Veteran horse racing commentator Derek Thompson has hit back at critics who branded his calling of a race at Ayr “the most embarrassing I’ve ever heard.”
In the final event of a six race programme at Ayr Racecourse Thompson, known throughout the sport as Thommo, got in a muddle during a National Hunt Flat race. As the race reached it’s conclusion Thommo, on RacingTV, said: “On the far side, we’ve got, still on the far side, we’ve got, on this side it’s Baratablet, but on the far side it’s the one in front at this stage. It looks like Kevlar. No, hang on, it’s Out Of The Woods who’s coming through. Hang on, let me just check this, it looks like Out Of The Woods has come through from nowhere to win it.”
But the commentary angered fans on social media, with Thompson hitting back to explain the mistake on his X account – and outlining the gruelling reality of life as a commentator. He said: “I’d just like to point out a few things because a lot of people on social media have been having a go at me about my commentary in the last race at Ayr on Monday. I’d done five good commentaries after being up at 4.30 in the morning to drive the four-and-a-half hours to Ayr, and then the four-and-a-half hours back so it was nine hours in the car. Plus the commentary. And this is my last race.”
He showed his notes, continuing: “As you know I do all my colours like this, I do all the work the day before. The three horses that were in contention were very similar colours and it was just getting a little bit difficult after the bright sunshine as it was getting a bit dark. But I got it right in the end. I apologise if the commentary wasn’t, perhaps, as good as it should’ve been. But then the verbal abuse you get on the social media, is that really warranted? It’s not easy to call a race, but we got it right in the end and that’s what we try to do. I just thought I’d point that out.”
By the time the horses crossed the line 74-year-old Tommo, who will retire from commentary at the end of the year, had them in the right order, but faced stinging criticism from fans on social media – with one saying “That’s the most embarrassing commentary I’ve ever heard on the bumper at Ayr. Had the whole straight to work out who the winner was.” Another said: “Saying Kevlar was in front when I’ve had £200 on the nose and it wasn’t even the correct horse, the final two furlongs all you said was ‘on the far side, on the near side, let me just check’. Shocking call.”