of December 1972 and then three more such contests, all at Catterick, within the space of a month. Campaigned thereafter in handicap company, Interview II won the valuable Trial Handicap Chase at Leicester on February 6, 1973, added the Arthur Challenge Cup at Ayr on March 10, and finally the Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup Chase at Uttoxeter on April 7. Another chaser on whom Bobby did well in 1972/73 was the grey Poker Pal, scoring at Wetherby in November and at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.
Bobby won the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Chase on Arthur Stephenson’s Banderole at Ayr on October 15, 1973 and then won on him again at Kelso five days later. Interview II given a comparatively light 10-race campaign that season, gave Bobby another feature race success when winning the Vaux Breweries Great Teesside Handicap Chase at Teesside Park (Stockton) on February 23, 1974. That was their last victory together.
Bobby won the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Chase on Arthur Stephenson’s Banderole at Ayr on October 15, 1973 and then won on him again at Kelso five days later. Interview II given a comparatively light 10-race campaign that season, gave Bobby another feature race success when winning the Vaux Breweries Great Teesside Handicap Chase at Teesside Park (Stockton) on February 23, 1974. That was their last victory together.
It was also the penultimate victory of Bobby’s career, the final one being for trainer Tony Dickinson on novice chaser Wily Ana at Market Rasen on March 2, 1974. His tally of winners had dropped from a high of 15 in 1972/73 to just five in 1973/74. He hung up his riding boots during the following season.
It was also the penultimate victory of Bobby’s career, the final one being for trainer Tony Dickinson on novice chaser Wily Ana at Market Rasen on March 2, 1974. His tally of winners had dropped from a high of 15 in 1972/73 to just five in 1973/74. He hung up his riding boots during the following season.
Following his retirement he ran a successful carpet business. He died in an accident near his home at Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, on November 30, 1999, aged 52. He had stopped his van outside a house in Ferryhill to make a delivery and was at the back of the van when a strong gust of wind blew a rear door open and threw him straight into the path of an oncoming car.
Following his retirement he ran a successful carpet business. He died in an accident near his home at Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, on November 30, 1999, aged 52. He had stopped his van outside a house in Ferryhill to make a delivery and was at the back of the van when a strong gust of wind blew a rear door open and threw him straight into the path of an oncoming car.