Born in South Lanarkshire on December 13, 1966, Alan King began his career in racing in 1984 as a stable lad to Jim Wilson at the now-defunct Cree Lodge, just across the road from Ayr Racecourse. The following year, he moved south to join the legendary David ‘The Duke’ Nicholson in Condicote, Gloucestershire and, the year after that, was promoted to assistant trainer. King remained in that role until Nicholson – who was champion trainer in 1993/94 and 1994/95 – retired in 1999. Their time together included a move to Jackdaws Castle, a state-of-the-art training establishment in nearby Temple Guiting, in 1992, and it was there that King began training in his own right.
King saddled his first winner in his own name, Mini Moo Min, ridden by Warren Marston, in a novices’ hurdle at Towcester on December 4, 1999. He went on to saddle 27 winners in his inaugural season at the helm, including Anzum, ridden by Richard Johnson, in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, but his tenure at Jackdaws Castle lasted only until June 1, 2000. Businessman Colin Smith sold the property to John McManus, who installed Jonjo O’Neill as his salaried trainer, necessitating a move to Barbury Castle, near Wroughton, Wiltshire, where King remains to this day.
King sent out his first winner from his new base, Diva, again ridden Marston, in a maiden hurdle at Hereford on October 13, 2000. The 2000/01 season, as a whole, yielded just 18 winners, but thereafter King improved his winning tally year-by-year, peaking with 136 National Hunt winners in 2008/09. His most successful season, financially, though, came in 2007/08, during which he won the Champion Hurdle and the Spa Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Katchit and Nenuphar Collonges, respectively, the Melling Chase at Aintree with Voy Por Ustedes and the World Series Hurdle at Punchestown with Blazing Baileys and amassed £2.35 million in prize money.
Fast forward to December 3, 2013 and King reached the landmark of 1,000 National Hunt winners courtesy of Sego Success, ridden by Wayne Hutchinson, in a novices’ hurdle at Southwell. He currently has 16 Cheltenham Festival to his name, but holds a dual-purpose licence and has enjoyed his fair share of success on the Flat. His best horse in that sphere was the late, lamented Trueshanm who won 16 races for the yard, including the Goodwood Cup and the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp twice.
