Nicholas John Henderson (born 10 December 1950) is a British

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic ...

trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer six times.

Background

His father was

Johnny Henderson Major John Ronald Henderson (6 May 1920 – 6 December 2003) was an English soldier and aide-de-camp to Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. The grand-nephew of Alexander Henderson, 1st Baron Faringdon, he served in the 12th Royal ...

who was one of the founders of the Racecourse Holdings Trust as well as earlier in life being Aide-de-camp to Field Marshal Montgomery. In 2005 two years after Johnny Henderson's death Cheltenham renamed one of the races at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Ra ...

in his honour as the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase. In 2006 Nicky Henderson won this race with a horse called Greenhope. Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near

Lambourn Lambourn is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It lies just north of the M4 Motorway between Swindon and Newbury, and borders Wiltshire to the west and Oxfordshire to the north. After Newmarket it is the largest centre of ...

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Be ...

. Previously he was an amateur jockey, and assistant trainer to Fred Winter between 1974 and 1978.

Achievements

His most notable successes have come with

See You Then See You Then (1980 - 2011) was an English bred racehorse who won the Champion Hurdle three times. He is one of only five horses to achieve this feat. His career over hurdles consisted of fifteen races, of which he won ten. He had suspect tendon ...

, winner of the

Champion Hurdle The Champion 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 Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

in 1985, 1986 and 1987; Remittance Man, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1992;

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

, winner of the Smurfit Kappa

Champion Hurdle The Champion 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 Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

in 2009 at the

, Binocular, winner of the 2010 Champion Hurdle,

Long Run In economics, the long-run is a theoretical concept in which all markets are in equilibrium, and all prices and quantities have fully adjusted and are in equilibrium. The long-run contrasts with the short-run, in which there are some constraints an ...

, winner of the 2011

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ...

and Bobs Worth, winner of the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Binocular's Champion Hurdle gave Henderson a fifth win in the race, equalling the record held by Peter Easterby. Zaynar, another horse he trained, also won at the 2009

in the Triumph Hurdle. He was Champion Trainer in the 1985/86 and 1986/87 seasons. His record at the Cheltenham Festival is particularly good and amongst currently active trainers only Willie Mullins has won more races at the Festival than Henderson. His main stable jockey was Mick Fitzgerald until Fitzgerald was forced to retire by an injury sustained in the

2008 Grand National The 2008 Grand National (officially known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 161st official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 5 A ...

; from the 2008–09 season until the 2014–15 season Barry Geraghty was Henderson's principal jockey in Britain. At the start of the 2015–16 season Nico de Boinville became Henderson's principal jockey after Geraghty replaced Tony McCoy as the principal jockey of

J P McManus John Patrick McManus (born 10 March 1951) is an Irish businessman and racehorse owner. His career lasted from the 1980s to the 2010s. He was one of the biggest shareholders of Manchester United, until his stake was bought out by Malcolm Glazer ...

. One of Henderson's most popular horses in recent years, Caracciola, won the

Cesarewitch Handicap The Cesarewitch Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newmarket over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs (3,621 metres ...

flat race at Newmarket in 2008 at odds of 50/1 as an 11-year-old, despite mainly being a National Hunt horse. Caracciola followed up this success by winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes at

Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races a ...

in 2009 as a 12-year-old with

Eddie Ahern Eddie Ahern (born 6 December 1977) is an Irish professional jockey, currently banned from racing for ten years by the British Horseracing Authority on charges of corruption. He was champion apprentice in Ireland in 1997. Career Ahern had ...

riding on both occasions. Henderson claimed his second winner at the famous Royal Ascot meeting when Veiled won the 2011

Ascot Stakes The Ascot Stakes is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 metres), and ...

at 11/2. In 2013 Henderson had another important win with his horse Bobs Worth (bought for only £20,000) continuing his unbeaten streak at Cheltenham with a win in the Gold Cup. This was despite Henderson raising concerns about the suitability of the soft ground before the race started. Henderson was appointed

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(OBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to horse racing.

Controversy

In June 2009, Henderson was found guilty by a British Horseracing Authority panel of breaching the rules of racing, after Moonlit Path, a mare he trains for the Queen, failed a drugs test. Henderson admitted to three of the four charges he faced in relation to the case, in which a prohibited anti-bleeding drug was found in the horse's bloodstream. Henderson accepted that the drug should not have been administered, but argued that it had been done so for the horse's welfare, and that he had not been attempting to enhance performance. A further hearing was held in July 2009 to determine the sanction to be applied, and Henderson was fined £40,000 (a record penalty for the sport in the UK) and banned from running horses for three months (11 July to 10 October 2009). However, as Henderson is primarily a jumps trainer and this ban was during the flat season it caused him little inconvenience. He was allowed to continue training during the "ban" (which could more accurately be described as a suspension rather than a ban) but was not allowed to enter horses for the period of his ban. The majority of his flat horses were sent to his friend and fellow Lambourn trainer Barry Hills, highest profile of these horses being Caracciola. He caused a little controversy when he attended Royal Ascot when the horse ran but was not breaking any rules as he had not been "warned off" and he was a guest of Barry Hills.

Cheltenham Festival winners (72)

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ...

- (2)

(2011), Bobs Worth (2013) *

Champion Hurdle The Champion 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 Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

- (8)

(1985, 1986, 1987),

(2009), Binocular (2010),

Buveur d'Air Buveur d'Air (foaled 12 May 2011) is a retired French-bred British-trained AQPS racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. After winning twice in his native France he moved to England and won the Top Novices' Hurdle in 2016. In the following ...

(2017, 2018), Epatante (2020) * Queen Mother Champion Chase - (6) Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016),

Altior Altior (foaled 6 May 2010) is an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt races. After winning one of his three National Hunt Flat races he was unbeaten in five Hurdling (horse race), hurdle races includin ...

(2018, 2019) * Stayers' Hurdle - (2) Rustle (1989),

Bacchanal The Bacchanalia were unofficial, privately funded popular Roman festivals of Bacchus, based on various ecstatic elements of the Greek Dionysia. They were almost certainly associated with Rome's native cult of Liber, and probably arrived in Rome ...

(2000) *

Supreme Novices' Hurdle The Supreme 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 on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of a ...

- (5) River Ceiriog (1986), Flown (1992), Altior (2016), Shishkin (2020), Constitution Hill (2022) * Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle - (1) Simonsig (2012) * Triumph Hurdle - (7) First Bout (1985), Alone Success (1987), Katarino (1999), Zaynar (2009), Soldatino (2010), Peace And Co (2015), Pentland Hills (2019) *

Arkle Challenge Trophy The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, England, over a dista ...

- (7) Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013),

(2017), Shishkin (2021) * David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle - (1) Marie's Rock * Spa Novices' Hurdle - (1) Bobs Worth (2011) * RSA Insurance Novices' Chase - (4) Trabolgan (2005), Bobs Worth (2012), Might Bite (2017), Champ (2020) * Ryanair Chase - (2) Fondmort (2006), Riverside Theatre (2012) *

Festival Trophy Handicap Chase The Festival Trophy is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase 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 3 mil ...

- (2) Marlborough (2000), Beware The Bear (2019) * Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase - (1) Rajdhani Express (2013) * Coral Cup - (4) Spirit River (2010), Whisper (2014), William Henry (2019), Dame De Compagnie (2020) * County Handicap Hurdle - (2) Thumbs Up (1993), Barna Boy (1997) * Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle - (1) Une Artiste (2012) *

Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase The Magners Plate Handicap Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a ...

- (4) The Tsarevich (1985, 1986), Liberthine (2005), Non So (2006) * Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup - (3) Master Bob (1990), The Bushkeeper (2002), Juveigneur (2005) * Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase - (2) Greenhope (2006), Bellvano (2012) * Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - (1) Andytown (2009) * Golden Miller Novices' Chase - (1) Chantry House (2021) * Cathcart Challenge Cup - (4) Brown Windsor (1990), Raymylette (1994), Stormyfairweather (1999, 2000) * Pertemps Final - (1) Call The Cops (2015)

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

Fighting Fifth Hurdle The Fighting Fifth 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 Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles and half a ...

- (8) Landing Light (2001),

(2008), My Tent Or Yours (2013),

(2017, 2018), Epatante (2020, 2021 (dead heat)), Constitution Hill (2022) * Henry VIII Novices' Chase - (5) Acre Hill (1990), Fondmort (2001), Captain Conan (2012),

(2016), Jonbon (2022) * Tingle Creek Chase - (2) Sprinter Sacre (2012),

(2018) * Long Walk Hurdle _ (2) Punchestowns (2008), Champ (2021) * Kauto Star Novices' Chase - (5) Sparkling Flame (1990), Mutare (1991), Fiddling the Facts (1997),

(2000),

(2009) *

Christmas Hurdle The 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 (3,219 metres ...

- (11) Geos (2000), Landing Light (2001), Binocular (2010, 2011), Darlan (2012), My Tent Or Yours (2013),

(2017), Verdana Blue (2018), Epatante (2019,2021), Constitution Hill (2022) * King George VI Chase - (3)

(2010,2012), Might Bite (2017) * Finale Juvenile Hurdle - (4) Mister Banjo (1999), Nas Na Riogh (2002), Blue Shark (2005), We Have A Dream (2017) *

Challow Novices' Hurdle The Challow 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 Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs (2 m ...

- (2) Captain Cutter (2014), Champ (2019) * Tolworth Novices' Hurdle - (6) New York Rainbow (1992), Minella Class (2011), Captain Conan (2012), Royal Boy (2014), L'ami Serge (2015), Constitution Hill (2022) * Clarence House Chase - (6) Big Matt (1996), Isio (2004), Tysou (2006), Sprinter Sacre (2013),

(2019), Shishkin (2022) *

Scilly Isles Novices' Chase The Scilly Isles Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain, which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of around two miles ...

- (6) First Bout (1987), Punchestowns (2010), Captain Conan (2013), Oscar Whisky (2014), Top Notch (2017), Terrefort (2018) * Ascot Chase - (3) Tiutchev (2001), Riverside Theatre (2011,2012) * Manifesto Novices' Chase - (2) Mad Max (2010), Captain Conan (2013) * Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle - (3) Binocular (2008), We Have A Dream (2018), Pentland Hills (2019) *

Betway Bowl The Betway Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 mile ...

- (1) Might Bite (2018) * Aintree Hurdle - (5)

Oscar Whisky Oscar Whisky (10 February 2005 – 6 December 2014) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. In his early career he showed promise, winning two National Hunt Flat races and two novice ...

(2011,2012),

(2017), L'Ami Serge (2018), Epatante (2022) * Top Novices' Hurdle - (6) General Miller (2010), Darlan (2012), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Josses Hill (2014),

(2016), Jonbon (2022) * Mildmay Novices' Chase - (6) Sparkling Flame (1991), Irish Hussar (2003), Burton Port (2010), Might Bite (2017), Terrefort (2018), Chantry House (2021) * Melling Chase - (3) Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013) *

Maghull Novices' Chase The Maghull Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase 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 (1 mile ...

- (3) Finian's Rainbow (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Shishkin (2021) * Sefton Novices' Hurdle - (4) Rustle (1988), Beat That (2014), Santini (2018), Champ (2019) * Mersey Novices' Hurdle - (2) Spirit Son (2011), Simonsig (2012) *

Liverpool Hurdle The Liverpool 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 ½ furlong (3 ...

- (2) Whisper (2014,2015) *

Celebration Chase The Celebration Chase is a Grade One National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 1 mile 7½ furlongs (1 mile, 7 fur ...

- (5) French Opera (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2016),

(2017, 2018, 2019) ---- Ireland * Punchestown Champion Chase - (2) Big Matt (1998), Get Real (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2013) * Punchestown Champion Hurdle - (1)

(2019) * Champion INH Flat Race - (1) Royal Rosa (2003) * Savills Chase - (1) Bobs Worth (2013) * Ryanair Novice Chase - (1) Tiutchev (2000) * Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - (4) Katarino (1999),

(2007), Grandouet (2011), Fusil Raffles (2019) * Mares Champion Hurdle - (1) Marie's Rock (2022) ---- France *

Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil The Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil, sometimes referred to as the French Champion Hurdle, is a Group 1 hurdle race in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of ...

- (1) L'Ami Serge (2017) ----

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

Grand National Hurdle Stakes The Grand National Hurdle Stakes is an American National Steeplechase Association sanctioned steeplechase race run each fall at Far Hills, New Jersey. It is a Grade 1 event run over miles. It has been known by a variety of names over the years, i ...

-(1) Brain Power (2019)

References

BBC profileCheltenham Festival trainersCheltenham Festival: Punjabi So Brave For Henderson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Nicky Living people 1950 births British racehorse trainers People educated at Eton College Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order Officers of the Order of the British Empire