M53 Ford Proud Sponsors of Champion Jockey Paul Hanagan
M53 Ford has had long standing racing connections and sponsoring champion jockey Paul Hanagan is a great source of pride. Paul saw his first race sitting on his father’s shoulders at the Roodee course in Chester and 30 years later he has reached outstanding achievements in Flat Racing.
Last year Hanagan clinched the Flat Rider’s Championship and was only the second northern jockey to do so in over 100 years. Paul put in a tremendous effort over the year travelling 60,000 miles up and down the country in search of winners to stay ahead of his rivals.
Richard Fahey, the Malton based trainer who supplied Hanagan with 95 of the 191 winning horses, said at the time, “He has fully deserved it. He’s put all the work in. It’s a bit like the Dingles and David and Goliath situation all rolled into one.”
Paul’s success didn’t stop with his Championship win. He swept the board at the Stobart-Lester awards, the racing equivalent of the Oscars, winning Flat Jockey of the Year, Flat Ride of the Year and Flat Jockey Special Recognition for 2010.
The Champion Jockey lifestyle continued for Paul as he was voted Flat Jockey of the Year at the HWPA Derby awards. He was invited, for the first time, to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. He was a special guest at both Liverpool F.C. and Warrington Wolves Halliwel Jones Stadium. Furthermore he hosted his own 380-guest celebration dinner at York Racecourse for owners, trainers, family and friends, jockeys and stable staff.
Paul’s most memorable engagement since achieving Champion Jockey status has been by far his visit to Liverpool’s Alderhey Children’s Hospital. He presented the hospital with a £5000 cheque after generously pledging the earnings for his final two weeks of last season to be shared by Alder Hey and “The House that Jack Built”, the Injured Jockeys’ Fund project.
“I’ve been very lucky” said Paul, “Racing has been very good to me. What I want to be is a good ambassador for the sport. I want to give a bit back. Helping Alder Hey a tiny bit, and then going there, is the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Paul is now back in the saddle and ready to do it all again. He is reluctant to talk about the prospect of winning the championship again, but he has admitted his wife, Anna, has given him permission to repeat the gruelling schedule that saw him clinch victory last year.
So far Hanagan is off to a good start in a bid for his second championship title and is leading the early standings.