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Grandmother Lucia Borradaile to ride the Derby course for charity

Lucia Borradaile: 60-year-old will ride over the Derby course at Epsom on Bank Holiday Monday
Lucia Borradaile: 60-year-old will ride over the Derby course at Epsom on Bank Holiday Monday

A 60-year-old grandmother of ten is among the riders set to compete in the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom on Bank Holiday Monday.

Lucia Borradaile, who rode in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham in the 1990s, is the same age as John Forth, the oldest jockey known to have won the Derby, on Frederick in 1829.

She said: "Riding the Derby course will be the thrill of a lifetime. I love a challenge and am horribly competitive, even if I’m playing tiddlywinks with my ten grandchildren."

Borradaile will be splitting her fundraising efforts between The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity on August 27.

She said: "My sister died from bone cancer aged 52, and my father had cancer too. My mother also had lymphoma and passed away when she was 58."

Lucia Borradaile: used to ride in point-to-points
Lucia Borradaile: used to ride in point-to-points

A former point-to-point jockey, Borradaile hung up her racing boots in 2004. But when she saw a magazine piece asking riders to apply, her husband David encouraged her to give it a go.

She added: "He’s been jolly ill, and I signed up to give him some excitement. I never thought for a minute that I’d be chosen. I assumed I’d be far too old. I’m a total adrenaline junkie. I jump out of planes, drive motorbikes and have just done the amateur Tour de France, cycling up to 190km a day.

"David’s right behind me. My friends think I’ve got a death wish though, they think I’m mad. I’ll be scared going to the start, but as soon as we’re off I’ll be fine. I don’t want to be an ‘also ran’. I’m determined to give it my all."

You can sponsor Lucia at:


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Matt ButlerDeputy news editor

Published on 14 August 2018inNews

Last updated 18:09, 14 August 2018

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