Henrietta Knight Saddles Up for Wincanton: A New Chapter in the Long Racing Career
Henrietta Knight, a notable figure in British horse racing, is poised to return to the training scene with her first runners at Wincanton this Friday. Knight, now 77, recently regained her training license from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). She plans to enter Zettabyte in the Handicap Hurdle and Ballywalter in the Stayers Maiden Hurdle at the racecourse.
Knight, based at West Lockinge Farm near Wantage, Oxfordshire, has a history of success in the sport. She famously trained Edredon Bleu who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2000 at the Cheltenham Festival, and Best Mate, a three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner from 2002 to 2004. She surrendered her license in 2012 to care for her late husband, Terry Biddlecombe.
Her comeback could be emotionally charged, partly because Ballywalter, owned by her niece Mary Cookson, will compete in the late Celia Vestey's colors, Knight's sister.
Reflecting on her return, Knight expressed nervousness and excitement, noting a certain expectation level given her past success. She remains cautiously optimistic about the performances of Zettabyte and Ballywalter, given their respective preferences and capabilities.
In the interim, since her initial retirement, Knight has remained active in the racing world, authoring several books and operating a pre-training and schooling business. Despite her role as racing manager to the late Mike Grech, the allure of training proved irresistible for her.
Knight credits much of her readiness to return to Brendan Powell, her assistant trainer and a Grand National-winning jockey, and her secretary, Dawn Graham. She emphasizes the importance of their knowledge and support in her decision to resume training.
Having learned much from her visits to various yards for her book "The Jumping Game," Knight feels more equipped than ever. While her immediate focus is securing early wins, she harbors aspirations of returning to the Cheltenham winner's enclosure, a dream she hopes to realize with her young and promising horses.