David Nicholson, affectionately known as “the Duke,” was a towering figure in the world of horse racing, leaving behind a legacy as both a successful jockey and a formidable trainer. His frankness and passion for the sport defined a career that spanned over three decades, earning him two champion trainer titles during his 31-year tenure. Nicholson’s life was steeped in racing, a world he was born into and excelled in, ultimately contributing to his premature passing at the age of 67 due to a heart attack.
Born in Epsom, Nicholson’s lineage was intrinsically linked to the racing industry. His father, Herbert “Frenchie” Nicholson, was a champion jockey and the rider of the legendary Golden Miller. His mother, Diana, hailed from a family of trainers, being the great-granddaughter of William Holman, a trainer who secured three Grand National victories. Despite a brief stint at Haileybury college, Nicholson’s true education came from his father, who later became renowned for his skill in training flat jockeys, including multiple champions like Pat Eddery and Walter Swinburn. An early allergic reaction to horses and their accompanying dust, coupled with a somewhat reserved demeanor, led to his now-famous aristocratic nickname, “the Duke,” bestowed by his stablemates. This allergy and his lifelong battle with asthma would sadly foreshadow his later health struggles.
Nicholson began his riding career on the flat at the young age of 12. However, his nearly 6-foot stature proved a limiting factor, prompting a transition to jump racing. His debut over jumps was a success in 1955 at Chepstow, riding Fairval, trained by his father, at just 16 years old. Over his career as a jump jockey, he amassed 583 wins. His most significant victory was aboard Mill House in the 1967 Whitbread Gold Cup. He also achieved a remarkable three consecutive Welsh Grand National wins (1959-1961) on Limonali (twice) and Clover Bud. Other notable victories included the 1960 Imperial Cup on Farmer’s Boy and the 1965 Schweppes Gold Trophy on Elan. He celebrated four wins at the Cheltenham Festival, including the 1971 Champion Chase on Tantalum and the 1973 Gloucester Hurdle on King Pele.
In 1961, Nicholson established his base at Cotswold House in Condicote, near Stow-on-the-Wold, a stone’s throw from Cheltenham. The following year, he married Dinah Pugh, an heiress to a lawnmower fortune. He obtained his trainer’s license in 1968, though he continued to ride until 1974, retiring after a win on What a Buck at Hereford for his most loyal supporter, Lord Vestey.
David Nicholson’s early years as a trainer showed flashes of brilliance, interspersed with periods of inconsistency. While horses like What a Buck continued to perform, winning the 1975 SGB Chase at Ascot, Nicholson was often acquiring slower-maturing chasing prospects that required significant time to develop. The facilities at Condicote were initially insufficient for achieving the peak fitness these horses needed. This led Nicholson, in the early 1980s, to invest in a new mile gallop with the support of some owners, and to shift his focus towards acquiring different types of horses. Coinciding with this strategic change was the arrival of Peter Scudamore, who joined as an amateur rider and went on to become an eight-time champion jockey.
This period marked a significant upswing in Nicholson’s fortunes. The Marquis of Northampton’s Broadsword secured a second-place finish in the 1981 Triumph Hurdle and was the runner-up in the Champion Hurdle the subsequent year. Despite Cheltenham’s proximity, Nicholson did not taste victory at the festival until Scudamore and Solar Cloud won the Triumph Hurdle in 1986. That same day marked a memorable double for the trainer and jockey combination when Charter Party clinched the National Hunt Handicap Chase. Following this breakthrough, Nicholson trained numerous other Cheltenham Festival winners, including the prestigious Gold Cup with Charter Party in 1988. His other notable wins at the festival included the Triumph Hurdle with Mysilv in 1994, the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 1989 with Waterloo Boy, the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Viking Flagship in 1994 and 1995, and finally, the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1999 with Anzum.
Despite his considerable success and the unwavering support of a loyal group of friends, David Nicholson navigated a precarious financial landscape throughout the 1980s. By 1990, a business partner, Colin Smith, a property developer and co-owner of Gold Cup winner Charter Party, established a state-of-the-art training facility, Jackdaws Castle, in nearby Ford, with Nicholson’s crucial input. Nicholson subsequently sold his Condicote property and accepted a salaried role at Jackdaws Castle, embarking on his most successful period as a trainer, accumulating 1,499 winners before his retirement in 1999. He was crowned champion trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, notably being the only trainer, until that year, to break Martin Pipe’s long-standing dominance of the title. Beyond his Cheltenham Festival triumphs, horses trained at Jackdaws Castle achieved significant victories, including the 1993 King George VI Chase winner Barton Bank, and Scottish Grand National winners Moorcroft Boy and Baronet.
Beyond the racetrack, David Nicholson was renowned for his fierce competitiveness, whether in dominoes, cricket, or horse racing. He possessed a natural talent for leadership and was a vocal captain of the National Hunt jockeys’ cricket team, modeling his fast bowling style after Fred Trueman. Any lapse in fielding was met with his stern disapproval. Many individuals within the sport owe a debt of gratitude for his tutelage. Jockeys such as Richard Dunwoody and Adrian Maguire flourished under his guidance, as did Richard Johnson and Robert Thornton. Clifford Baker, head lad to current champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls, spent two decades with Nicholson. Malcolm Wallace, the Horse Racing Authority’s director of regulation, honed his riding skills under Nicholson’s watchful eye in preparation for the Grand Military races. Nicholson also prepared the Princess Royal for success in National Hunt racing. Numerous trainers, including his long-time assistant Alan King, benefited significantly from their time under his mentorship.
Nicholson was characterized by his directness and positive reinforcement, often delivering stern, one-line instructions, frequently accompanied by a pointed finger to emphasize his message. His directives included “Go steady,” “Keep your whip down,” “Be positive,” “Where’s your tie?”, “You need a haircut,” and “Get those boots polished.” At race meetings, he was a recognizable figure, sporting his signature trilby hat, furry sheepskin coat, red socks, and a generous measure of brandy. He embodied a “work hard, play hard” ethos, representing one of the last true exemplars of the old school of National Hunt trainers.
Upon retiring, Nicholson remained actively involved in the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, promoting British bloodstock and identifying yearlings for bloodstock agent Gill Richardson. A proud member of the MCC, he maintained a profound passion for all sports and closely followed the careers of those he had previously mentored. He is survived by his wife Dinah and their sons, Philip and John.
· David Nicholson, jockey and trainer, born March 19 1939; died August 27 2006
