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

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, 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 bas ...

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

Background

His father was Johnny Henderson 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 Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty", was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and the ...

. In 2005 two years after Johnny Henderson's death Cheltenham renamed one of the races at the Cheltenham Festival in his honour as the

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual 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 Old Course at Chelte ...

. 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 r ...

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...

. Previously he was an amateur

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

, and assistant trainer to Fred Winter between 1974 and 1978.

Achievements

His most notable successes have come with See You Then, winner of the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

in 1985, 1986 and 1987;

Remittance Man In British history, a remittance man was an emigrant, often from Britain to a British colony, who was supported by regular payments from home on the expectation that he would stay away. In this sense, remittance means the opposite of today's mea ...

, winner of the

Queen Mother Champion Chase The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the ...

in 1992; Punjabi, winner of the Smurfit Kappa

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

in 2009 at the Cheltenham Festival, 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 a ...

, 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 furlon ...

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 Cheltenham Festival 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 William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse horse trainer, trainer and former jockey. He is a nineteen-time List of Irish National Hunt races, Irish National Hunt Champion trainer. Mullins is the most successful traine ...

has won more races at the Festival than Henderson. His main stable jockey was

Mick Fitzgerald Michael Fitzgerald (born 10 May 1970) is a retired Irish National Hunt jockey and current television racing pundit. Fitzgerald rode for the majority of his career in Great Britain and less often Ireland. Career as a Jockey Mick Fitzgerald's ...

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 ...

; from the 2008–09 season until the 2014–15 season

Barry Geraghty Barry Geraghty (born 16 September 1979) is a retired Irish jockey. He is the second most successful jockey of all time at the Cheltenham Festival. Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997 and three years later he became the Irish Champ ...

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 Sir Anthony Peter McCoy (born 4 May 1974), commonly known as AP McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish former National Hunt horse racing jockey. Based in Ireland and Britain, McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners and was Champion Jockey a recor ...

as the principal jockey of J P McManus. 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 met ...

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 is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...

in 2009 as a 12-year-old with Eddie Ahern riding on both occasions. Henderson claimed his second winner at the famous Royal Ascot meeting when Veiled won the 2011 Ascot Stakes 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 valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) in the

2020 New Year Honours The 2020 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

for services to horse racing.

Controversy

In June 2009, Henderson was found guilty by a

British Horseracing Authority The British Horseracing Authority, also known as the BHA, is the regulatory authority for horse racing in Great Britain. It was formed on 31 July 2007, after the merger of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the Horseracing Regulatory Au ...

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 (75)

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 furlon ...

- (2)

(2011), Bobs Worth (2013) *

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

- (9) See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987), Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010), Buveur d'Air (2017, 2018), Epatante (2020), Constitution Hill (2023) *

- (6) Remittance Man (1992),

Finian's Rainbow ''Finian's Rainbow'' is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane, produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was re ...

(2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016), Altior (2018, 2019) *

Stayers' Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 m ...

- (2) Rustle (1989), Bacchanal (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 o ...

- (5) River Ceiriog (1986), Flown (1992), Altior (2016),

Shishkin Shishkin () is a Russian masculine surname. Its feminine counterpart is Shishkina. The surname is derived from the sobriquet шишка/''shishka'' ('pinecone'), or from ('to swell'). Notable people with the surname include: *Aleksey Shishkin, Rus ...

(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 ...

- (8)

(1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013), Altior (2017), Shishkin (2021), Jango Baie (2025) * 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 - (2) Marlborough (2000), Beware The Bear (2019) *

Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five yea ...

- (1) Rajdhani Express (2013) *

Coral Cup The Coral Cup is a Premier Handicap 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 about 2 m ...

- (4) Spirit River (2010), Whisper (2014), William Henry (2019), Dame De Compagnie (2020) *

County Handicap Hurdle The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a dist ...

- (2) Thumbs Up (1993), Barna Boy (1997) * Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle - (1) Une Artiste (2012) * Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase - (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) *

- (2) Greenhope (2006), Bellvano (2012) * Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - (1) Andytown (2009) *

Golden Miller Novices' Chase The Golden Miller Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, is a Grade Two National Hunt limited handicap chase in Great Britain which is ...

- (1) Chantry House (2021) * Cathcart Challenge Cup - (4) Brown Windsor (1990), Raymylette (1994), Stormyfairweather (1999, 2000) *

Pertemps Final The Pertemps Network Final is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a dis ...

- (2) Call The Cops (2015), Doddiethegreat (2025)

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

Fighting Fifth Hurdle The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is r ...

- (9) Landing Light (2001), Punjabi (2008), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Buveur d'Air (2017, 2018), Epatante (2020, 2021 (dead heat)), Constitution Hill (2022), Sir Gino (2024) * Henry VIII Novices' Chase - (5) Acre Hill (1990), Fondmort (2001), Captain Conan (2012), Altior (2016), Jonbon (2022) *

Tingle Creek Chase The Tingle Creek Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 ...

- (4) Sprinter Sacre (2012), Altior (2018), Jonbon (2023, 2024) * Long Walk Hurdle – (2) Punchestowns (2008), Champ (2021) * Kauto Star Novices' Chase - (5) Sparkling Flame (1990), Mutare (1991), Fiddling the Facts (1997), Bacchanal (2000),

(2009) * Christmas Hurdle - (13) Geos (2000), Landing Light (2001), Binocular (2010, 2011), Darlan (2012), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Buveur d'Air (2017), Verdana Blue (2018), Epatante (2019, 2021), Constitution Hill (2022, 2023, 2024) * 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 - (2) Captain Cutter (2014), Champ (2019) * Tolworth Novices' Hurdle - (7) New York Rainbow (1992), Minella Class (2011), Captain Conan (2012), Royal Boy (2014), L'ami Serge (2015), Constitution Hill (2022), Jango Baie (2023) * Clarence House Chase - (7) Big Matt (1996), Isio (2004), Tysou (2006), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Altior (2019), Shishkin (2022), Jonbon (2025) * Scilly Isles Novices' Chase - (6) First Bout (1987), Punchestowns (2010), Captain Conan (2013), Oscar Whisky (2014), Top Notch (2017), Terrefort (2018) * Ascot Chase - (4) Tiutchev (2001), Riverside Theatre (2011,2012), Shishkin (2023) * Manifesto Novices' Chase - (2) Mad Max (2010), Captain Conan (2013) * Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle - (4) Binocular (2008), We Have A Dream (2018), Pentland Hills (2019), Sir Gino (2024) * Betway Bowl - (2) Might Bite (2018), Shishkin (2023) * Aintree Hurdle - (6)

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), Buveur d'Air (2017), L'Ami Serge (2018), Epatante (2022), Constitution Hill (2023) * Top Novices' Hurdle - (6) General Miller (2010), Darlan (2012), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Josses Hill (2014), Buveur d'Air (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 - (5) Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Jonbon (2024, 2025) * Maghull Novices' Chase - (4)

(2011), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Shishkin (2021), Jonbon (2023) *

Sefton Novices' Hurdle The 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 hal ...

- (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 racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is run a ...

- (2) Whisper (2014, 2015) * Celebration Chase - (7) French Opera (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2016), Altior (2017, 2018, 2019), Jonbon (2023,2024) ---- Ireland *

Punchestown Champion Chase The Punchestown Champion Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the William Hill Champion Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Ireland whi ...

- (2) Big Matt (1998), Get Real (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2013) *

Punchestown Champion Hurdle The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and duri ...

- (1) Buveur d'Air (2019) * Champion INH Flat Race - (1) Royal Rosa (2003) * Savills Chase - (1) Bobs Worth (2013) *

Ryanair Novice Chase The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to Horse racing, horses aged five years or older. It is run at ...

- (1) Tiutchev (2000) * Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - (5) Katarino (1999), Punjabi (2007), Grandouet (2011), Fusil Raffles (2019), Lulamba (2025) * Mares Champion Hurdle - (1) Marie's Rock (2022) ---- France * Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil - (1) L'Ami Serge (2017) ----

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

* Grand National Hurdle Stakes - (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