Popular former National Hunt trainer Henrietta Knight has written a new book, which is out today (Thursday, 8 October).
“Not Enough Time, my life with Terry Biddlecombe” reflects on Henrietta’s marriage to her late husband Terry.
The book is billed as a “rollercoaster story of a great love” and a “story of triumph and tragedy in equal measures”.
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The pair trained popular chaser Best Mate, who famously won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in a row. The gelding sadly died in 2005 when he suffered suspected heart attack at Exeter racecourse.
Henrietta and Terry were an usual pairing, she a bluestocking biology teacher, he a “hell-raising ex-champion jockey”, with alcoholism and two failed marriages behind him. The pair married in 1995.
Terry died last January aged 72. He suffered a stroke in 2011 and Henrietta retired from training in May 2012 to care for him.
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.
Terry Biddlecombe with Best Mate and Henrietta Knight
When Henrietta gave up training, her horses went to Mick Channon. She remains involved with racing as well as breeding and showing Connemaras. She is also a showing judge.
After Terry died, Best Mate’s owner Jim Lewis said: “They were known as 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 book is published by Head of Zeus and costs £20.
It is Henrietta’s third book, after writing “Best Mate: Chasing Gold” and “Best Mate: Triple Gold”.
