Paul had a career total of 89 wins from over 600 rides between 2001–2005 including 29 in one of his early seasons. In 2005, at the age of 22,
he sustained serious injuries which forced him into early retirement from racing.
After retiring Paul received help from the Jockeys Employment Training Scheme which led to him being trained as a join and funeral director.
Today, Paul runs his own funeral directors business in his home town of Hawick.
CUMBRIA-BASED jockey Paul Robson has admitted he is devastated after he was forced to quit the saddle through injury at the age of just 22.
The Greystoke conditional, who partnered 89 winners in a promising career, was advised to hang up his whip by the Jockey Club’s chief medical officer Dr Michael Turner who warned him his damaged shoulder would not hold up to race-riding.
Robson dislocated his right shoulder for the second time in his career in a race at Stratford in July, but returned to riding out for his boss, Greystoke trainer Nicky Richards, two months ago.
However, he hurt his shoulder while riding out at Greystoke last month and was forced to seek fresh medical advice in a desperate attempt to get his stop-start career back on track.
Robson, a former top amateur who forged fruitful link-ups with Richards, Martin Todhunter, Barry Murtagh and Venetia Williams, is now planning to return to his native Hawick, where he will become an apprentice joiner.
It’s a fresh blow for Robson after he quit in January 2004 after losing his battle to control his weight, only to return four months later.
“I’ve had no choice but to retire as the doctors don’t think my shoulder will take another fall and they are also concerned about my left shoulder which is very fragile,” he said.
“I was riding out four weeks ago when the horse jerked it’s head and I had to get off because I was in so much pain.
“When the Jockey Club’s chief medical officer says you won’t ride again, you have no choice.
“I’ve had a long time to take it in but I’m still feeling pretty numb. I’m determined not to be bitter about it because I’m still young enough to have a change of direction.”
Robson, who began his career as an amateur with Jonjo O’Neill, rode his first winner as a professional on board the Ian Williams-trained My Good Son at Sedgefield in 2002.
He intends to continue riding out at Greystoke at weekends, and paid tribute to the support he has received from racing colleagues.
“Nicky Richards has been fantastic to me over the years and Martin Todhunter and Barry Murtagh have also been great,” he said.
“Jockeys Tony Dobbin, Brain Harding and Chris Callow have also been supportive. The big highlight was riding over the Grand National fences and I’ve ridden at Cheltenham every year since I took out a licence. Racing has been very good to me but I’ve no choice in the matter.”