Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson (born 31 July 1950) is a British presenter and commentator of horse racing on Radio Five Live and At the Races in Britain. Biography He was born to Stanley Moorhouse Thompson and Lillian Thompson in Stockton-on-Tees, North Riding of Yorkshire, England. He had an older brother, Howard. Stanley Thompson was a small-time trainer of horses, which gave Derek his first rides as an amateur jockey. Through membership of the local hunt, he met future Grand National winning jockey, Bob Champion and became a lifelong friend. He attended Guisborough Grammar School and gave his first commentary - on a point-to-point meeting - at the age of 15. After leaving school in 1968, he worked unpaid for Denys Smith, nominally as assistant trainer. After six months, he moved to be assistant to Pierre Sanoner in Chantilly His broadcasting career began at the age of 18 on local radio. In 1972, he was based in London working for BBC Radio Sport, for whom he covered a number of Grand Nationals alongside Peter Bromley, Michael Seth-Smith and Michael O'Hehir.