Terry Biddlecombe loss mourned

Three-times champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe has died at the age of 72 after a lengthy illness.
Former champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe and Henrietta Knight with Gold Cup winner, Best Mate. Picture: PAFormer champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe and Henrietta Knight with Gold Cup winner, Best Mate. Picture: PA
Former champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe and Henrietta Knight with Gold Cup winner, Best Mate. Picture: PA

Biddlecombe, who won the title in 1965, 1966 and shared the honours with Bob Davies in 1969, married former trainer Henrietta Knight in 1995.

Biddlecombe also won the Gold Cup in the saddle when he rode Woodland Venture to victory in 1967 and went close to winning the Grand National when Gay Trip was second in 1972.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Knight and Biddlecombe were to enjoy fantastic success with the likes of Edredon Bleu, Lord Noelie and Impek but will forever be remembered for their association with Best Mate, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times.

Best Mate’s exploits brought Knight and Biddlecombe very much into the public eye and they were seen as racing’s odd couple.

Former schoolteacher Knight and the ex-alcoholic Biddlecombe may not have appeared a match made in heaven but their enduring partnership was an unqualified success both on and off the track.

Knight quit training ranks in May 2012 to help look after her husband after a stroke and the horses in her care moved on to Mick Channon, although she still plays an active part in the training of the jumpers.

The news was confirmed on Knight’s Facebook page with a notification reading: “Sadly, Terry died peacefully after breakfast this morning with Henrietta by his side.”

Davies looked backed fondly on his time spent with his former weighing-room colleague and said: “We shared the title in 1968-69 and I think Terry was second to me the following season.

“When we shared the title, in the second half of the season I stayed with Terry most of the time, so we usually went racing together.

We had some great times together.”

Channon paid tribute to a “great character and a great friend”. He had been with Knight throughout the morning and said: “I have known Terry for a while now, not as long as some of the older jockeys, obviously, but he was a great man and he became a great friend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Since the stroke it has been very difficult for everybody, but Hen has been absolutely amazing through it all.”

As the owner of Best Mate, Champion Chase and King George hero Edredon Bleu and the talented Impek, Jim Lewis enjoyed a long-term friendship with Biddlecombe and Knight.

Lewis said: “It is awful news and I want to pass on my love and sympathies to Henrietta, both from myself and Jennifer [wife].

“Terry was a major part of the success I had as an owner with Best Mate, Edredon Bleu and Impek. His input was vital to the victories we secured.

“People called them the odd couple, but in actual fact, there was nothing odd about them at all. They were simply madly in love with each other.”

The tributes on Twitter are unsurprisingly widespread, with 18-times champion jockey Tony McCoy saying on his feed: “Very sad news that former champion jockey and the legend that was Terry Biddlecombe has passed away. Thoughts with Hen and his family. RIP.”

Eight-times champion jockey Peter Scudamore said: “Sorry to hear of the death of Terry, a real hero who walked with kings and filled the unforgiving minute.”