Image courtesy Bradley Photographers - Les Bridge and Jack Thompson.
Mark Bradley has come up with another classic flashback from a Wyong race meeting in 1972.
A very youthful Les Bridge at 27 years of age with veteran jockey Jack Thompson who was 50.
Les has always respected the experience of the older jockeys and was giving Thompson rides when most major stables were passing him by.
Les of course is still training winners at 74 years of age, while “Thommo” died in 1992 at age 70.
Jack Thompson was one of the greatest riders of his era. He is credited with more than 3,300 winners including 41 races which are today classified as Group 1 events. He won 5 Sydney Jockeys Premierships (one of them as an apprentice) and 4 junior titles. He rode his first winner at Tamworth in 1938 and his last at Wyong on January 31st, 1985. His last winner was It’s Lunchtime, trained by his old friend Albert Stapleford.
Jack Thompson’s support of battlers was legendary. Years after his death stories still come to light of “Thommo’s” generosity to those who were down on their luck.
As a jockey and a human being they came no better than Jack Thompson.