Retired jockey agent Paul Young dies; represented Mike Smith and John Lively

Paul Young, a retired jockey agent who represented a young Mike Smith as well as John Lively, died Tuesday in a Hot Springs, Ark., hospital, according to his wife, Jody Young. He was 87.

Young was a native of Durango, Colo., who was introduced to racing by an uncle at the age of 14, said Jody Young. She said she believed the uncle was a trainer. Paul and Jody Young moved to Hot Springs, Ark., in the early 1970s and Paul Young established himself as a top agent at Oaklawn.

“He trained for a little while,” Jody Young said Friday.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Smith would go on to a Hall of Fame career and continues to ride in Southern California. The retired Lively was long a top rider in the Midwest. He won the 1976 Preakness aboard Elocutionist.

In retirement, Paul Young did odd jobs at Oaklawn to remain involved in racing, said Jody Young.

Jody Young said she and her husband were married for 62 years. She, too, is a native of Colorado. They have two children, Brenda and Jack.

There are no scheduled services, said Jody Young.