Paige Fergusson-Smith riding to honour late family members

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith

As she forges her own path in the jockey ranks in the Sunshine State, emerging hoop Paige Fergusson-Smith is riding to honour two late family members who inspired her journey in the sport.

The Gold Coast-based Fergusson-Smith shot to prominence late last year when she famously won on her debut ride at Warwick in the middle of September on a TAB program.

She quickly racked up seven winners in her time in the saddle before being struck down by injury in late October.

The 25-year-old is progressing through her rehabilitation work as she aims to return to race riding later in 2026.

Fergusson-Smith’s master Paul Shailer has previously noted his apprentice has a tough and resilient attitude following the passing of her mother and brother earlier in her life. 

The talented young rider was inspired by her late family members before debuting and she will have them in the back of her mind every day as she aims to get back to the track in the coming months.

“They were massive inspirations of mine,” she said.

“Before I came into racing, I show jumped and my Mum was the biggest supporter I've ever had in my entire life.

“She travelled me around the entire North Island of New Zealand for my showjumping seasons, year-in and year-out.

“She always believed in me, always helped me, supported me and wanted me to be better - like a huge amount of it. 

"And, to do with my brother, as well. I am so driven because of them.

“I want to make them proud as well the entire Shailer family, everyone else in New Zealand, as well.

"I want to make everyone proud of everything that I've achieved and am going to achieve.”

Fergusson-Smith lost her beloved mother Debbie in 2016 following a battle with terminal cancer while her brother Nathaniel passed away in 2022 from a brain aneurysm.

The apprentice jockey aims to pay tribute to the pair with every winning ride.

“Especially my Mum, because she is always someone that has backed me and always wanted me to have a successful riding career,” she said.

“She always was in my corner and always said like you'll be fine, you'll get it done and you'll do it.

“Getting these goals achieved, like I really do sometimes look up to the sky and be like I've done it, I can do it.

“They are there for me, whether they're here in person or not.

"But, I know that doing everything that I am doing is honouring them and what they have given to me from their lives.”

Fergusson-Smith’s partner Dylan Turner, also a jockey in South East Queensland, has also been a big help behind the scenes in her riding endeavours.

The riding couple of Fergusson-Smith and Turner shifted across the ditch in search of better opportunities in the saddle and the year of 2025 delivered for the pair. 

The Kiwi native lived out every jockey's dream when she scored at her first-ever race ride at Warwick last year.

Top Gold Coast conditioner Shailer took Winchman specifically to Warwick’s Allman Park for his rookie apprentice and she did the job, scoring by a touch over a length as the race favourite.

Sky Racing’s Paul Joice was on the spot to chat to Fergusson-Smith in a now iconic post-race interview.

The young hoop says she took plenty of belief and confidence from her maiden appearance at the track, which helped her in the following weeks and months.

“It definitely was a fairytale for me,” she said.

“When I hit the line, as you can see in the video, my smile and the happiness.

“Having everyone there, as well, to support me, my partner and the Shailer family, like it just shows who is in my corner.

“I obviously have Paul Shailer in my background as well and he's always helping me.

“I am very much a perfectionist, so I have had a little doubt in myself every now and then.

“It's just having those people in your corner that are there.

“Telling you things like, remember you've done this and you've worked this hard to get to here, you can do it and you will do it.

“I am the type of person that if I stick my mind to it, I definitely will.”