Guy Henderson was understandably ready for a bit of time to decompress and immerse himself in family affairs after more than seven and a half years as CEO at Ascot ended in 2022, but racing has a way of drawing us back into the fold and he is delighted to return in a somewhat less pressurised role with the IJF.
Guy succeeded William Norris as Chairman of the IJF’s Board Of Trustees on January 1, having re-joined as a Trustee in October, and he is already making the most of his expanded role.
He enjoyed a first trip to Jack Berry House in late February and is looking forward to playing his part in a variety of forthcoming projects, including the major refurbishment of Oaksey House.
On top of that, he has given himself a significant extra curricular challenge by signing up for three legs of an Ultra Challenge in aid of the IJF, of which more later.
Guy’s day job for more than 30 years before the Ascot opportunity arose was as a solicitor in the field of business disputes in London and Hong Kong, dealing with a wide range of issues in the corporate and regulatory sector. He rode in point-to-points alongside his desk job in the City, managing one winner from 50 or so rides, and then got more heavily involved again when his sons Robbie and Ed got the racing bug.
Robbie did particularly well, winning a Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton for his parents in 2009 on Ellerslie George and giving the family a huge thrill when going well to two out in the 2014 Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase on Minella Stars, who was among a number of horses trained successfully for point-to-points by Guy himself.
At 55 Guy felt ready for a change, and having furthered his understanding of how the racing world works as a trustee and then chairman of The Horse Trust and as a non-executive director and chairman of the Wincanton Racecourse Committee he was well qualified when the plum job at Ascot was advertised. It was an ideal position for someone with his talents, and he loved it.
“I had eight amazing Royal Ascots, finishing in June 2022,” he says. “It was very demanding, very intense, but oh gosh yes, I really enjoyed my time at Ascot.”
He adds: “One of the reasons I became a lawyer was because I enjoy helping people, and I was helping people who were in a legal mess. What fundamentally it is about at a racecourse like Ascot is helping people have a really good time, because as a business 80% of the money comes from people coming to the course in one shape or another and having a good time.
“At Royal Ascot in particular people are spending probably six to eight hours there, on top of their travel, and yet the racing itself delivers only about 14 minutes of live sport, so building a business where everyone wanted to be there for the whole day was something I really enjoyed.
“There were huge challenges, as we went through Covid and then had to rebuild afterwards, and my last year there was the first full year after Covid and also the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.
“Who would have thought a lawyer would end up running fantastic parties with amazing sporting cabaret for 60,000 people a day, five days in a row! That’s what I would call an adventure, and it was a privilege to be involved.”
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A privilege is also how Guy sees his new role with the IJF, though it is charitable and voluntary, and not so obviously demanding.
“It’s a privilege, frankly, to give something back to the sport, and it’s especially close to my heart as both our sons rode and were injured from time to time,” he says. “Jockeys are very brave and are involved in a high-risk sport providing excitement and entertainment for millions of people every year and they deserve all the support we can give.
“What’s been achieved by the IJF in the last 60-odd years is fantastic, and I’m excited to be able to contribute in any way I can.”
Which brings us back to Guy’s Ultra Challenge programme.
“I’ve always been quite active and wanted to put myself under a bit of pressure,” he explains. “I was asthmatic as a child, so I’ve always been a runner up hills to try and keep my lungs working, although I don’t do it very fast.
“I’m 69 next birthday and two years ago my knees started to ache when I ran, so I’ve stopped running but I still like walking, with a bit of jogging. I was pointed towards Ultra Challenge and when I looked it up I saw I could do 175km in three stages, walking, running or jogging.
“So I’m starting with 25km in Bath in March, then 50km in Windsor in April, and finally 100km along the Cotswold Way over two days in early June. It gives me a focus to keep in good nick, and people are unbelievably generous. I’ve already had to raise my original target, but I’ll be very happy to do so again!”
Graham Dench writing for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
If you would like to contribute to Guys challenge, please head to his JustGiving page on the link below. |