Trainer Mark Tompkins, best known for winning the 1993 G1 St Leger with Bob's Return (Ire) (Bob Back), will retire at the end of the month after 40 years with a license.
Tompkins went close to winning the G1 2000 Guineas in 1996 when his Even Top (Ire) (Topanoora {Ire}) was beaten a short head by Mark of Esteem (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), and his clientele included Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench, for whom he won the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. and the Lincoln H. with Smokey Oakey (Ire) (Tendulkar).
“I'm 68 and have decided to retire, I've not been very well and it's getting harder and harder for everybody,” Tompkins said. “I've been training since 1979 and trying my best–we've had good horses and good owners, but it gets harder to find the good horses. They are with a small pool of trainers. A bit like Luca [Cumani, who retired in 2018], I've got my stud and will live there.
“It's been great, we've done it for 40 years and had a fantastic time,” he added. “We've one or two to run, but I'll certainly finish at the end of the month. A few will go to James Eustace, my former assistant, my owners know him so hopefully a few will go there.”
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