DAVID Thompson, joint-owner of Cheveley Park Stud and one of Britain’s richest people, has died, aged 84.

Along with wife Patricia, he is best known in racing and breeding circles for Cheveley Park’s influence at the top end of flat racing, but in recent years the stud has invested in jump racing and has great success with horses trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead.

The Thompsons purchased Newmarket’s oldest stud farm in 1975. Big-race winners have included the brilliant sprinter Pivotal, who now stands at Cheveley Park as a stallion, the top-class Medicean, multiple Group 1-winning mare Russian Rhythm and Breeders’ Cup heroine Queen’s Trust.

In 1992 Thompson purchased Party Politics as a present for his wife, just two days before he won the Grand National. Apart from a handful of similar purchases in the intervening period, the Thompsons stayed out of jump racing until recently acquiring a talented string of young National Hunt prospects from the Irish point-to-point market and from France.

They have enjoyed Cheltenham Festival glory with A Plus Tard, Ferny Hollow and the unbeaten Envoi Allen.

A Plus Tard gave Cheveley Park another major success when winning the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th and it was revealed this week that Mr Thompson passed away from renal failure a day later.

Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson said: “David Thompson was a very generous, meticulous, sometimes unpredictable man, who always had a certain charm.

“He inspired everyone with his insatiable enthusiasm for business which, thankfully, included a love of racing and breeding, alongside his wife, Patricia and their family. He had tremendous foresight and would often ask a question, knowing full well the answer.

“DBT’s recent visit to the Cheltenham Sale held in Newmarket, and to the stud, gave him and all here so much joy. He certainly enriched the lives of all those he met and who knew him. He will be much missed.”

Honoured

David and Patricia Thompson were recognised for their philanthropic work last year by each being awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The Thompson Family Charitable Trust has become one of the largest charitable foundations in the United Kingdom, having already donated over £70 million to a wide variety of medical, educational, social, artistic and other charities, while maintaining an endowment for future donations of more than £100 million.

The Sunday Times Rich List 2020 estimated the Thompson family’s wealth at £837 million.

David Thompson is survived by Patricia, their three children, Richard, Rosalind and Katie, and seven grandchildren.