Nicholson, David

▪ 2007

“The Duke” 

      British steeplechase jockey and trainer (b. March 19, 1939, Epsom, Surrey, Eng.—d. Aug. 27, 2006), as one of England's finest jump trainers (1968–99), saddled 1,499 winning horses, notably Charter Party in the 1988 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and was named champion National Hunt trainer in two consecutive seasons (1993–94 and 1994–95). Nicholson was descended from three-time Grand National-winning trainer William Holman on his mother's side, and at age 12 he began riding as an apprentice jockey for his father, the champion jockey-trainer Herbert (“Frenchie”) Nicholson. “The Duke” amassed 583 victories as a jockey (1960–74) before giving up riding to be a full-time trainer. He retired in 1999, but three years later he was named the British Horseracing Board's official bloodstock representative. Shortly after his death, the BHB announced that its annual award for stud and stable staff with less than two years' experience would be renamed the David Nicholson Newcomer Award.

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