Former champion jump jockey Terry Biddlecombe dies
Three-time champion jump jockey Terry Biddlecombe has died aged 72.
Terry, who was married to former trainer Henrietta Knight, suffered a stroke in 2011. Henrietta retired from training in May 2012 to care for him. He died on Sunday (5 January).
An update on Henrietta Knight’s Facebook page yesterday read: “Sadly, Terry died peacefully after breakfast this morning with Henrietta by his side.”
As a jockey Terry was champion in 1965, 1966 and jointly with Bob Davies in 1969. He won the 1967 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Woodland Venture and finished 2nd on Gay Trip in the 1972 Grand National.
He played a major part helping Henrietta with training at West Lockinge Farm in Oxfordshire. The pair enjoyed much success — particularly with 3 times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner (2002-04) Best Mate.
When Henrietta gave up training, her horses went to Mick Channon. She remains involved with racing as well as breeding and showing Connemaras.
Mick tweeted yesterday: “Racing lost a true icon today. Others lost a friend, husband and father who made life full of fun. Terry Biddlecombe was a star.”
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Hundreds of tributes from across the racing world flooded twitter in Terry’s memory.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.