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Just found out he used to commentate for Three Day Eventing! He’s surprisingly knowledgeable, I wonder why he stopped doing it.
Tommo has been amazingly versatile over the years, especially when he used to be with Radio 2’s sports desk team before he joined the then ITV racing coverage.
His first meeting as a host for ITV was at Ayr for an end of January meeting back in 1981.
He had, of course, been part of the BBC’s radio Grand National team alongside Peter Bromley, Michael Seth-Smith and Michael O’Hehir.
During the days of World of Sport, a showjumping event used to be covered at Harewood. Tommo was the announcer for the audience inside the arena.
Commentary was provided for World of Sport by dear old Tom Hudson, who could often by heard doing the announcing duties for the audience at events like the Horse of the Year Show that were televised by the BBC. Hudson was the one you would hear saying: "That’s a clear round — clear — for David Broome on…" etc.
He carried on doing similar duties at showjumping events in other parts of the country and I was there a few years ago at one county show which had showjumping as part of the events. He was there, looking very elderly, doing the announcements.
It must have been his last year there because he died in August 2008 at the age of 67.Apart from our differing opinions on Thommo, it was good to see him back in action at York and looking reasonably well. Hope his recovery continues.
When ITV covered the Seoul Olympics in 1988, Thommo covered the Equestrian events. (Admittedly most people were probably watching the BBC – hence ITV have not covered an Olympics since).
Anyway, good to see Thommo on the way back.
I have always rather liked Tommo. His voice doesn’t grate, even though some of his favoured repetitions can.
I wish him well, and will not whinge too much if he continues to be part of our regular TV racing commentary. He’s OK (IMHO)
Hostilities were briefly suspended when it emerged that Tommo had cancer scare problems. Now, after a brief respite and a flood of good will, he is now getting a lot of stick again on other forums, mainly about his tipping line.
There’s always a steady stream of people ready to put the boot in and there have been some pretty nasty, personal remarks…
Mind you, these tipping lines are thoroughly disreputable. Why on earth someone in his position would want to tarnish his reputation by having anything to do with them, I don’t know. We know Tommo loves money but I would have thought the damage to his image caused by peddling them so shamelessly was not worth it.Mind you, these tipping lines are thoroughly disreputable. Why on earth someone in his position would want to tarnish his reputation by having anything to do with them, I don’t know. We know Tommo loves money but I would have thought the damage to his image caused by peddling them so shamelessly was not worth it.
As long as there are greedy fools happy to ring tipping lines there will be those who are happy to provide the service – and good luck to them.
A fool and his money are soon parted so why not help them part with their money?
I would have no qualms taking peoples money in that way.
Mind you, these tipping lines are thoroughly disreputable. Why on earth someone in his position would want to tarnish his reputation by having anything to do with them, I don’t know. We know Tommo loves money but I would have thought the damage to his image caused by peddling them so shamelessly was not worth it.
As long as there are greedy fools happy to ring tipping lines there will be those who are happy to provide the service – and good luck to them.
A fool and his money are soon parted so why not help them part with their money?
I would have no qualms taking peoples money in that way.That certainly must be Tommo’s view as well.
I must confess that I would never ring a tipping line even if my life, or wallet, depended on it. I would sooner sit down and study the form and work out the likely winner for myself. Why other people cannot do that, I do not know. Why trust some other so-called expert?
As we are always told, if the tipster was any good, he would be quietly backing the supposedly winning horses himself and living a life of luxury, not wasting time telling others how to back them, risking producing an avalanche of extra money on the horse that will send their price tumbling. Anyone who rings a tipping line and pays a premium rate just to listen to a load of waffle and a few names really must be a gullible fool.
What seems to be upsetting many people is that Tommo stands accused of using the bucket he collects losing tickets in at racecourses as a way of gathering people’s names and addresses so he can later sift through them and pester them afterwards with letters inviting them to join his tipping service. Pretty distasteful and unedifying if it’s true.
He was certainly causing even Emma Spencer plenty of embarrassment with his cringeworthy antics on More4 at Haydock. It really was pretty toe-curlingly awful even for those who like him. It’s good to see him back on TV but you would think he would realise he is making a fool of myself by pratting about and repeatedly referring to himself in the third person as Tommo.
Surely the new regime at Channel 4 next year won’t want to keep him on, even if he does add a bit of colour.
Mind you, he caught out Emma at the end when putting her on the spot and asking her what she thought would win the St Leger if it wasn’t Camelot. She was flustered and apparently couldn’t even think of a single one of the other runners that would be a "gidd" thing.Mind you, these tipping lines are thoroughly disreputable. Why on earth someone in his position would want to tarnish his reputation by having anything to do with them, I don’t know. We know Tommo loves money but I would have thought the damage to his image caused by peddling them so shamelessly was not worth it.
As long as there are greedy fools happy to ring tipping lines there will be those who are happy to provide the service – and good luck to them.
A fool and his money are soon parted so why not help them part with their money?
I would have no qualms taking peoples money in that way.
Get off your high horse you plonker!
Some people work 9/5 with a family to provide for and when they feel like having a little punt then there’s no other option than to use a tipping line if you’re looking for a winner.
People who knock tipping lines in my opinion are jealous they can’t make money out of their knowledge like a tipster can, many have tried but fail
I haven’t met anyone who writes up tips on internet forums to be remotely successful nor is it appropriate to troll through a thread with 500 word write ups on a 3g connection on the train to the races looking for a bet when all the lads are cracking open the beers.
No one makes money from betting in racing and dont even try and convince me there is, can people find winners? yes there are good people like tipping lines who can put you on a probable horse which is perfect for a day out
What seems to be upsetting many people is that Tommo stands accused of using the bucket he collects losing tickets in at racecourses as a way of gathering people’s names and addresses so he can later sift through them and pester them afterwards with letters inviting them to join his tipping service. Pretty distasteful and unedifying if it’s true.
The key words there being "it it’s true" – which it isn’t
What seems to be upsetting many people is that Tommo stands accused of using the bucket he collects losing tickets in at racecourses as a way of gathering people’s names and addresses so he can later sift through them and pester them afterwards with letters inviting them to join his tipping service. Pretty distasteful and unedifying if it’s true.
The key words there being "it it’s true" – which it isn’t
Pleased to hear it.
He’s got his finger in so many pies and has so many no doubt lucrative interests (thanks to his versatility) that you wouldn’t think he would have to, or would want to, lower himself to the grubby world of being a telephone tipster.Another little gem from Tommo at York today.
Milton Bradley trains at "Chepstow, near Wales".
Another little gem from Tommo at York today.
Milton Bradley trains at "Chepstow, near Wales".
Or it could be a very astute joke as many who live in Chepstow consider themselves more English than Welsh.
When I worked in Cardiff my then boss, who lived in Chepstow, swore blind he lived there because it was more English than Welsh and he could send his children to school across the border so they didn’t have to learn Welsh.
Indeed I have my Mum’s old school atlas from the late 1930’s and at that time Chepstow was in England.
Another little gem from Tommo at York today.
Milton Bradley trains at "Chepstow, near Wales".
Or it could be a very astute joke as many who live in Chepstow consider themselves more English than Welsh.
Indeed I have my Mum’s old school atlas from the late 1930’s and at that time Chepstow was in England.I must confess that, before writing the previous post, I had to check on Google that Chepstow WAS actually in Wales and not England, despite the course staging the Welsh National!
Wouldn’t be the first time I’d made a wrong assumption.
Obviously I realise that it was probably a slip of the tongue from Tommo. I presume he meant to say something like "near Chepstow, in Wales". It came over as a slip, rather than a clever bon mot.
Enjoyed watching a couple of jumps races from Chepstow yesterday.
On the subject of Wales, I thought John Hunt did a great job on the Ffos Las commentaries for the meeting I was watching on At The Races today, especially in one particularly tight finish.
He also played a blinder in picking up the serious-looking fall for Dougie Costello and its aftermath. Also gave a condition update later on Twitter. Full marks!
England, Wales…and Monmouthshire
Mr Thompson may have unwittingly reopened an old wound
It wasn’t until 1974 that Monmouthshire became ‘officially’ part of Wales, prior to then its status was ambiguous
It’s good to see him back on TV but you would think he would realise he is making a fool of myself by pratting about and repeatedly referring to himself in the third person as Tommo. 
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