Trainer Charlie Fellowes has delivered a moving and heartfelt tribute to his head lad, Paul Trueman, who tragically died of a suspected heart attack while riding out on the gallops earlier this week. The 55-year-old, who had joined the Newmarket stable late last year, passed away during a routine exercise session on Monday, leaving the racing community in profound shock.
A Sudden and Tragic Incident on the Gallops
Paul Trueman was participating in a standard training exercise with the Fellowes string when the devastating incident occurred. He was engaged in a steady canter during the second lot up the Town Canter on the Bury side of Newmarket when he suddenly slumped over and slipped from his horse.
Charlie Fellowes provided a detailed account to Mirror Racing, emphasising that the horse was not at fault. "He was in perfect control and it all looked very normal but suddenly it was clear something wasn't right," the trainer explained, highlighting the completely unexpected nature of the tragedy.
Swift Emergency Response Could Not Save Him
There was an immediate and coordinated emergency response from the gallops medical team, who were joined by another Newmarket trainer, James Horton, in desperate attempts to assist Trueman. Fellowes praised the remarkable speed of the reaction, noting that Newmarket Heath medics arrived on site within five minutes, with both ambulance and air ambulance services present within twenty minutes.
"James Horton was first on the scene and he was absolutely amazing and did everything he could to get him breathing and keep his heart going," Fellowes stated, before adding with evident sorrow, "but sadly they weren't able to save him." CPR was administered incredibly quickly, yet despite these exhaustive efforts, Trueman could not be revived.
A Charming Man Who Made Immediate Impact
Paul Trueman had joined Charlie Fellowes's yard approximately four months prior, having been selected as the outstanding candidate for the head lad position after the previous incumbent departed towards the end of last year. This marked a return to horse racing for Trueman, who had spent a couple of years away from the sport following an earlier career as a jockey and a subsequent decade working in Dubai.
Fellowes remembered him as a genuinely charming individual who had made a very positive and immediate impact on the yard. "He just gave you that good feeling. He was a really charming man," the trainer recalled. "You could see he wanted the job and he was excited to do the role and get back into horse racing, and that was exactly what he was like when he started working for me. He was an absolute pleasure to have around the yard."
Personal Life and Condolences
Trueman had moved into accommodation at the Fellowes yard with his Norwegian wife, Benedikte Saint-Pierre, after securing the position. Fellowes expressed his deepest sympathies for her, noting that Trueman had no known history of medical issues. "I feel desperately sorry for his partner Benedikte who is left on her own. My heart goes out to her big time," he said, encapsulating the personal loss felt within the close-knit racing community.
The sudden passing of such a well-regarded figure has sent waves of sadness through Newmarket, with tributes highlighting both his professional dedication and his warm, engaging personality that so quickly endeared him to colleagues.
