Jockey Henry Brooke retires with no regrets a decade after incredible comeback
A stalwart of the northern jumps weighing room, jockey Henry Brooke has announced his retirement aged 35, a decade after suffering a horror fall that saw him placed in an induced coma while medics worked to save his life.
The remarkable comeback – just seven weeks later - and subsequent career of Henry Brooke, followed the Tadcaster-raised rider sustaining injuries so serious in 2016 that he spent almost two hours being treated on the track at Hexham before being airlifted to hospital.
The then 25-year-old, the son of Middleham National Hunt trainer Julia Brooke, suffered extensive blood loss, fractured eight ribs and his right shoulder blade and suffered a punctured lung after falling at the second fence.
In a letter to the Great North Air Ambulance, Henry wrote: "I have no doubt whatsoever that the combined actions of the medical personnel on duty that day saved my life, and for that I and my family will be eternally grateful."
A decade on and after suffering numerous other racing injuries, including a fractured leg last September, Henry said he had felt “forced” into retirement.
He said he had many injections to relieve historic neck issues, “but they just weren’t working any more”, leaving him facing a choice of major surgery or hanging up his whip.
Henry said: “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.
““I’ve had an absolutely cracking career and have no regrets whatsoever. I’ve got nothing but fond memories of being a jockey. It was a bit of a childhood dream.
Describing himself as “an average rider”, Henry added: "I’m definitely what you would class as an over-achiever. I’ve definitely been on the right horses on the right days and took full opportunity with them.
"I’ve had a great time and met some amazing people. I’ve had some good laughs along the way. It’s on to the next chapter now. Hopefully I’m not halfway through my life yet and there’s more great things to come.”
Henry registered his first winner at Market Rasen in May 2010 before going on to win 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,” Henry said.
“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.
“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 Henry began his career, winning the conditional jockeys’ title while based at Bankhouse in 2011-12. He went 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 Donald McCain who he credits as being the catalyst for his success.
Henry 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.”
Henry is now planning to push forward a VIP toilet business. He said: “Nothing is as hard work as getting plummeted into the ground at 40mph, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes.”