Thompson, who has decided that 63 is the right age to call it a day retires with the title of having ridden the most winners in Australian Horse Racing ever.
The champion hoop, who has ridden an impressive 4,447 winners during his career decided that wasting to cut weight and constant travelling across the country to ride had finally taken its toll.
Thompson confirmed his decision to retire via Newscorp and the reasons behind it in a brief interview.
“I’ve definitely finished,’’ Thompson said.
“I’m 63, I’m not getting any younger and I’m sick of the travelling and the wasting
“I’ve done it for 49 years and I’ve had my ‘fun in the sun’. I’ve decided that’s enough for me, it’s time.’’
On discussing 4,447 career wins, the most successful rider in Australian history refused to get carried away with that landmark.
“It’s only a number,’’ Thompson said of his Australian riding record.
“But it might give the younger jockeys something to chase.’’
Thompson, who estimates he has ridden nearly 30,000 runners in his time and that his decision to retire has been on the cards for a while.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,’’ Thompson said of retirement.
“After my last ride I was trying desperately to get to Queensland to ride in September (Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival) but Covid beat me.
“Because I haven’t ridden since July, people were asking me what I was doing and I kept telling everyone I’ve been in isolation!
“But I know it’s time to retire and I’m happy to let people know that my career as a jockey is over.’’
Thompson retires as the most successful rider in Australian history, an Australian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee and 7 time Group 1 winner.