Who owns Shishkin is a question horse racing fans often ask whenever the popular Nicky Henderson-trained chaser is in action. The racehorse has won many big prizes during his career – including the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. But just who owns Shishkin and pays his training fees?
Joe Donnelly Is The Man Who Owns Shishkin
Shishkin is owned by Joe Donnelly and has gone onto win over £700,000 in total prize money.
Top trainer Nicky Henderson has looked after Shishkin at his Seven Barrows yard since 2019 after starting his career Pointing when trained by Virginia Considine.
After winning a Point at Lingstown in Ireland by 8-lengths, Shishkin was bought by Joe Donnelly and sent to Henderson.
Shishkin hit the ground running by winning a NH Flat race at Kempton in March 2019 by 8 lengths. Being sent off as the 4/6 favourite.
He fell next time out at Newbury when looking the likely winner. However, quickly made amends for that tumble with a remarkable run of 10 straight wins. These successes spanned from January 2020 to January 2022.
These included two Cheltenham Festival victories – one in the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a year later in the 2021 Arkle Novices’ Chase. Beating Eldorado Allen by 12-lengths as the 4/9 favourite (watch below).
Other notable wins for the Joe Donnelly-owned Shishkin have been the 2023 Aintree Bowl, 2023 Ascot Chase, 2022 Clarence House Chase and the 2021 Desert Orchid Chase.
Did you know? Shishkin is named after the Russian landscape painter – Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin – who lived in the 1800’s.
Who Is Joe Donnelly – The Race Horse Owner?
Joe Donnelly, who owns Shishkin, has a reported net worth of £170 million, so when it comes to paying the Shishkin training fees – he doesn’t have any issues.
Teamed with wife Marie, Joe Donnelly is an ex-bookmaker in Dublin that now also has an amazing art collection. With this making up a big chunk of his wealth.
Donnelly began life as a bookmaker in the 1990’s and was the former chairman of the Irish National Bookmakers’ Association and member of the Irish Horse Racing Authority.
However, Joe Donnelly was introduced to the world of art and culture by his wife Marie and invested his bookmaking fortune into this industry.
The pair quickly built-up a sort-after art collection that included work from Matisse and Picasso, plus Willem de Kooning, Julian Schnabel and Georg Baselitz.
They are now regarded as huge players in the art world and have both been on the International Council of the Tate Gallery. And has also been on the international board at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In addition to investing in art, Joe Donnelly and his wife Marie also have a keen eye for property, and this came to the forefront when buying a building in France – the Champ-Elysees in Paris. This is rumoured to be the building where Dodi Fayed’s apartment was and where he stayed with Princess Diana.
It’s reported that when the Donnelly’s bought the building, that has a Cartier shop on the ground floor and many £1m+ apartments, Dodi Fayed’s belongings were still in his apartment until his father removed it all before the sale.
Joe Donnelly only had the building for around a year – selling it on for a profit and an undisclosed fee.
Other Notable Horses Owned By Joe Donnelly
Away from Shishkin, Joe Donnelly has also had plenty of success with other top racehorses – notably with Al Boum Photo, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020. He’s also the owner of State Man, who was runner-up in the 2023 Champion Hurdle and has won the Irish Champion Hurdle.
- Al Boum Photo: Past Cheltenham Gold Cup winner
- State Man: County Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle winner
- Melon: Two-time Champion Hurdle runner-up
- Brandy Love: Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship winner
- Asterion Forlonge: Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle winner
Shishkin Big Race Wins
- 2023 Aintree Bowl (Aintree)
- 2023 Ascot Chase (Ascot)
- 2022 Clarence House Chase (Ascot)
- 2021 Desert Orchid Chase (Kempton)
- 2021 Maghull Novices’ Chase (Aintree)
- 2021 Arkle Novices’ Chase (Cheltenham Festival)
- 2020 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Kempton)
- 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Cheltenham Festival)
Shishkin Horse Profile and Stats
- Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- Owner: Mrs J Donnelly
- Jockey: Nico De Boinville
- Age: 9
- Career Runs (Rules): 18
- Career Wins: 13
- Chase Runs/Wins: 13 (9 wins)
- Career Earning: £736,803
- Last Race: Refused Ascot (25th Nov 2023)
When Is Shishkin Running Next?
Shishkin is also expected to run in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day at Kempton (26th Dec). While into 2024 the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival . A race he was second in last season – could also be a target into the New Year.
WATCH: Shishkin Winning The 2022 Clarence House Chase at Ascot
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