Paul Pickard
Flat jockey Paul Pickard was born in Yorkshire on October 31, 1986. He was apprenticed initially to Declan Carroll and then to Paul Midgley and sprang to prominence in 2009 when riding 30 winners.
Flat jockey Paul Pickard was born in Yorkshire on October 31, 1986. He was apprenticed initially to Declan Carroll and then to Paul Midgley and sprang to prominence in 2009 when riding 30 winners.
Later that year he became the first beneficiary of a scholarship set up in memory of Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson, the two young jockeys who were killed in a fire in North Yorkshire in September that year. He received the Kyne-Wilson Scholarship from Beverley Racecourse which supported him in his career for a year.
Later that year he became the first beneficiary of a scholarship set up in memory of Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson, the two young jockeys who were killed in a fire in North Yorkshire in September that year. He received the Kyne-Wilson Scholarship from Beverley Racecourse which supported him in his career for a year.
Under the scheme, which was backed by the parents of both Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson, Paul was helped with his riding clothing, fitness, raising his profile in the racing world and even received driving lessons.
Under the scheme, which was backed by the parents of both Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson, Paul was helped with his riding clothing, fitness, raising his profile in the racing world and even received driving lessons.
He completed his apprenticeship with Brian Ellison and enjoyed his greatest moment in the saddle when, as a 3lb claimer, he won the 2011 Northumberland Plate on 25-1 shot Tominator, providing a final big race victory for veteran trainer Reg Hollinshead.
He completed his apprenticeship with Brian Ellison and enjoyed his greatest moment in the saddle when, as a 3lb claimer, he won the 2011 Northumberland Plate on 25-1 shot Tominator, providing a final big race victory for veteran trainer Reg Hollinshead.
Sadly, that high-profile success did not prove a launchpad for greater things. Paul struggled after losing his apprentice allowance and his winning tallies fell steadily: ten winners in 2012, eight in 2013, seven in 2014. Brian Ellison was his main supporter and it was for him that Paul rode the last winner of his career, producing a well-judged ride when making all on Samfu in a 1m 6½f handicap at Doncaster on May 2, 2015.
Sadly, that high-profile success did not prove a launchpad for greater things. Paul struggled after losing his apprentice allowance and his winning tallies fell steadily: ten winners in 2012, eight in 2013, seven in 2014. Brian Ellison was his main supporter and it was for him that Paul rode the last winner of his career, producing a well-judged ride when making all on Samfu in a 1m 6½f handicap at Doncaster on May 2, 2015.
He had his final mount on 66-1 outsider Quina Brook for trainer Ron Thompson, finishing tenth of eleven in a two-year-old fillies’ maiden at Wolverhampton on August 10, 2015.
He had his final mount on 66-1 outsider Quina Brook for trainer Ron Thompson, finishing tenth of eleven in a two-year-old fillies’ maiden at Wolverhampton on August 10, 2015.