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Paulette Radford
Paulette Radford
Jump jockey Paulette Radford hailed from Gunthorpe, in Nottinghamshire, the daughter of Pat Radford, a wholesale greengrocer, and his wife Sonia.
Jump jockey Paulette Radford hailed from Gunthorpe, in Nottinghamshire, the daughter of Pat Radford, a wholesale greengrocer, and his wife Sonia.
Paulette’s interest in horses began at the age of four and she was soon riding in gymkhanas. She attended Hollygate Girls’ School in Nottingham and spent her 15th birthday in Nottingham General Hospital after her horse, Jester, had tried to jump over a car while competing in a cross-country event and rolled over her, leaving her with a broken pelvis. Undaunted, she managed to persuade the nurses to allow her out for an hour to attend the Eastwood and District Riding Club’s award night.
Paulette’s interest in horses began at the age of four and she was soon riding in gymkhanas. She attended Hollygate Girls’ School in Nottingham and spent her 15th birthday in Nottingham General Hospital after her horse, Jester, had tried to jump over a car while competing in a cross-country event and rolled over her, leaving her with a broken pelvis. Undaunted, she managed to persuade the nurses to allow her out for an hour to attend the Eastwood and District Riding Club’s award night.
Having joined Newark trainer Owen Brennan after leaving school, she started out as an amateur and rode her first winner, aged 18, on the four-year-old Holly Dell in the Holton Amateur Riders’ Selling Hurdle at Market Rasen on Friday, October 20, 1978.
Having joined Newark trainer Owen Brennan after leaving school, she started out as an amateur and rode her first winner, aged 18, on the four-year-old Holly Dell in the Holton Amateur Riders’ Selling Hurdle at Market Rasen on Friday, October 20, 1978.
She turned professional the following month and rode Holly Dell to finish third in a 25-runner selling hurdle back at Market Rasen on November 24. They then finished second, beaten half a length, by Jonjo O’Neill on the favourite Romany Light in a four-year-old selling hurdle at Teesside Park (Stockton) on December 12.
She turned professional the following month and rode Holly Dell to finish third in a 25-runner selling hurdle back at Market Rasen on November 24. They then finished second, beaten half a length, by Jonjo O’Neill on the favourite Romany Light in a four-year-old selling hurdle at Teesside Park (Stockton) on December 12.
Paulette rode Holly Dell six more times between then and April 27, 1979 without ever finishing nearer than fifth (falling once). Sadly, her race-riding career ended just three days later, aged 19, when she suffered multiple injuries in a fall at Hexham.
Paulette rode Holly Dell six more times between then and April 27, 1979 without ever finishing nearer than fifth (falling once). Sadly, her race-riding career ended just three days later, aged 19, when she suffered multiple injuries in a fall at Hexham.
Her mount, the mare Tudor Moss, blundered at the second flight in the Devil’s Water Selling Handicap Hurdle on April 30, throwing her rider against a concrete post. Paulette’s injuries included two hairline fractures of the skull, a broken jaw, fractured right cheekbone, broken right ankle and broken collarbone.
Her mount, the mare Tudor Moss, blundered at the second flight in the Devil’s Water Selling Handicap Hurdle on April 30, throwing her rider against a concrete post. Paulette’s injuries included two hairline fractures of the skull, a broken jaw, fractured right cheekbone, broken right ankle and broken collarbone.
Taken first to hospital in Hexham, she was then transferred to Newcastle General Hospital, where her condition was described as ‘very poorly’. Amazingly, however, she was able to leave hospital after only three weeks. Although she hoped to resume her career in the saddle, she did not ride in public again.
Taken first to hospital in Hexham, she was then transferred to Newcastle General Hospital, where her condition was described as ‘very poorly’. Amazingly, however, she was able to leave hospital after only three weeks. Although she hoped to resume her career in the saddle, she did not ride in public again.
In September that year, she married Stephen Page, to whom she’d become engaged only a few days before her Hexham fall, at St Mary’s Church in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. Among the wedding guests was Holly Dell, her first and only winner.
In September that year, she married Stephen Page, to whom she’d become engaged only a few days before her Hexham fall, at St Mary’s Church in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. Among the wedding guests was Holly Dell, her first and only winner.
Paulette's only win: October 20, 1978
May 30, 1978
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