Walter Swinburn Jr.

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 the 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 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.

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, Hertfordshire 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.

Walter Swinburn

Classic winners:

Derby: Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Lammtarra (1995)

Oaks: Unite (1987)

Two Thousand Guineas: Doyoun (1988)

One Thousand Guineas: Musical Bliss (1989), Hatoof (1992), Sayyedati (1993)

Other big winners:

1979: City and Suburban Handicap – Doogali 

1979: Ascot Stakes – Mon’s Beau 

1980: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Kearney 

1981: Fred Darling Stakes – Marwell 

1981: Earl of Sefton Stakes – Hard Fought 

1981: Sandown Classic Trial – Shergar 

1981: Westbury Stakes – Hard Fought 

1981: Chester Vase – Shergar 

1981: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Hard Fought 

1981: Cork and Orrery Stakes – The Quiet Bidder 

1981: Norfolk Stakes – Day Is Done 

1981: King’s Stand Stakes – Marwell 

1981: July Cup – Marwell 

1981: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Shergar

1981: Princess Margaret Stakes – Circus Ring 

1981: Hungerford Stakes – Dalsaan 

1981: Lowther Stakes – Circus Ring 

1981: Rockfel Stakes – Top Hope 

1982: Chester Cup – Dawn Johnny 

1982: Queen Mary Stakes – Widaad

1982: Britannia Stakes – Bali Dancer 

1982: Great Voltigeur Stakes – Electric 

1982: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Buzzards Bay

1983: Jockey Club Stakes – Electric 

1983: Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap – Zaheendar 

1983: King Edward VII Stakes – Shareef Dancer 

1983: King George V Handicap – Dazari 

1983: Falmouth Stakes – Royal Heroine 

1983: Prestige Stakes – Shoot Clear

1983: Doncaster Cup – Karadar 

1983: Jockey Club Cup – Karadar 

1983: Cornwallis Stakes – Petorius 

1984: Lincoln Handicap – Saving Mercy 

1984: Free Handicap – Cutting Wind 

1984: Cheshire Oaks – Malaak 

1984: Musidora Stakes – Optimistic Lass 

1984: Temple Stakes – Petorius (dead-heat)

1984: Old Newton Cup – Bishop Ring 

1984: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Top Socialite 

1984: Nassau Stakes – Optimistic Lady 

1984: Ebor Handicap – Crazy 

1984: Prestige Stakes – Bella Colora 

1984: November Handicap – Abu Kadra 

1985: Craven Stakes – Shadeed 

1985: Fred Darling Stakes – Top Socialite 

1985: Diomed Stakes – Scottish Reel 

1985: Ribblesdale Stakes – Sally Brown

1985: July Stakes – Green Desert 

1985: Gordon Stakes – Kazaroun 

1985: King George V Stakes – Primo Dominie 

1985: Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Shernazar 

1985: Yorkshire Oaks – Sally Brown 

1985: Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Shardari 

1985: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Shadeed 

1985: Fillies’ Mile – Untold 

1985: St Simon Stakes – Shardari 

1986: Nell Gwyn Stakes – Sonic Lady 

1986: Free Handicap – Green Desert 

1986: Fred Darling Stakes – Maysoon 

1986: Sandown Classic Trial – Shahrastani 

1986: Dante Stakes – Shahrastani

1986: Lockinge Stakes – Scottish Reel  

1986: Coronation Stakes – Sonic Lady 

1986: Princess of Wales’s Stakes – Shardari 

1986: Falmouth Stakes – Sonic Lady 

1986: July Cup – Green Desert 

1986: Princess Margaret Stakes – Hiaam 

1986: Sussex Stakes – Sonic Lady 

1986: Matchmaker International Stakes – Shardari 

1986: Haydock Sprint Cup – Green Desert 

1986: Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Kazaroun 

1986: Princess Royal Stakes – Tashtiya 

1986: Dewhurst Stakes – Ajdal 

1987: Craven Stakes – Ajdal 

1987: Temple Stakes – Treasure Key

1987: Coventry Stakes – Always Fair 

1987: Coronation Stakes – Milligram

1987: Falmouth Stakes – Sonic Lady 

1987: July Cup – Ajdal 

1987: Nunthorpe Stakes – Ajdal 

1987: Waterford Crustal Mile – Milligram 

1987: Haydock Sprint Cup – Ajdal 

1987: St Simon Stakes – Lake Erie 

1988: Craven Stakes – Doyoun 

1988: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Kerrera 

1988: Rockfel Stakes – Musical Bliss 

1989: Craven Stakes – Shaadi 

1989: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Aliysa 

1989: Victoria Cup – Top Dream 

1989: Temple Stakes – Dancing Dissident 

1989: St James’s Palace Stakes – Shaadi 

1989: Jersey Stakes – Zilzal 

1989: Criterion Stakes – Zilzal 

1989: Princess of Wales’s Stakes – Carroll House 

1989: Gordon Stakes – Warrshan 

1989: Sussex Stakes – Zilzal 

1989: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Zilzal 

1990: Nell Gwyn Stakes – Heart of Joy 

1990: Lingfield Derby Trial – Rock Hopper 

1990: Lockinge Stakes – Safawan 

1990: Henry II Stakes – Teamster 

1990: Ribblesdale Stakes – Hellenic 

1990: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Chicarica 

1990: Nassau Stakes – Katajana 

1990: Sun Chariot Stakes – Katajana 

1990: Royal Lodge Stakes – Mujaazif 

1990: Horris Hill Stakes – Sapieha 

1991: Temple Stakes – Elbio 

1991: Ascot Gold Cup – Indian Queen 

1991: Bunbury Cup – Savoyard 

1991: Cheveley Park Stakes – Marling 

1992: Lingfield Derby Trial – Assessor 

1992: Coronation Cup – Saddlers’ Hall 

1992: Coventry Stakes – Petardia 

1992: Coronation Stakes – Marling 

1992: King’s Stand Stakes – Sheikh Albadou 

1992: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Romany Rye 

1992: Hungerford Stakes – Mojave 

1992: Supreme Stakes – Hazaam 

1992: Solario Stakes – White Crown 

1992: Cheveley Park Stakes – Sayyedati 

1992: Cesarewitch Handicap – Vintage Crop 

1993: Queen Mary Stakes – Risky 

1993: King’s Stand Stakes – Elbio 

1993: Juddmonte International Stakes – Ezzoud 

1993: Champion Stakes – Hatoof 

1994: Dee Stakes – Cicerao 

1994: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Munnaya 

1994: Lingfield Derby Trial – Hawker’s News 

1994: Queen Mary Stakes – Gay Gallanta 

1994: Eclipse Stakes – Ezzoud 

1994: Juddmonte International Stakes – Ezzoud 

1995: Cheshire Oaks – Dance A Dream 

1995: Lockinge Stakes – Soviet Line 

1995: Coventry Stakes – Royal Applause 

1995: Eclipse Stakes – Halling 

1995: Bunbury Cup – Cadeaux Tryst 

1995: Juddmonte International Stakes – Halling 

1995: Middle Park Stakes – Royal Applause 

1998: Queen’s Vase – Maridpour 

1998: Coronation Stakes – Exclusive 

1998: Bessborough Stakes – Greek Prince 

In Ireland

1983: Irish Derby – Shareef Dancer 

1986: Irish One Thousand Guineas – Sonic Lady 

1986: Irish Derby – Shahrastani 

1987: Greenlands Stakes – Sylvan Express 

1987: Irish Oaks – Unite 

1988: Irish Oaks – Melodist (dead-heat)

1989: Irish Two Thousand Guineas – Shaadi 

1992: Irish One Thousand Guineas – Marling 

1996: National Stakes – Desert King

1998: Phoenix Stakes – Lavery 

In France

1981: Prix de l’Abbaye – Marwell 

1983: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – All Along 

1986: Grand Prix de Paris – Swink 

1986: Prix du Moulin – Sonic Lady 

1990: Prix Royal Oak – Indian Queen (dead-heat)

1993: Prix Jacques le Marois – Sayyedati 

1995: Prix Morny – Tagula 

In Germany

1996: Grosser Preis von Baden – Pilsudski 

1998: Deutsches Derby – Luigi 

In Italy

1983: Gran Criterium – Northern Tempest 

1986: Oaks d’Italia – Ivor’s Image

1988: Oaks d’Italia – Melodist 

1991: Oaks d’Italia – Possessive Dancer 

1994: Gran Premio di Milano – Petit Loup 

In America

1983: Washington D.C. International Stakes – All Along 

1996: Breeders’ Cup Turf – Pilsudski 

In Canada

1983: Canadian International Championship – All Along 

In Hong Kong

1994: Hong Kong Mile – Soviet Line