Hern, Maj. William Richard

▪ 2003

“Dick”; “The Major” 

      British racehorse trainer (b. Jan. 20, 1921, Holford, Somerset, Eng.—d. May 22, 2002, Oxford, Eng.), saddled the winners of 26 classic thoroughbred races in England and abroad. Hern was named Trainer of the Year four times (1962, 1972, 1980, and 1983) and was chief trainer for Queen Elizabeth II in the 1970s and '80s. The Horse of the Year champions he trained included Brigadier Gerard (1972), Troy (1979), Henbit (1980), and Nashwan (1989). Hern broke his neck in a hunting accident in 1984 and spent the remainder of his life a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair, but he continued working until his official retirement in 1997. He was made CBE in 1998.

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