Henry Brooke forced into retirement

Henry Brooke leaves racing with “no regrets” and “amazing memories” after being forced into retirement.

The 35-year-old registered his first winner at Market Rasen in May 2010 before going on to become a stalwart of the northern jumps weighing room, winning prestigious handicaps such as Newcastle’s Eider Chase twice and Wetherby’s Boxing Day feature the Rowland Meyrick on three occasions.

Grade One glory came his way when Micky Hammond’s Cornerstone Lad edged out Buveur D’Air in the 2019 Fighting Fifth Hurdle, while he enjoyed success over the Grand National fences aboard both Highland Lodge in the 2015 Becher Chase and then Gesskille eight years later in the 2023 Grand Sefton.

“I’ve met some pretty amazing people, worked with some great people and ridden for some brilliant trainers and owners. I’ve been a lucky lad,” Brooke told the Press Association.

“I’ve given my family some amazing memories and my little kids were old enough to go and watch me race when I was riding.

“I had a couple of winners over the Grand National fences which is always special and the first time I won over them on Highland Lodge they were proper fences.

“One of my favourite horses of the whole lot to ride was Homme Public and he wouldn’t be the best but he was a very good all-rounder. He’d never win until you had got him over the line. He used to come late and if you got him in touch from the back of two out you knew you would have a good chance.”

He went on: “I’ve been associated with a lot of good trainers and you can’t be a good jockey without having the backing of trainers.

“You are not going to be riding winners if you are not riding for a lot of different trainers and I’ve been lucky to have had two good agents (Richard Hale and Wilson Renwick) who did a brilliant job in getting me rides.”

It was with Donald McCain that Brooke began his career, winning the conditional jockeys’ title while based at Bankhouse in 2011-12.

He would go on to forge a great relationship with Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero in the latter seasons of his career, setting a personal best of 62 in 2024-25, but it is McCain who he credits as being the catalyst for his success.

Brooke added: “When I was riding for Donald everyone wanted to use me as he was supporting me so well and when you have a big yard like that behind you, others take note.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am now without Donald and he was so hard on me. He was ultra hard on me, but I needed it as well. At the time you would think it was harsh some of the jobs he would have me doing but I look back now and understand why. He grafted me and I needed it.

“I rode out my claim young and I worked full-time for Donald for six years. I got one afternoon off a week and it was the best thing he could do for me and I could never get myself into any trouble as I was too tired!

“After Donald I had a great job with Josh and Oliver and we had some great days together and some smashing winners and it’s been really good fun.”

Amongst all the good days, Brooke would also suffer his fair share of injury woes with a broken leg suffered in a fall at Perth last September the last in a career that was ultimately brought to an end due to ongoing complications with previous neck injuries.

“I was a bit unlucky with injuries but that’s just a part of everyday life and people get injured during all sorts of different careers,” continued Brooke.

“I’ve had an absolutely cracking career and have no regrets whatsoever. I’m delighted now to have the next chapter of my life ahead of me. Hopefully I’m not halfway through my life yet and there’s more great things to come.”

That next stage of life will see the Tadcaster-born Yorkshireman throw his energy into a VIP toilet business he has set up and one sure to keep him busy as he embraces life away from the racecourse.

“They are VIP toilet trailers and I do have portaloos as well but that’s mainly what I’m doing at present to keep my head above water and hopefully it will go really well,” explained Brooke.

“Nothing is as hard work as getting plummeted into the ground at 40mph so I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes.”