David Nicholson (horse racing)

David Nicholson (19 March 1939 – 27 August 2006) 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 nicknamed 'The Duke' by one of his father's grooms. 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.

Major wins as trainer

Cheltenham Gold Cup - (1) - Charter Party (1988)
King George VI Chase - (1) - Barton Bank (1993)
Queen Mother Champion Chase - (2) - Viking Flagship (1994, 1995)
Melling Chase - (2) - Viking Flagship (1995, 1996)
Stayers' Hurdle - (1) - Anzum (1999)
Christmas Hurdle - (1) - Mighty Mogul (1992)
Triumph Hurdle - (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' Hurdle - (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 Cup - (1)- Call it a Day (1998)
Mackeson Gold Cup - (2) - Very Promising (1986), Another Coral (1991)

See also
 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle

References
Independent Obituary

Category:1939 births
Category:2006 deaths
Category:British horse trainers
Category:English jockeys