Philippe Paquet
Encyclopedia
Philippe Paquet is a former jockey from France
, who in 1974 was the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club
on Caracolero, and the Gran Premio d'Italia
on Ribecourt. In 1976, he also won the Irish Derby on Malacate, and the Irish Oaks
on Lagunette.
He was the stable jockey of famous French trainer François Boutin
for nine years. He joined Francois Boutin straight from school as a 14yr-old apprentice in 1966, via the local employment exchange [ref. ‘The Irish Derby’ by Guy Williams & Francis Hyland] He was on board Nonoalco when the colt made a winning debut in the Prix Yacowlef at Deauville in 1973, breaking the course record in the process [ref. Timeform Annuals of each season] having been made stable jockey to Boutin that season, although Piggott and Saint-Martin were still used when available. In 1980, he finished the 2,000 Guineas in first place on the Boutin-trained Nureyev
, but was later disqualified for impeding the progress of Posse, ridden by Pat Eddery
.
In 1977, when his 17 Group winners included Trepan, Super Concorde and Malacate, Paquet won the Cravache d’Or (Golden Whip) as French Champion Jockey, which he won again in 1979, the year in which he also won the Champion Stakes on Northern Baby, on whom he’d finished third in The Derby at Epsom. [ref. Courses Et Elevage]
At the end of 1981 he went to Hong Kong and became the stable jockey of the legendary Australian trainer, the late George Moore
, his father-in-law
at the time. On January 22, 1984, he won the Hong Kong Derby
on Baby Tiger, adding yet another prestigious trophy under his belt.
Sadly, his career came to an abrupt end while training on Silver Star during a morning training session just weeks later on February 13, 1984. He was thrown onto the turf by his mount and sustained a serious skull fracture as a result. He remained in a coma for more than three months, before finally regaining consciousness. Initially left partially paralysed, he spent time at a rehabilitation centre in Queensland before returning to France. Against all odds and predictions by medical staff he gradually regained mobility, speech and memory. [ref. The Sporting Life]
On an even more tragic note, Englishman Brian Taylor
would die from the injuries suffered in a similar fall on the same horse Silver Star on December 8 that same year.
Paquet, once paralysed due to the injuries, would make a remarkable recovery, and even made a return to horseback, although for leisure only. Working as an assistant trainer to Francois Boutin, he later took out a training licence in his own right and enjoyed success with L’Avocat in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Outlay, Water Dragon, Zarika, Hunaudieres and Zigarolo being among his other winners. [ref. Paris-Turf; Zeturf] In 2005 Jim McGrath reported in the Daily Telegraph how one morning, having waited for his work rider to appear, in frustration he decided to ride work himself. “After I had done one circuit I went to pull my horse up, but I found I couldn’t. After another circuit, I aimed him at a big hedge. The next thing I remember was lying on the ground, and somebody standing over me, telling me my horse was on the other side of the hedge, lying dead. Thank God, I was able to get up, and my horse was just winded,” Paquet told McGrath in the Telegraph.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, who in 1974 was the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
on Caracolero, and the Gran Premio d'Italia
Gran Premio d'Italia
The Gran Premio d'Italia is a Listed flat horse race in Italy which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
on Ribecourt. In 1976, he also won the Irish Derby on Malacate, and the Irish Oaks
Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
on Lagunette.
He was the stable jockey of famous French trainer François Boutin
François Boutin
François Boutin was a French Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of a farmer, he was born in the village of Beaunay in the northerly Seine Maritime département. He began riding horses at a young age and competed in show jumping and cross-country equestrianism...
for nine years. He joined Francois Boutin straight from school as a 14yr-old apprentice in 1966, via the local employment exchange [ref. ‘The Irish Derby’ by Guy Williams & Francis Hyland] He was on board Nonoalco when the colt made a winning debut in the Prix Yacowlef at Deauville in 1973, breaking the course record in the process [ref. Timeform Annuals of each season] having been made stable jockey to Boutin that season, although Piggott and Saint-Martin were still used when available. In 1980, he finished the 2,000 Guineas in first place on the Boutin-trained Nureyev
Nureyev (horse)
Nureyev was a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and champion sire. As a racehorse he was best known as the disqualified "winner" of the 2000 Guineas in 1980.-Background:...
, but was later disqualified for impeding the progress of Posse, ridden by Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
.
In 1977, when his 17 Group winners included Trepan, Super Concorde and Malacate, Paquet won the Cravache d’Or (Golden Whip) as French Champion Jockey, which he won again in 1979, the year in which he also won the Champion Stakes on Northern Baby, on whom he’d finished third in The Derby at Epsom. [ref. Courses Et Elevage]
At the end of 1981 he went to Hong Kong and became the stable jockey of the legendary Australian trainer, the late George Moore
George T. D. Moore
George Thomas Donald Moore OBE was an Australian jockey and Thoroughbred horse trainer. He began his career in racing in 1939 in Brisbane where he quickly became one of the top apprentice jockeys and where in 1943 he won the Senior Jockeys' Premiership. He then relocated to Sydney and in 1949 went...
, his father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
at the time. On January 22, 1984, he won the Hong Kong Derby
Hong Kong Derby
The Hong Kong Derby is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1873. Restricted to horses four-years-old only since 1981, the race is run in mid-March and is the premier event on the domestic racing programme with a purse of HK$16 million The Hong Kong Derby is a Hong Kong...
on Baby Tiger, adding yet another prestigious trophy under his belt.
Sadly, his career came to an abrupt end while training on Silver Star during a morning training session just weeks later on February 13, 1984. He was thrown onto the turf by his mount and sustained a serious skull fracture as a result. He remained in a coma for more than three months, before finally regaining consciousness. Initially left partially paralysed, he spent time at a rehabilitation centre in Queensland before returning to France. Against all odds and predictions by medical staff he gradually regained mobility, speech and memory. [ref. The Sporting Life]
On an even more tragic note, Englishman Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor (jockey)
Brian Taylor was a successful jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing best known for riding Snow Knight to victory in the 1974 Epsom Derby.Taylor was born in Southend-on-Sea, in Essex, England...
would die from the injuries suffered in a similar fall on the same horse Silver Star on December 8 that same year.
Paquet, once paralysed due to the injuries, would make a remarkable recovery, and even made a return to horseback, although for leisure only. Working as an assistant trainer to Francois Boutin, he later took out a training licence in his own right and enjoyed success with L’Avocat in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Outlay, Water Dragon, Zarika, Hunaudieres and Zigarolo being among his other winners. [ref. Paris-Turf; Zeturf] In 2005 Jim McGrath reported in the Daily Telegraph how one morning, having waited for his work rider to appear, in frustration he decided to ride work himself. “After I had done one circuit I went to pull my horse up, but I found I couldn’t. After another circuit, I aimed him at a big hedge. The next thing I remember was lying on the ground, and somebody standing over me, telling me my horse was on the other side of the hedge, lying dead. Thank God, I was able to get up, and my horse was just winded,” Paquet told McGrath in the Telegraph.