Henrietta Knight
Encyclopedia
Henrietta Catherine Knight (born 15 December 1946) is an English
racehorse trainer.
Henrietta began training under rules in 1989 having previously trained over 100 winners in point-to-points between 1984 to 1989 and trains the horses on a farm in Lockinge
, near Wantage in Oxfordshire.
She is best known for training triple Cheltenham Gold Cup
winner Best Mate
and Queen Mother Champion Chase
winner Edredon Bleu
. Both horses also won the King George VI Chase
and were owned by Jim Lewis
and his late wife Valerie.
Among her current stable stars is Calgary Bay. The imposing six-year-old won the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham in January 2009. Somersby
, who impressed many in the top novice events at the Aintree and Cheltenham Festivals, has been one of the most impressive novice chasers of the 2009/2010 season and is reportedly on target for the Arkle Chase.
Racing Demon, the winner of the Peterborough Chase
at Huntingdon Racecourse
in 2006 and 2007, returned to the racecourse in the 2009 renewal but was uanble to follow up. He remains in training for the 2010/11 season.
Somersby, who won the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown in 2010 is arguably her best horse in the yard at present.
in 1995 and has no children. Both are recovered alcoholics.
and History
.
Henrietta finished 12th at Badminton
in 1973 and was the chairperson of the British Olympic Horse Trals Selection Committee between 1984 and 1988. This included the selection of the Silver Medal winning team for the Seoul Olympics.
A keen writer, she has authored two books thus far. Chasing Gold, and Best Mate
Triple Gold.
(Aintree
) Stompin
1997 Stayers Hurdle
(Cheltenham
) Karshi
1998-2001 4 Peterborough Chases (Huntingdon
) Edredon Bleu
1998 Grand Annual Chase (Cheltenham) Edredon Bleu
2000 Lanzarote Hurdle (Kempton Park
) Heart
2000 Sun Alliance Chase (Cheltenham) Lord Noelie
2000 Queen Mother Champion Chase
(Cheltenham) Edredon Bleu
2000 Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle
(Aintree) Best Mate
2001 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase
(Sandown Park) Best Mate
2002 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Best Mate
2002 King George VI Chase
(Kempton Park) Best Mate
2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Best Mate
2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate
2003 Clonmel Oil Chase(Clonmel) Edredon Bleu
2003 King George VI Chase (Kempton Park) Edredon Bleu
2003 Ericsson Chase (Leopardstown
) Best Mate
2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate
2005 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Impek
2006 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Racing Demon
2007 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Racing Demon
2009 Dipper Chase (Cheltenham) Calgary Bay
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
racehorse trainer.
Henrietta began training under rules in 1989 having previously trained over 100 winners in point-to-points between 1984 to 1989 and trains the horses on a farm in Lockinge
Lockinge
Lockinge is a civil parish in Oxfordshire in England, consisting of the villages of East Lockinge and West Lockinge, as well as the hamlet of Betterton, which is also a lost settlement. It is located between the town of Wantage and the village of Ardington. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire...
, near Wantage in Oxfordshire.
She is best known for training triple Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
winner Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
and Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
winner Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu was a popular National Hunt racehorse trained by Henrietta Knight in Great Britain. In 2000, he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase while ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy. He also won the 2003 King George VI Chase and four renewals of the Peterborough Chase from 1998 to 2001....
. Both horses also won the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
and were owned by Jim Lewis
Jim Lewis (racehorse owner)
Jim Lewis is a British racehorse owner, particularly noted for being the owner of thrice Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate and also Edredon Bleu. He frequently works with trainers Henrietta Knight and Venetia Williams and jockey Jim Culloty. He is a supporter of Aston Villa FC, whose famous...
and his late wife Valerie.
Among her current stable stars is Calgary Bay. The imposing six-year-old won the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham in January 2009. Somersby
Somersby
Somersby may refer to:*Somersby, Lincolnshire, England*Somersby, New South Wales, Australia...
, who impressed many in the top novice events at the Aintree and Cheltenham Festivals, has been one of the most impressive novice chasers of the 2009/2010 season and is reportedly on target for the Arkle Chase.
Racing Demon, the winner of the Peterborough Chase
Peterborough Chase
The Peterborough Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Huntingdon over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
at Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
in 2006 and 2007, returned to the racecourse in the 2009 renewal but was uanble to follow up. He remains in training for the 2010/11 season.
Somersby, who won the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown in 2010 is arguably her best horse in the yard at present.
Personal life
Henrietta married former champion National Hunt jockey Terry BiddlecombeTerry Biddlecombe
Terry Biddlecombe was an English National Hunt racing jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. He was Champion Jockey in 1965, 1966 and 1969.-Career:...
in 1995 and has no children. Both are recovered alcoholics.
Non-racing career
An Oxford graduate, Henrietta formerly was a teacher of BiologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
.
Henrietta finished 12th at Badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
in 1973 and was the chairperson of the British Olympic Horse Trals Selection Committee between 1984 and 1988. This included the selection of the Silver Medal winning team for the Seoul Olympics.
A keen writer, she has authored two books thus far. Chasing Gold, and Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
Triple Gold.
Big race victories
1996 Glenlivet HurdleAnniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle
The Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
(Aintree
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
) Stompin
1997 Stayers Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
(Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
) Karshi
1998-2001 4 Peterborough Chases (Huntingdon
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
) Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu was a popular National Hunt racehorse trained by Henrietta Knight in Great Britain. In 2000, he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase while ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy. He also won the 2003 King George VI Chase and four renewals of the Peterborough Chase from 1998 to 2001....
1998 Grand Annual Chase (Cheltenham) Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu was a popular National Hunt racehorse trained by Henrietta Knight in Great Britain. In 2000, he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase while ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy. He also won the 2003 King George VI Chase and four renewals of the Peterborough Chase from 1998 to 2001....
2000 Lanzarote Hurdle (Kempton Park
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
) Heart
2000 Sun Alliance Chase (Cheltenham) Lord Noelie
2000 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
(Cheltenham) Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu was a popular National Hunt racehorse trained by Henrietta Knight in Great Britain. In 2000, he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase while ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy. He also won the 2003 King George VI Chase and four renewals of the Peterborough Chase from 1998 to 2001....
2000 Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle
Mersey Novices' Hurdle
The Mersey Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree, Merseyside, over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
(Aintree) Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2001 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase
Scilly Isles Novices' Chase
The Scilly Isles Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
(Sandown Park) Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2002 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2002 King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
(Kempton Park) Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2003 Clonmel Oil Chase(Clonmel) Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu was a popular National Hunt racehorse trained by Henrietta Knight in Great Britain. In 2000, he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase while ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy. He also won the 2003 King George VI Chase and four renewals of the Peterborough Chase from 1998 to 2001....
2003 King George VI Chase (Kempton Park) Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu
Edredon Bleu was a popular National Hunt racehorse trained by Henrietta Knight in Great Britain. In 2000, he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase while ridden by 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy. He also won the 2003 King George VI Chase and four renewals of the Peterborough Chase from 1998 to 2001....
2003 Ericsson Chase (Leopardstown
Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...
) Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
2005 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Impek
2006 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Racing Demon
2007 Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon) Racing Demon
2009 Dipper Chase (Cheltenham) Calgary Bay