Paul Daniel Frank Barton was born in Newport, Isle of Wight, on February 13, 1954. He served a three-year apprenticeship for David Gandolfo and lived at Downs Stable in Manor Road, Wantage.
His first winner was Indigo Jones at Folkestone on December 21, 1972. His first-ever ride at Cheltenham was Zeus Girl; he won.
His greatest win came aboard Peter Scott in the 1979 Welsh Grand National. He also won the 1981 Massey Ferguson Gold Cup (Henry Kissinger), the 1981Anthony Mildmay/Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase (Peter Scott), 1983 Great Yorkshire Chase (Get out of me Way), 1986 Mildmay Chase (Pearlyman), 1981Topham Chase (Mr Marlsbridge) and, at the Cheltenham Festival, the 1982 Grand Annual Chase on Reldis.
His Grand National record is as follows: Eight rides 1978 Master Upham (fell 11th), 1980 Rathlek (refused 27th), 1981 Rathlek (7th), 1982 Peter Scot (fell 6th), 1983 Grittar (5th), 1984 Fortune Seeker (unseated rider 19th), 1985 Fethard Friend (pulled up 26th), 1986 Fethard Friend (pulled up 26th)
A keen footballer and swimmer, Paul was appointed the BHA's head of stewarding in March 2013.
His best season was in 1977-78 when he rode 42 winners.
Aged 33 when he retired in February 1987, he said at the time, 'If you offered me a million pounds and held a gun at my head I wouldn't train. I think it's a disastrous way of earning a living because you're never in control. Look at Nicky Henderson, tearing his hair out with worry over See You Then.'
After some twenty years in the business, Paul steps away having ridden 353 winners from 3,342 rides
Big winners:
1979: Welsh Grand National – Peter Scot
1981: Mildmay-Cazalet Memorial Chase – Peter Scot
1981: Topham Trophy – Mr Malsbridge
1981: Mackeson Gold Cup – Henry Kissinger
1982: Grand Annual Chase – Reldis
1983: Great Yorkshire Chase – Get Out Of Me Way
