Thompson declared the award, which he received in Brisbane on Thursday night, was the pinnacle of a 42-year career in the saddle that has yielded 4117 winners and counting  – a national record and about 800 more than any jockey in Australian history. 

 “It is more important to me than any race that I have won,” said the 57-year-old, who has represented his country in international events in Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and New Zealand. 

‘‘To have family and close friends with me for this is special.  It is 42 years since I had my first ride in a race and I am as keen and competitive now as I was then.’’

Thompson paid tribute to his father, Arthur, who died in 2013.

‘‘I would have done anything for dad to have been in Brisbane with us,’’ he said. ‘‘He was a great trainer and a great mate. One day at Cessnock he trained five winners and I rode them all.’’

 Thompson  passed the Australasian record of 3372 winners  held by the late Jack Thompson (no relation)  in 2008, and saluted for the 4000th time on Lay Down The Law at Broadmeadow, his favourite track, in May  2014.

 Thompson rated the Muswellbrook-trained Romantic Dream, on which he won two of his seven group 1 races, as the best horse he had ridden.

His accomplishments are  all the more remarkable given that he was out of the saddle for two years after a fall at Warwick Farm in 2004.

 Thompson will remain in  Brisbane to ride Scone sprinter Big Money in Saturday’s group 1 Doomben 10,000.

Choisir was bought for  $55,000 by  Perry and long-time client Terry Wallace and their families at the 2001 Inglis Classic yearling sale.

The flashy chestnut won seven races and $2.2million, including the group 1 Lightning Handicap at Flemington, but it was his pioneering wins at England’s Royal Ascot carnival in 2003 that earned him his place in the hall of fame. 

The Danehill Dancer colt became the first Australian-trained thoroughbred to win on the flat in England when he won the group 2 King’s Stand Stakes on June 17, after which the Queen presented the trophy to connections. 

 Four days later, Choisir backed up to win the group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes.  

In doing so, he became the first horse in 83 years to capture both races at the most famous carnival in the world. Choisir had one more start in England when a brave second in the group 1 July Cup at  Newmarket.

After his overseas campaign, Choisir was  rated the world’s No.1 sprinter. 

 Two days after the July Cup, Coolmore Stud bought Choisir for  about $20million as a shuttle stallion.

 He has since carved out a successful career as a sire between bases in the Hunter Valley and Ireland.  

Choisir’s ground-breaking success has  been emulated by a string of Australian sprinters, including the great Black Caviar.  

 Terry Wallace was on hand to accept the Hall of Fame induction. 

 On a great night for Newcastle, Sky racing presenter Greg Radley, a son of former Newcastle Herald journalist Terry Radley, was the master of ceremonies.