Paul Shrimpton
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
It is doubtful that any jockey ever had a more eventful first mount in public than Paul Shrimpton. It was a woeful start to a career that would eventually see him riding an Indian Classic winner.
It is doubtful that any jockey ever had a more eventful first mount in public than Paul Shrimpton. It was a woeful start to a career that would eventually see him riding an Indian Classic winner.
Paul Robin Eleazor Shrimpton was born in Solihull, on the outskirts of Birmingham, in 1955. As a child, he was terrified of horses and wouldn’t even go into a field if there was a horse grazing in it – a somewhat glaring disadvantage for someone who ended up wanting to be a jockey.
Paul Robin Eleazor Shrimpton was born in Solihull, on the outskirts of Birmingham, in 1955. As a child, he was terrified of horses and wouldn’t even go into a field if there was a horse grazing in it – a somewhat glaring disadvantage for someone who ended up wanting to be a jockey.
After leaving school, he went to the local job centre looking for something with an outdoor life. He flicked through a booklet and came across a picture of a lad riding work, thought he’d give it a go, so wrote off to the Jockey Club for advice, despite never having ridden more than a donkey on the beach. The Jockey Club replied and arranged for him to join veteran trainer Norah Wilmot at Binfield, near Ascot.
After leaving school, he went to the local job centre looking for something with an outdoor life. He flicked through a booklet and came across a picture of a lad riding work, thought he’d give it a go, so wrote off to the Jockey Club for advice, despite never having ridden more than a donkey on the beach. The Jockey Club replied and arranged for him to join veteran trainer Norah Wilmot at Binfield, near Ascot.
He stayed for around two months and learned the basics of mucking out and grooming but hardly anything about the rudiments of riding, his experience being confined to being put on a horse’s back as it was being led back from exercise.
He stayed for around two months and learned the basics of mucking out and grooming but hardly anything about the rudiments of riding, his experience being confined to being put on a horse’s back as it was being led back from exercise.
Looking to further his career, Paul joined the renowned Reg Hollinshead apprentice academy. The first thing Hollinshead did was to send him on a six-week apprentices’ training course at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, where the instructor was former top hurdle race jockey Johnny Gilbert, who taught him how to ride.
Looking to further his career, Paul joined the renowned Reg Hollinshead apprentice academy. The first thing Hollinshead did was to send him on a six-week apprentices’ training course at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, where the instructor was former top hurdle race jockey Johnny Gilbert, who taught him how to ride.
After he’d been at Hollinshead’s for just over a year, he had his first ride in public, not for Hollinshead but for Ashbourne trainer Tommy Taylor, on a horse named Eagle River at Newbury on June 12, 1975. It was a disaster from beginning to end, as Paul recalled.
After he’d been at Hollinshead’s for just over a year, he had his first ride in public, not for Hollinshead but for Ashbourne trainer Tommy Taylor, on a horse named Eagle River at Newbury on June 12, 1975. It was a disaster from beginning to end, as Paul recalled.
“Being an apprentice having your first ride, you’re bound to be a bit green. I had to borrow a saddle, and when they gave it to me I didn’t think to check the length of the stirrups. I soon learned when I got on the horse that they were far too short. There were a lot of people around me and, when it’s all new to you, you are very apprehensive and I didn’t think to lower them.
“Being an apprentice having your first ride, you’re bound to be a bit green. I had to borrow a saddle, and when they gave it to me I didn’t think to check the length of the stirrups. I soon learned when I got on the horse that they were far too short. There were a lot of people around me and, when it’s all new to you, you are very apprehensive and I didn’t think to lower them.
“It was a very hot day and, being nervous, the sweat made the reins begin to slip on my way down to the start. So I slowly but firmly grabbed a tighter hold of them, and as I did so – whoosh! – he ran off with me for the last six furlongs, careering out of control straight past the starting stalls. There was a corrugated fence at the back of the mile start at Newbury, so to avoid it I turned on the right rein, whereupon he hit the running rail and I went over the top of his head. I was okay so I got back on and dropped my irons about three holes, which was still a bit too short, but I was trying to do everything quickly.
“It was a very hot day and, being nervous, the sweat made the reins begin to slip on my way down to the start. So I slowly but firmly grabbed a tighter hold of them, and as I did so – whoosh! – he ran off with me for the last six furlongs, careering out of control straight past the starting stalls. There was a corrugated fence at the back of the mile start at Newbury, so to avoid it I turned on the right rein, whereupon he hit the running rail and I went over the top of his head. I was okay so I got back on and dropped my irons about three holes, which was still a bit too short, but I was trying to do everything quickly.
“I finally got him to the start and into the stalls, but as I came out I hit one of my legs on the side of the stalls and lost an iron. The horse bolted to the front over the straight mile and I was riding with only one iron. I never thought of the obvious solution of slipping the other foot out; I was just thinking about staying on. I couldn’t ride any kind of finish and we finished last. Then, when we passed the winning post I realised I couldn’t pull him up, so I hit the other running rail and came off again.
“I finally got him to the start and into the stalls, but as I came out I hit one of my legs on the side of the stalls and lost an iron. The horse bolted to the front over the straight mile and I was riding with only one iron. I never thought of the obvious solution of slipping the other foot out; I was just thinking about staying on. I couldn’t ride any kind of finish and we finished last. Then, when we passed the winning post I realised I couldn’t pull him up, so I hit the other running rail and came off again.
“When I eventually got back, Mr Taylor was stuck for words. He could only say ‘Well, it was your first ride, I suppose’. I never rode for him again!”
“When I eventually got back, Mr Taylor was stuck for words. He could only say ‘Well, it was your first ride, I suppose’. I never rode for him again!”
It was hardly the best of starts, the sole consolation being that things could hardly get any worse. Sure enough, after 15 or 16 less eventful but nonetheless losing rides, matters improved, albeit slowly.
It was hardly the best of starts, the sole consolation being that things could hardly get any worse. Sure enough, after 15 or 16 less eventful but nonetheless losing rides, matters improved, albeit slowly.
He finally rode his first winner on a 25/1 shot named Isobel’s Choice in a three-year-old seller at Catterick on August 11, 1977. But he had to wait almost a year for his second, Early Days in a Haydock nursery on August 4, 1978. Early Days was, in fact, Fred Rimell’s first two-year-old winner in 30 years of training.
He finally rode his first winner on a 25/1 shot named Isobel’s Choice in a three-year-old seller at Catterick on August 11, 1977. But he had to wait almost a year for his second, Early Days in a Haydock nursery on August 4, 1978. Early Days was, in fact, Fred Rimell’s first two-year-old winner in 30 years of training.
His third success came the following month and would be his biggest on British soil, partnering Reg Hollinshead’s Emperor’s Shadow to win the £10,000 Playboy Bookmakers Trophy Handicap at York on September 6, 1978.
His third success came the following month and would be his biggest on British soil, partnering Reg Hollinshead’s Emperor’s Shadow to win the £10,000 Playboy Bookmakers Trophy Handicap at York on September 6, 1978.
Paul’s apprenticeship with Hollinshead lasted six years, serving his time with the likes of Walter Swinburn, Paul Eddery, Steve Perks, Willie Ryan, Nicky Carlisle and Michael Wigham.
Paul’s apprenticeship with Hollinshead lasted six years, serving his time with the likes of Walter Swinburn, Paul Eddery, Steve Perks, Willie Ryan, Nicky Carlisle and Michael Wigham.
In 1979/80 Paul spent nine months riding in India, during which time he rode 17 winners including the Two Thousand Guineas on Beat the Clock. Paul was quick to point out, however, that each Indian track has its own individual ‘classics’, the principal ones being at Bombay and Calcutta (as they were then called). Paul was based in the south of the country, riding at tracks in Hyderabad, Madras and Bangalore, hence his ‘Guineas’ winner was about the same class as a Wolverhampton seller.
In 1979/80 Paul spent nine months riding in India, during which time he rode 17 winners including the Two Thousand Guineas on Beat the Clock. Paul was quick to point out, however, that each Indian track has its own individual ‘classics’, the principal ones being at Bombay and Calcutta (as they were then called). Paul was based in the south of the country, riding at tracks in Hyderabad, Madras and Bangalore, hence his ‘Guineas’ winner was about the same class as a Wolverhampton seller.
He returned to Britain in 1980 but found rides hard to come by, though not through any lack of effort or willingness to travel. The start of 1983 saw him in Cagnes-sur-Mer, where he rode the popular campaigner Regal Steel. In 1984 he partnered some of Squeak Fairhurst’s lightweights, his natural weight being 8 stone but easily being able to do 7st 7lb.
He returned to Britain in 1980 but found rides hard to come by, though not through any lack of effort or willingness to travel. The start of 1983 saw him in Cagnes-sur-Mer, where he rode the popular campaigner Regal Steel. In 1984 he partnered some of Squeak Fairhurst’s lightweights, his natural weight being 8 stone but easily being able to do 7st 7lb.
In 1985 he had a couple of rides for Reg Hollinshead but relinquished his licence later that year and did not renew it for 1986. He became employed as a work rider for Knowle trainer Ken Bridgwater but had some ambitious plans in the pipeline, being on standby with the LEP Bloodstock Agency to go out to Australia, where Reg Hollinshead had arranged for him to join former British trainer Ron Mason in Sydney.
In 1985 he had a couple of rides for Reg Hollinshead but relinquished his licence later that year and did not renew it for 1986. He became employed as a work rider for Knowle trainer Ken Bridgwater but had some ambitious plans in the pipeline, being on standby with the LEP Bloodstock Agency to go out to Australia, where Reg Hollinshead had arranged for him to join former British trainer Ron Mason in Sydney.
Paul took out a licence for 1987 and had a few rides but no winners. He may well have left for Australia thereafter, in which case, if things went well, his stated intention was to look at building a new life there.
Paul took out a licence for 1987 and had a few rides but no winners. He may well have left for Australia thereafter, in which case, if things went well, his stated intention was to look at building a new life there.
Paul's first ride: Newbury Eagle River: July 12 1975
Paul's first ride: Newbury Eagle River: July 12 1975
Paul's first winner: Isobel's Chioice: Catterick, August 11 1977
Paul's first winner: Isobel's Chioice: Catterick, August 11 1977
Paul's second winner: Early Days: Haydock August 4 1978
Paul's second winner: Early Days: Haydock August 4 1978
Paul's biggest win: Emperor's Shadow: York September 6 1978
Paul's biggest win: Emperor's Shadow: York September 6 1978