End of era as racing remembers the duke

14 April 2012

Racing is mourning the death of one of its legends, David Nicholson, who died on Sunday evening aged 67.

The Duke, as he was universally known because of his public school accent, had been in poor health since giving up training in 1999, having suffered all his life from asthma and from an allergy to horses.

All the more remarkable, therefore, that he should have ridden well over 600 winners as a jockey and trained some 1,500 winners.

He broke the mould by becoming champion trainer in 1993/4 and 1994/5 after Martin Pipe had set a new benchmark for jump trainers. Pipe won the championship for the five previous and 10 subsequent years until the most recent season when Paul Nicholls finally lowered his colours.

Despite Nicholson's illnesses, he remained very much in touch with the sport, representing British bloodstock interests on behalf of the BHB for the past four years.

Only last week he was at the Deauville sales, staying in Honfleur for his annual holiday with his wife. A bad cold kept him from accompanying her to his protege Alan King's Open Day on Sunday.

King, who was his assistant for 14 years, was understandably distraught yesterday. He said: "It's a great shock. He would ring me every day, sometimes twice, to discuss the horses. What I had learned from him over the years was how to school horses over jumps.

Champions

"His rollickings could be hilarious but they were soon forgotten and you couldn't get a more loyal or supportive boss. We had some great horses such as Charter Party (the 1988 Gold Cup winner), Viking Flagship who was probably the toughest, Relkeel (very injury prone) and Mighty Mogul, whose career was cut short by injury."

Nicholson was born into a racing dynasty as his father Frenchie trained before him at Condicote in the Cotswolds. Frenchie, also an ex-jockey, was a great tutor of apprentices, including champions such as Pat Eddery, Walter Swinburn and Paul Cook.

This was a trait he passed on to his son. David masterminded the careers of Peter Scudamore, Richard Dunwoody, Adrian Maguire, Richard Johnson and Robert Thornton.

It was not until 1992 that Nicholson moved from Condicote to Jackdaws Castle, two miles away, where Jonjo O'Neill now trains on behalf of JP McManus. His strike rate immediately improved.

Scudamore recalled yesterday: "I started there and had six or seven years with the Duke. I rode his first Cheltenham Festival winners, Solar Cloud and Charter Party (in 1986).

"The great thing about him was that he taught us apprentices how to present ourselves properly, be smart and turn up on time. You knew how to speak to owners. He was a wonderful tutor."

Dunwoody said: "I owe him an awful lot and winning the Gold Cup with Charter Party was great for the yard. I rode for him for eight years and even after I left (to ride for Martin Pipe) he would put me up. I rode his last Grand National runner, Call It A Day in 1999. He was very loyal and let me off his horses to ride Desert Orchid."

Princess Anne, who was a near neighbour, turned to Nicholson when she decided to ride in a few selected amateur races on the Flat, graduating to the far more testing task of riding in chases.

Advice and encouragement

Nicholson could literally ride before he could walk. He had one win on the Flat in 1955, winning on Desertcar at Wolverhampton, beating Lester Piggott into second place. His greatest ride over jumps was persuading the veteran Mill House to win the Whitbread Gold Cup in 1967.

The horse, born in the same era as Arkle, had become a little sickened by being beaten all the time by that illustrious rival.

As a trainer it took him 18 years to make his mark at the Cheltenham Festival — then he couldn't stop having winners, registering 17 victories in all at the meeting.

Since his retirement he had followed the careers of Alan King and of his nephew James Fanshawe avidly. He was always ready with words of advice and encouragement.

Nicholson, universally popular among jumping aficionadoes, leaves a widow, Dinah, and two sons, Philip and John.

FACTS BEHIND THE LEGEND

Born March 19, 1939.

Rode first winner at Chepstow in 1955 when apprenticed to his father 'Frenchie'.

Rode over 600 winners, including two for the Queen Mother.

Best season was 1966/ 7 when he partnered 63 winners.

Big race winners as a jockey include Clover Bud (Welsh National, 1960); Mill House (Whitbread Gold Cup, 1967).

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