Doug Page
1928 - 2007
1928 - 2007
Douglas Page was an English apprentice jockey who moved to Ireland and rode with much success there both on the Flat and over hurdles. The best horse he rode over jumps was Albergo, on whom he finished second in the 1960 Champion Hurdle.
Douglas Page was an English apprentice jockey who moved to Ireland and rode with much success there both on the Flat and over hurdles. The best horse he rode over jumps was Albergo, on whom he finished second in the 1960 Champion Hurdle.
Doug was born in Leeds on April 19, 1928. His family had no connection with horse racing, his father being a train driver on the Eastern Region of British Railways. Doug had hardly seen a horse in his life, bar for a few old carthorses around the streets, by the time he left school.
Doug was born in Leeds on April 19, 1928. His family had no connection with horse racing, his father being a train driver on the Eastern Region of British Railways. Doug had hardly seen a horse in his life, bar for a few old carthorses around the streets, by the time he left school.
He went to work for a newspaper in Leeds, the Yorkshire Evening Post, as a messenger boy, carrying copy and making the tea. One day, the paper’s racing correspondent, Bill White, who wrote under the pen name of ‘Ranger’, remarked to Doug that he was just the right size and shape to make a jockey.
He went to work for a newspaper in Leeds, the Yorkshire Evening Post, as a messenger boy, carrying copy and making the tea. One day, the paper’s racing correspondent, Bill White, who wrote under the pen name of ‘Ranger’, remarked to Doug that he was just the right size and shape to make a jockey.
Doug got in touch with Val Moore, who was then training in Malton, and was taken on as an apprentice. The trainer taught Doug to ride and it soon became clear that he had an instinct for it. Within a year he’d ridden his first winner, Sorrell in the Apprentice Stakes at Pontefract on June 21, 1946. The following year he rode Sorrel to victory in the Ripon City Handicap and also won Birmingham’s Easter Monday feature, the Midlands Spring Handicap, on Effervescence, who was also trained by Val Moore.
Doug got in touch with Val Moore, who was then training in Malton, and was taken on as an apprentice. The trainer taught Doug to ride and it soon became clear that he had an instinct for it. Within a year he’d ridden his first winner, Sorrell in the Apprentice Stakes at Pontefract on June 21, 1946. The following year he rode Sorrel to victory in the Ripon City Handicap and also won Birmingham’s Easter Monday feature, the Midlands Spring Handicap, on Effervescence, who was also trained by Val Moore.
His indentures were transferred to Rufus Beasley in the latter part of 1947. Although Beasley had several apprentices in his yard, because Doug had already ridden a few winners he started to put him up in races straight away. Joe Caldwell was the stable jockey but Doug nonetheless had plenty of opportunities. He enjoyed a good season in 1949, riding 21 winners, and it was not long before he worked his way through his apprentice allowance.
His indentures were transferred to Rufus Beasley in the latter part of 1947. Although Beasley had several apprentices in his yard, because Doug had already ridden a few winners he started to put him up in races straight away. Joe Caldwell was the stable jockey but Doug nonetheless had plenty of opportunities. He enjoyed a good season in 1949, riding 21 winners, and it was not long before he worked his way through his apprentice allowance.
After he finished his apprenticeship in 1950, he had a season riding for Colonel Dick Warden at Newmarket, but his score fell to six winners that year and just four in 1951. Furthermore, he was putting on weight.
After he finished his apprenticeship in 1950, he had a season riding for Colonel Dick Warden at Newmarket, but his score fell to six winners that year and just four in 1951. Furthermore, he was putting on weight.
He decided he would have a go at jumping and went back north to Middleham and joined Jack Fawcus. He had a few rides for him during the 1951/52 season, including a winner, Sand Link, in division two of the Medburn Novices’ Hurdle at Newcastle on December 10, 1951.
He decided he would have a go at jumping and went back north to Middleham and joined Jack Fawcus. He had a few rides for him during the 1951/52 season, including a winner, Sand Link, in division two of the Medburn Novices’ Hurdle at Newcastle on December 10, 1951.
While he was with Jack Fawcus, fellow trainer Sam Hall asked Doug if he would like to go to Ireland to ride for owner Bertie Kerr, whose horses were trained by his brother, Kevin. Doug made the move to Ireland in 1952 and made a flying start when winning the valuable National Produce Stakes for two-year-olds at the Curragh on Kevin Kerr’s Sea Charger, who went on to win the following year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish St leger, both times with Rae Johnstone on board.
While he was with Jack Fawcus, fellow trainer Sam Hall asked Doug if he would like to go to Ireland to ride for owner Bertie Kerr, whose horses were trained by his brother, Kevin. Doug made the move to Ireland in 1952 and made a flying start when winning the valuable National Produce Stakes for two-year-olds at the Curragh on Kevin Kerr’s Sea Charger, who went on to win the following year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish St leger, both times with Rae Johnstone on board.
Doug won the National Produce Stakes again the next year Calvero, also trained by Kevin Kerr. In 1955, he won the Irish St Leger on Diamond Slipper and finished fifth on him in the Irish Derby.
Doug won the National Produce Stakes again the next year Calvero, also trained by Kevin Kerr. In 1955, he won the Irish St Leger on Diamond Slipper and finished fifth on him in the Irish Derby.
He married an Irish girl, TV singer Phyllis Power. They had one son, Kieron, and settled there with a house just outside Dublin. As with many Irish jockeys, Doug mixed riding on the Flat with over hurdles.
He married an Irish girl, TV singer Phyllis Power. They had one son, Kieron, and settled there with a house just outside Dublin. As with many Irish jockeys, Doug mixed riding on the Flat with over hurdles.
Easily the best he rode over hurdles was Albergo. A good-looking horse by Dante, Albergo was formerly owned by Lord Astor and ran unplaced behind Crepello in the 1957 Derby, ridden that day by Joe Mercer. After straining a tendon in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, he was bought by trainer Clem Magnier for 400 guineas.
Easily the best he rode over hurdles was Albergo. A good-looking horse by Dante, Albergo was formerly owned by Lord Astor and ran unplaced behind Crepello in the 1957 Derby, ridden that day by Joe Mercer. After straining a tendon in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, he was bought by trainer Clem Magnier for 400 guineas.
In the space of 16 days in March 1959, Doug partnered Albergo to victory in the Gloucestershire Hurdle at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting, Hurst Park’s Grey Talk Hurdle two days later, and the Coronation Hurdle at Liverpool. He won the Cheltenham race in a time five seconds faster than Fare Time had taken to win that year’s Champion Hurdle.
In the space of 16 days in March 1959, Doug partnered Albergo to victory in the Gloucestershire Hurdle at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting, Hurst Park’s Grey Talk Hurdle two days later, and the Coronation Hurdle at Liverpool. He won the Cheltenham race in a time five seconds faster than Fare Time had taken to win that year’s Champion Hurdle.
In February 1960, Doug rode Albergo to win the Scalp Hurdle at Leopardstown, beating Another Flash by a short head. But Another Flash turned the tables the following month in the Champion Hurdle, defeating Albergo by two lengths.
In February 1960, Doug rode Albergo to win the Scalp Hurdle at Leopardstown, beating Another Flash by a short head. But Another Flash turned the tables the following month in the Champion Hurdle, defeating Albergo by two lengths.
None the worse for their exertions, Doug and Albergo reappeared two days later to win the County Hurdle on the third day of the National Hunt meeting carrying 12st 5lb. Nine days after that, they finished second in the Imperial Cup, carrying 12st 6lb, failing narrowly to concede 13lb to the winner, Farmer’s Boy. The following Saturday, they won the Liverpool Hurdle under top weight of 12st 7lb.
None the worse for their exertions, Doug and Albergo reappeared two days later to win the County Hurdle on the third day of the National Hunt meeting carrying 12st 5lb. Nine days after that, they finished second in the Imperial Cup, carrying 12st 6lb, failing narrowly to concede 13lb to the winner, Farmer’s Boy. The following Saturday, they won the Liverpool Hurdle under top weight of 12st 7lb.
Still they were not finished, because they then journeyed to Paris, where they won the Prix Francisco Martin Hurdle at Auteuil, Albergo becoming the first foreign horse to win a jumping race in France for 33 years. They then finished an unlucky second in the French equivalent of the Champion Hurdle. They would almost certainly have won but for being carried right across the course by a horse that had broken down and were beaten half a length.
Still they were not finished, because they then journeyed to Paris, where they won the Prix Francisco Martin Hurdle at Auteuil, Albergo becoming the first foreign horse to win a jumping race in France for 33 years. They then finished an unlucky second in the French equivalent of the Champion Hurdle. They would almost certainly have won but for being carried right across the course by a horse that had broken down and were beaten half a length.
That year, 1960, proved to be Doug’s most successful, riding 38 winners combined in Flat and hurdle races.
That year, 1960, proved to be Doug’s most successful, riding 38 winners combined in Flat and hurdle races.
Albergo and Doug won the Scalp Hurdle for a second time in February 1961. He was 9/2 third choice for the Champion Hurdle and was going well when he misjudged the second last flight and fell, bringing down three others. Doug was adamant he would have won. Sent off favourite for that year’s Imperial Cup, Albergo made no show and finished unplaced.
Albergo and Doug won the Scalp Hurdle for a second time in February 1961. He was 9/2 third choice for the Champion Hurdle and was going well when he misjudged the second last flight and fell, bringing down three others. Doug was adamant he would have won. Sent off favourite for that year’s Imperial Cup, Albergo made no show and finished unplaced.
On the Flat, Doug was retained by Seamus McGrath and rode longshots Gail Star and Gala Chief for him in the 1962 and 1963 Irish Derbys, finishing well in arrears on both occasions.
On the Flat, Doug was retained by Seamus McGrath and rode longshots Gail Star and Gala Chief for him in the 1962 and 1963 Irish Derbys, finishing well in arrears on both occasions.
Away from racing, Doug’s main interest was: “Any kind of sport, but particularly football, any place any time.”
Away from racing, Doug’s main interest was: “Any kind of sport, but particularly football, any place any time.”
Altogether, Doug rode a total 628 winners, split between Flat and jumping. After retiring he ran a number of pubs before working for the NAAFI, for which he was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1990.
Altogether, Doug rode a total 628 winners, split between Flat and jumping. After retiring he ran a number of pubs before working for the NAAFI, for which he was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1990.
He died in Leicester Royal Infirmary on June 8, 2007, aged 79.
He died in Leicester Royal Infirmary on June 8, 2007, aged 79.