Randy Colton - Charter Class

Randy Colton, Class of 1972, was born to Margaret and Richard Colton in Corona, California. He has 2 brothers, Rick and Robert (also a jockey), and 5 sisters, Penny, Patsy, Pamela, Peggy and Priscilla.  They are all graduates of Lakeland High School.  Randy attended Lakeland High from 1969 through 1972.

During his freshman and sophomore years at Lakeland, Randy served as the varsity football manager.  He played on the basketball team as a freshman, and was on the wrestling team during his sophomore, junior and senior years – placing or winning at districts, and receiving Mr. Pin and

Mr. Takedown.

When he was a freshman one of his teachers, Curtis Deaver, asked him if he would like to become a jockey.  He moved in with Curtis and his wife, Alice (also a teacher at Lakeland High School) who owned race horses, and by the end of his junior year, was racing at The Turf Club in Coeur d’Alene and Montana fair meets. After he graduated from Lakeland, he raced at numerous tracks around the country. At Playfair in Spokane in 1979, he set a new win record and was awarded “Sportsman of the Year” for the Inland Empire.  He rode winners for 46 consecutive days – topping a 28 year record.

On August 17, 1980, Randy was severely injured – he was riding a nervous filly and was ahead by 12 lengths.  When he came around the turn to the grandstand, the filly, spooked by the cheering crowd, turned and went right through the rail.  The muscles above his left knee were cut and the bones above the ankle were shattered. He was in a full-leg cast for 6 ½ months, but was racing again just 11 months from the date of his accident.  He states, “your mind can be your worst enemy or your best friend – the choices are yours.”  He thanks his teachers, Tom Kane and Curtis Deaver for his positive outlook and success.

Randy lives in Phoenix, AZ and has two married children, Levi and Ginni.  Ginni has a Master's degree and Levi is currently working on his Ph.D. 

Randy retired from horse racing in 1993, and now owns his own horse supplement business, and is also involved with an international water trading company.  He’s been an active volunteer for the March of Dimes and hospitals for terminally ill children.  He has also coached soccer for boys and girls and Babe Ruth baseball.