David Nicholson

Who was David Nicholson?

David Nicholson 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 christened '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.