1913
13 September 1913
A Sydney writer who has seen the stallion Sunshine, by Sundridge, whose progeny are doing so well on the English turf, says he is a horse over 16 hands, proportionately well developed. Sunshine ia a dappled brown, with as fine a head and throat as is possible to imagine. He has enough breathing room for two horses and a strong neck let into muscular shoulders, while both fore and back ribs cannot well be beaten. Evidently his breeding and turf record have impressed mare-owners, for his list for the season is full. There are enough Thompsons in the horse-breeding industry to puzzle people not familiar with the history of this family, therefore I may mention that the owners of Sunshine are Herbert, Harold, and Cyril, sons of the late James Thompson. They own Woodlawn, Wingarra, Torrie Lodge, and Oakleigh studs. The other day they purchased Torrie Lodge, a place adjoining Wingarra, recently owned by their uncle William, who has removed his horse wealth to a property he and his sons have purchased near Scone. Thompson Brothers now own Grafton, Royal Artillery, Cooltrim, Charlemagne II., and Sunshine ,and about 150 thoroughbred mares. Sunshine will be removed to Wingarra. He landed in superb condition, and is fit for stud work1
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1939
24 March 1939
THOROUGHBREDS
THOMPSON FAMILY'S RECORD FAMOUS STUDS.
(“S. M. Herald”)
MR. WILLIAM THOMPSON
A history of the breeding of thoroughbred horses, in New South Wales at least, would not be complete without an account of the Thompson family. They have been among the most successful breeders and vendors of yearlings in Australia for the last 50 years. During that period sires located at their studs have been credited through their progeny with winnings aggregating more than £2,000,000.
William Thompson, the first of the family to come to Australia, arrived in Sydney in 1835 with two sons, William and Richard. He was a wool expert from Yorkshire, and began his career in Australia by classing for Mr. E. K. Cox, who also bred horses and had at his stud that great sire of former days, Yattendon.
Richard Thompson went to the Monaro and William to the Rylstone district, in the Nulla mountains. Early in the 1870's the son William established his family in the Widden Valley. He had five sons, James, John, Joseph, Alfred, and William, and all were keenly interested in the breeding side of racing.
It was James Thompson who was first attracted to the possibilities of horse breeding, and in volume I of the Australia stud book can be found the first mare to come under his care. This was Keepsake, who was presented to him by Mr. E. K. Cox. Another of his early mares was Adeline, who was brought from Victoria as a pack-horse and was left with him.
James Thompson, in the late 1870's, took up the property adjoining his father's Widden selection, which is now known as the Oakleigh Stud. On his father's death Widden passed to William's sons, John and William, and they followed the lead given by their brother, who was then well established at Oakleigh, and made Widden principally a horse-breeding establishment.
In 1909 William sold his Widden interest to his brother John, and removed to Torrie Lodge, Rylstone, later to St. Clair, Singleton, and then to Yarraman Park, Scone, where he is still situated. Joseph Thompson eventually went to Loch Marie, Muswellbrook.
GRANDSONS OF FOUNDER
James Thompson was the father of the present breeder, Mr. Herbert S. Thompson, and of James C. and Harold C. Thompson, the last mentioned having been killed in the war about 1916. His brother John was the father of Alfred W. and Albert E., the first mentioned being now owner of Widden Stud. Albert, until his death last year, carried on at Canema, Kerrabee, and at Bylong Station Bylong; and William was the father of W. B. and C. L. Thompson, whose Camyr Allyn stud, Scone, was dispersed in 1924.
The Oakleigh Stud yearlings were sold on account of James Thompson until 1909, and the following year the title of the draft was Jas. Thompson and Son, Mr. Herbert Thompson becoming identified with the stud so far as yearling sales were concerned for the first time. He had, however, been represented on his own account from 1903, having submitted yearlings from his property, Woodlawn, Rylstone.
In 1911 James Thompson died, and the Oakleigh Stud yearlings were sold on account of Thompson Brothers, that is H.S., and J. C. Thompson, until 1924, when Mr. Herbert Thompson again sold yearlings in his own name for the first time since 1909. Mr. J. C. relinquishing his breeding interests. In 1918 Tarwyn Park, in the rich Bylong Valley, was acquired, and in 1927, in partnership with Mr. P. C., Basche, Mr. H. S. Thompson secured a property adjoining Tarwyn Park, and it became known as Sunnyside Stud2
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24 March 1939
BEGAN WITH LOCHIEL
The foresight and judgment of Mr. James Thompson, the founder of the horse-breeding interests of the family, have been responsible for its remarkable success. In the early years of Oakleigh his stock were by Roodee, The Gem, The Fop, and Corinth.
Despite advice to the contrary, Mr. Thompson purchased Lochiel, who to the close of his career, got winners of £144,775. Grafton was his next choice, and was a prolific sire of winners, his stock winning more than 2,000 races and £250,837.
A sire of quality was next sought for the big Grafton mares, and Mr. H. S. Thompson repatriated Ayr Laddie, who was sold out of New South Wales to Queensland owing to his smallness. Ayr Laddie sired winners of £128,366. Royal Artillery followed, and was the last sire to the days of James Thompson.
Mr. H. S. Thompson's first acquisition of note was Charlemagne II. (imp.), who got winners of £131,709. Later came Tressady (imp.), Cool trim (imp.), Sir Dighton (imp.), Wedge, Gadabout (imp.), Chrysolaus (imp.), Greenstead, Citercian (imp.), Moatbite (imp.), Canusa (imp.), Fernloof (imp.), Valais (imp.), Heroic, Brazen (imp.), Veilmond, Marconi gram (imp.), Madagascar, Melfort (imp.), J. R. Smith (imp), Plymouth Sound (imp.), and Hall Mark. The last seven are at present at Tarwyn Park3
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24 March 1939
WIDDEN SIRES
Widden has also done its share of the acquisition of high-class stallions. One of its most successful was Maltster, and later came Kenilworth (imp.), Linacre (imp.), Backwood (imp.), High Art (imp.), and Claro (imp.). Mr. A. W. Thompson, controller of Widden, was also joined with Mr. H. S. Thompson in the purchase of Valais - in whom his brother, A. E. Thompson held an interest - Brazen (imp.), Veilmond, Marconigram (imp.), and Chrysolaus (imp.). At present at Widden is the Pharos sire Breughel, and Ajax is destined for that establishment at the close of his turf career.
(The above deservedly fine tribute to the pioneering breeders is hardly complete. Mention could have been made to the manner in which the brothers, John and William, dispersed Widden in 1909. Without calling in any legal assistance, let alone a valuator or selling agent, they proceeded to business. They mutually agreed upon a price so far as the property was concerned. Next they tossed a coin, the winner to have first choice of horses. By this procedure, the stock were halved. The brothers then parted company, the same firm and trusting friends they had been down a long corridor of years. Mr. William Thompson, now nearing the nonagenarian stage of life, is spending the evening of his years at "Yarraman Park," Scone. Such was the manner in which business was transacted when Men met. Mr. Thompson, even to this day, has good reason to have an affectionate memory for the illustrious and mighty Malster, the advent of Heroic notwithstanding. - Ed. "S.A.")4
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