Three-time Derby hero Swinburn dies at 55 please log in to view this image Walter Swinburn: passed away on Monday aged 55 MARK CRANHAM 1 of 1 By Jack Haynes 6:44PM, DEC 12 2016 Walter Swinburn, one of the finest jockeys of his generation who will forever be associated with brilliant Derby winner Shergar, has died peacefully at home at the age of 55. Nicknamed the Choirboy, Swinburn memorably steered the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Shergar to an emphatic ten-length success in the Derby as a 19-year-old in 1981, the first of three wins in the Classic. Swinburn also won the Epsom feature on Stoute's Shahrastani in 1986 and Lammtarra nine years later. Stoute said: "Walter was a most natural horseman with great hands. He had the right temperament for the big days and he thrived on them. He also had great positional sense in a race which stood him in good stead. "We enjoyed many great days together but I would say our first Derby together with Shergar, when he was just 19, was an obvious one. I think Pilsudski winning at the Breeders' Cup was also up there as it was our first win at Breeders' Cup. He'll be much missed." Born in Oxford, Swinburn rode his first winner, Paddy's Luck, on July 12, 1978 at Kempton but gained considerable exposure for his winning ride on Shergar, easing the winner down before the line. Winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup Turf among many other top-level prizes in a highly successful riding career, Swinburn enjoyed the many highs and lows in the life as a jockey before starting out as a trainer in 2004, winning four Group 3 events with Stotsfold before handing in his licence in 2011. Swinburn almost died after being catapulted into the running rail at Sha Tin, Hong Kong, in 1996, suffering multiple injuries, including a punctured lung, and was in a coma for four days. Riding a horse called Liffey River, sporting blinkers for the first time, Swinburn was thrown to the ground and also suffered a shattered shoulder blade, fractured collarbone and broken ribs. A measure of the man is that he returned to action within six months. Swinburn was back on the track, and in the winner's enclosure, after Turf success aboard the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Pilsudski in November 1996, but after suffering problems with his weight he announced his retirement from the saddle in 2000. After a riding career that also included Classic-winning stars such as Sayyedati, Musical Bliss, Hatoof and Doyoun, Swinburn, who was arguably one of the greatest riders not to be crownedchampion jockey in Britain, opted to join the training ranks. Training predominantly for his father-in-law Peter Harris in Hertfordshire, Swinburn celebrated more than 250 winners in seven seasons, including Royal Ascot success with Royal Hunt Cup scorer Julienas, before calling it a day five years ago due to commercial reasons, breaking the news of his retirement in a letter to owners stating it was a decision taken with "much regret". FACTFILE Full name Walter Robert John Swinburn Born Oxford, August 7, 1961 Father Wally Swinburn, champion jockey in Ireland 1976 & 1977 Apprenticed to Frenchie Nicholson, Cheltenham 1977-80 First winner Paddy's Luck, Kempton, July 12, 1978 First big winner Doogali (1979 City and Suburban Handicap) Derby winners Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Lammtarra (1995) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Shergar (1981) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner All Along (1983) Breeders' Cup winner Pilsudski (1996 Turf) Irish Derby winners Shareef Dancer (1983), Shahrastani (1986) Other British Classic winners Unite (1987 Oaks), Doyoun (1988 2,000 Guineas), Musical Bliss (1989 1,000 Guineas), Hatoof (1992 1,000 Guineas), Sayyedati (1993 1,000 Guineas) Champion Stakes winner Hatoof (1993) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winners Buzzards Bay (1982), Shadeed (1985), Zilzal (1989) Washington DC International winner All Along (1983) Most wins in a season 113 (1990) Total wins in Britain 1,392 (1978-2000)
55 is no age ..................... but he had some real highlights in his life. Condolences to his loved ones. The Choirboy singing with the angels this evening. RIP
Very sad news. Met this chap in his riding hey day on a cricket pitch of all places. Lovely bloke, played the game, stopped after for a bit of social then went off to Ireland and won the Oaks the next day. 55 is no age at all, RIP.
55 is no age at all. This comes a a real bolt out of the blue. RIP Walter Swinburn. Has there been a more memorable Derby win?
I was trawling through the old photos looking for some good W. R. Swinburn shots but I quickly realised that he almost always wore dark goggles, so I hardly managed to find any decent ones. I am sure it was Walter aboard Savoyard when he won the Bunbury Cup in 1992. What I did find was a photo of the first British Sunday race at Doncaster on 26th July 1992, which was won by Savoyard. The jockey was wearing dark goggles but something is telling me that it was Bruce Raymond not the Choirboy aboard that day. Now there is a Walter Swinburn question to which somebody might know the answer. I did find this photo of Walter on Geoff Wragg’s little pocket battleship Marling before winning the 1991 Cheveley Park Stakes. She was second in the 1992 Guineas under Steve Cauthen to French raider Hatoof – ridden by Swinburn – but she won the Sussex Stakes under Pat Eddery. I knew Swinburn won the 1993 Guineas on Sayyedati but I do not have a good shot of him that day. I found a picture of him winning on his father-in-law’s Opera Ghost but he is hidden. It was surprising how many pictures I did find of him being led in on (ordinary) winners but looking glum or reflective about it.
I've just had a look at Lammtarra's 1995 Derby win. Swinburn was at Lammtarra as they approached Tattenham and as they straightened, I reckon you could have secured cricket score odds about him. It was only below the 2 that Swinburn found the bottom of him. Walter earned his money that day. Brilliant ride. He's in the light green with white V and stripped sleeves. He's well back along the rail in running.
