David Nicholson (horse racing)
Encyclopedia
David Nicholson was a British National Hunt
jockey
and trainer
. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer
in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
Nicholson was the son of 'Frenchie' Nicholson who was also a successful jockey and National Hunt trainer. As a young lad Nicholson was christened 'The Duke' by one of his father's grooms http://midas.picdar.co.uk/cgi-bin/RP?MatchIndex=2&urn=718847846&Random=1913321875&FFAC=WM0000011390&searchid=1. It is a nickname that is still used to this day to describe him.
As a jockey he rode 538 winners over jumps between 1955 and 1974 and came third in the jockey's championship in the 1964-65 season. His biggest win came in the Whitbread Gold Cup
on Mill House in 1967.
As a trainer he was one of the leading trainers in National Hunt racing during the 1980s and 1990s. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup
with Charter Party in 1988, the King George VI Chase
with Barton Bank
in 1993 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase
with Viking Flagship
in 1994 and 1995. He retired in 1999.
In 2008 an extra race was added to the Cheltenham Festival
named the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle
in honour of Nicholson.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer
British jump racing Champion Trainer
The Champion Trainer of National Hunt racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prizemoney during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each season since 1945-46.-----See also:...
in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
Nicholson was the son of 'Frenchie' Nicholson who was also a successful jockey and National Hunt trainer. As a young lad Nicholson was christened 'The Duke' by one of his father's grooms http://midas.picdar.co.uk/cgi-bin/RP?MatchIndex=2&urn=718847846&Random=1913321875&FFAC=WM0000011390&searchid=1. It is a nickname that is still used to this day to describe him.
As a jockey he rode 538 winners over jumps between 1955 and 1974 and came third in the jockey's championship in the 1964-65 season. His biggest win came in the Whitbread Gold Cup
Bet365 Gold Cup
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
on Mill House in 1967.
As a trainer he was one of the leading trainers in National Hunt racing during the 1980s and 1990s. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
with Charter Party in 1988, the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
with Barton Bank
Barton Bank
Barton Bank was one of the top National Hunt chasers of the mid 1990s. He won the 1993 King George VI Chase as well as two Charlie Hall Chases at Wetherby...
in 1993 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
with Viking Flagship
Viking Flagship
Viking Flagship was an Irish racehorse who began his racing career in October 1989 as 2 year old. He was first trained by his breeder Eithne C Holdsworth in Co...
in 1994 and 1995. He retired in 1999.
In 2008 an extra race was added to the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
named the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle
The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt horse race in Great Britain which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
in honour of Nicholson.
Major wins as trainer
- Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold CupThe Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
- (1) - Charter Party (1988) - King George VI ChaseKing George VI ChaseThe King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
- (1) - Barton Bank (1993) - Queen Mother Champion ChaseQueen Mother Champion ChaseThe Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
- (2) - Viking Flagship (1994, 1995) - Melling ChaseMelling ChaseThe Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
- (2) - Viking Flagship (1995, 1996) - Stayers' HurdleWorld HurdleThe World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
- (1) - Anzum (1999) - Christmas HurdleChristmas HurdleThe Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- (1) - Mighty Mogul (1992) - Triumph HurdleTriumph HurdleThe Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- (2) - Solar Cloud (1986), Mysilv (1994) - Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle - (2) - Thetford Forest (1992), Putty Road (1995)
- Arkle Challenge Trophy - (1) - Waterloo Boy (1989)
- Sefton Novices' HurdleSefton Novices' HurdleThe Sefton Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped...
- (3) - Barton Bank (1992), Corner Boy (1994), Forest Ivory (1997) - Tingle Creek Chase - (5) - Long Engagement (1987, 1989), Waterloo Boy (1991, 1992), Viking Flagship (1994)
- Whitbread Gold CupBet365 Gold CupThe Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
- (1)- Call it a Day (1998) - Mackeson Gold CupPaddy Power Gold CupThe Paddy Power Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped...
- (2) - Very Promising (1986), Another Coral (1991)