Embedded Files
Walter's big race winners include
On Saturday 12 July, 1980, The Times wrote 'that brilliant apprentice Walter Swinburn lost his claim to any allowance on The Quiet Bidder. Once again Swinburn showed that he had an old head on young shoulders: not only did the winner lose six lengths at the start but Swinburn had to contend with some interference from the runner-up, Rushmore. Swinburn is a thoughtful and articulate young man and also possesses all the technical know-how. This is a vital stage in the career of a jockey who looks championship material.'The writer wasn't far wrong.
Born in Oxford on August 7,1961, and the son of top jockey Walter Robert Swinburn, young Walter had the benefit of an apprenticeship with the two master tutors in British racing, Frenchie Nicholson and Reg Hollinshead.
Taking his first rides in June 1978, Walter Robert John Swinburn did not have to wait long to ride his first winner, Paddy's Luck at Kempton on July12, 1978.
Frenchie Nicholson retired in 1980, compelling Walter to join Hollinshead's stables.
Such was he meteoric progress that by the end of that year he had not only lost his claim but also had been appointed as stable jockey to the mighty Michael Stoute's yard for 1981.
The dream continued as together they won that year's Derby on the ill-fated Shergar.
Numerically, his best season came in 1984 with just 99 winners (he was never destined to hit 100) but Walter was a quality, not quantity, rider, as his list of big race wins (right) testifies.
Unbelievably, having ridden All Along to three stunning victories in North America, the horse's connections, including owner Daniel Wildenstein, stated that they were not pleased with his riding and that he would be replaced in future. Wildenstein was in the habit of sacking his jockeys for little or no reason so Walter had no cause to blame himself.
Epsom Derby (1981, 1986, 1995)
July Cup (1981, 1986, 1987)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes(1981)
Irish Derby (1983, 1986)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1983)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1985, 1989)
Coronation Stakes (1986, 1987, 1992, 1998)
Dewhurst Stakes (1986)
International Stakes (1986, 1993, 1994, 1995)
Sussex Stakes (1986, 1989)
Epsom Oaks (1987)
Irish Oaks (1987, 1988)
Nassau Stakes (1987)
Phoenix Stakes (1988, 1998)
2,000 Guineas (1988)
1,000 Guineas (1989, 1992, 1993)
St. James's Palace Stakes (1989)
Lockinge Stakes (1990, 1995)
Nassau Stakes (1990, 1994)
Ascot Gold Cup (1991)
Cheveley Park Stakes (1991, 1992)
Coronation Cup (1992)
Irish 1,000 Guineas (1992)
Champion Stakes (1993)
Eclipse Stakes (1994, 1995)
Middle Park Stakes (1995)
International race wins:
Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (1981)
Rothmans International (1983)
Turf Classic (1983)
Washington, D.C. International (1983)
Prix de l'Opéra (1983, 1985, 1992)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1983)
E. P. Taylor Stakes (1986, 1992)
Grand Prix de Paris (1986)
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1986)
Prix Royal-Oak (1990)
Prix Hocquart (1992)
Prix Noailles (1993)
Prix Jacques Le Marois (1993)
Prix Jean de Chaudenay (1994)
Prix Morny (1995)
Breeders' Cup Turf (1996)
Grosser Preis von Baden (1996)
Significant horses
All Along, Green Desert, Hatoof, Indian Queen,Lammtarra, Pilsudski, Shahrastani,
Having ridden the winners of 8 British classic races and numerous Group One races, Walter took out a trainer's licence in 2004, taking over at Church Farm, Hertforshire from his father-in-law, Peter Harris.
Over the next 7 years he sent out over 260 winners including four Group Three races with the Harris-owned Stotsfold. He also gained his first Royal Ascot winner as trainer when Julienas, also owned by Harris, won the Royal Hunt Cup.
His training days behind him, Walter launched his own London-based ownership initiative. It began promisingly with the two-year-old Miss Atomic Bomb - bought by Swinburn but running in the colours of the then West Ham Football Club owner, David Sullivan, winning at Wolverhampton.
Walter has assembled a team of experts to work with him as he bid for horses at Newmarket's Tattersalls Sales.
He said: This new venture is the culmination of a long-term plan. I was even thinking about it before I finished training.'
Walter kept all syndicates small and restricted to only four people. As a gesture of goodwill, he retained a quarter-share in the first six horses bought.
In February, 1996, Walter suffered near-fatal injuries when riding the unraced Liffey River at Shah Tin racecourse in Hong Kong. He sustained multiple shoulder and rib fractures, head injuries and badly bruised lungs when the horse crashed through a running rail. Walter spent five days in intensive care.He was put on an artificial breathing aid when his lungs filled with fluid and blood. He didn't return to full physical fitness until June, following a three week holiday in Jamaica.
First winner: Paddy's Luck at Kempton, July 12, 1978.
Last winner: Sir Francis at Brighton, April 13, 2000.
Walter Swinburn died in a fall from his bathroom window on December 12, 2016. He was 55. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse