Denton Hall News

New chapter for Paige as she becomes apprentice jockey for Michael Dods

NEW apprentice Paige Hopper has spoken of her pride at being given the opportunity to achieve her dream of becoming a professional jockey.

Paige, 22, who joined Michael Dods Racing straight from school when she was 16, is having her first rides as the yard’s 7lbs claimer, having qualified as an apprentice late last year.

Having started out with Michael, she also spent some time in Malton with Declan Carroll and Noel Wilson, then gained further experience in America before returning to Denton Hall.

Her love of horses began when she was nine, growing up in Toft Hill, and her dad, Dominic, had a friend who kept Shetland ponies.

“I used to walk them round the village as if they were dogs. I had a pony of my own, called Stella, and started at a riding school when I was ten,” recalled Paige.

Highlights of her time with Michael so far include taking Commacho Chief across to The Curragh as a two-year-old and leading up Kings Gift for Geoff and Sandra Turnbull at Royal Ascot.

Paige had seven spins as an amateur, but rides were hard to come by, so she embarked on becoming an apprentice, finally passing the course last November.

It hasn’t been an easy journey – the first course she was on got stopped due to Covid and then she got Covid herself while on a rearranged course. As if that wasn’t enough, she broke her foot when she was kicked by a horse.

“After all that, it was nice to get my apprentice licence, and I’m so grateful to have this opportunity with Michael,” she added.

So far, Paige has had a ride on Sin E Shekells at Catterick on May 20, and rides the same horse at the North Yorkshire track on Friday.

“My ambition is to ride out my claim and become a professional. I know hard how that’s going to be, but I’m dedicated to it because that’s how I want to earn a living,” she said.

Her favourite horse is the six-year-old chestnut, Woven (pictured below), and she’s his regular work rider. “I just love his cool, laid-back attitude and his a chestnut like my pony when I was growing up,” she says.

Paige has been going through a very sad time lately, having tragically lost her mum, Donna, in April.

“My mum and dad were always so supportive of me, and I know mum would be really proud to know that I’m giving it a go as an apprentice and doing something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

“Everyone at the yard has been brilliant, and I’ve had a lot of support from Michael, Carole and Kenny Williams in particular. I want to thank them all because it’s a real team effort.”

• Paige is pictured below as an amateur ride on Mustaqbal, with a friend's little boy, Roman, after her first ride as an apprentice on Sin E Shekkels at Catterik, and on the gallops