Dick Turpin in York in 2009. Turpin is best known for his exploits as a highwayman, but before his execution the only contemporary report of him as such was in June 1737, when a broadsheet entitled "News news: great and wonderful news from London in an uproar or a hue and cry after the Great Turpin, with his escape into Ireland" was published. Although some of his contemporaries became the subject of chapbooks, names such as James Hind, Claude Duval and William Nevison, are not nearly as well-known today as the legend of Dick Turpin, whose fictionalised exploits first began to appear
Dick Turpin (horse) time but, now Dick Turpin's broken his duck, the pressure is off". At York Racecourse in August Dick Turpin was stepped up in distance for the International Stakes over ten and a half furlongs and came home fifth of the nine runners behind Rip Van Winkle. On his final appearance of the season went back to France for the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp over 1400 metres and finished third behind Goldikova and Paco Boy, beaten a length by the winner. In the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings Dick Turpin was assessed at 124, making him the fourteenth best horse