Derek “Tommo” Thompson: Racing’s Big Man Stuck in the 80s

Derek “Tommo” Thompson—racing’s very own Marty McFly, forever trapped in his own DeLorean, hurtling back to an era when Wayward Lad and Desert Orchid were kings, and his commentary was cutting-edge. It’s as if Tommo is still living in 1985, with a vocabulary to match, blissfully unaware that the world has moved on to digital timers and breeding stats. You half expect Huey Lewis and the News to start playing every time he picks up the mic.

Let’s be honest: Tommo’s commentary is less about analysing a horse’s form and more about re-living his 80s glory days. Back then, racing was packed with larger-than-life characters, just like Tommo. And he’s never quite let go of that decade—clinging onto phrases like “going a clip”, and handing out “big man!” to anyone within earshot, whether they’re a 5-foot jockey or a punter on his fourth pint. In Tommo's world, everyone’s a big man, and every horse is "going a clip," even if it’s moving slower than an extra in Chariots of Fire.

“Big Man!” – The 80s All-Purpose Greeting

First, there’s the classic “big man!”, a phrase Tommo hurls out as though he’s running a London wine bar circa 1987. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pint-sized jockey or a bemused racegoer, in Tommo’s world, you’re the big man. He’d probably call a Shetland pony a big man if it looked at him the right way.

And it's not just for people. A horse thundering down the straight? “Big man!” A trainer giving a post-race interview? “Big man!” It’s like watching a Betamax tape where every scene has been overdubbed with “big man!” for dramatic effect.

“Going a Clip!” – Faster Than a DeLorean

Then there’s “going a clip”—a phrase that feels like it belongs on the soundtrack of Miami Vice. While today’s commentators are discussing sectional timings, Tommo’s talking like it’s 1985 and the horse is about to outrun Knight Rider. In Tommo's universe, a horse doesn’t just run; it “goes a clip”, whether it’s actually making ground or simply participating in a slow-motion replay of Top Gun.

Does it make sense in modern racing? Not really. But does it matter? Absolutely not. Tommo’s still calling races like Desert Orchid is waiting in the wings, even if the horses in question are barely finishing. In fact, Tommo probably thinks “going a clip” is the future of commentary—just like he once believed in cassette tapes and mullets.

The Sheepskin Coat – A Fashion Statement from 1985

And what about the sheepskin coat? Tommo wears that relic as if it’s standard racing uniform, though you half expect him to whip out a Filofax or make a quick bet via brick-sized mobile phone. The coat belongs in the same era as Betamax and Roland Rat, when wearing woolly layers meant you were someone important—or at least someone cold.

It's not just a coat; it’s a time machine, transporting Tommo back to the days when horses were revered like rock stars and John Francome’s hair was still legendary. Modern pundits can keep their tailored suits—Tommo’s sheepskin is all the armour he needs to wade into a 1m 6f handicap race like it’s the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Tipping Hotlines – The 80s Side Hustle

No tribute to Tommo’s 80s brilliance is complete without mentioning the tipping hotline, a relic of the days when calling a premium-rate number was your gateway to racing riches—or so you thought. Back in the day, Tommo’s line promised you insider tips, but more often delivered horse names picked by throwing darts at a form guide. The only guaranteed winner was Tommo’s phone bill.

Today, the tipping line might seem as out of place as Bananarama at a death metal concert, but Tommo’s hotline had a life of its own—just like his penchant for promoting questionable local hotels, the kind of places where the carpet’s stickier than the form guide and the “ladies on tap” probably referred to barmaids on overtime.

Tommo: Forever Stuck in the Wayward Lad Era

It’s impossible to separate Tommo from the racing giants of the 1980s—back when Wayward Lad and Desert Orchid dominated the tracks, and Tommo ruled the mic like a man who’d just seen E.T. for the first time. For him, the 80s weren’t just a decade—they were racing’s finest hour. And while the world has moved on, Tommo never left.

For those of us trapped in the real world of digital betting and live stream stats, Tommo is a delightful throwback—a mix of cassette tapes, big perms, and a belief that Beverly Hills Cop is still the height of cinematic genius. You can mock his 80s lingo, but there’s something refreshing about a man who refuses to modernise because, frankly, why would he? The 80s were perfect.

Tommo Forever: Racing’s Own Time Capsule

Derek Thompson may be stuck in the past, but that’s exactly what makes him brilliant. He’s racing’s version of a Ferrari Testarossa—a bit clunky in today’s world, but still undeniably cool. While the slick, stat-heavy commentators of today drone on about sectional timings, Tommo’s still out there shouting about “big men” and horses “going a clip”—as if the past 40 years were just an inconvenient blur between Top of the Pops episodes.

He’s the living, breathing embodiment of 80s racing—a time when things were simpler, louder, and just a bit more fun. So next time you hear him call a race, don’t roll your eyes—sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Because Derek “Tommo” Thompson will always be stuck in 1985, and honestly, we wouldn’t have him any other way.