Walter Swinburn Sr.
Serving his apprenticeship in England with Sam Armstrong, Walter Robert Swinburn, born on January 11, 1937, rode his first winner at Warwick on Metalon, May 4th, 1953.
Serving his apprenticeship in England with Sam Armstrong, Walter Robert Swinburn, born on January 11, 1937, rode his first winner at Warwick on Metalon, May 4th, 1953.
He was one of a select group of jockeys who have ridden full-time in Ireland, England and France.
He was one of a select group of jockeys who have ridden full-time in Ireland, England and France.
Wally had a two-season spell with P J Prendergast (1958-1959) but struck up a successful partnership with Dermot Weld which saw him becoming the first jockey to win 100 races in an Irish Flat season (his final tally of 101 beat Johnny Roe's record of 87) in 1977. That was his second jockeys' title following his first the previous year.
Wally had a two-season spell with P J Prendergast (1958-1959) but struck up a successful partnership with Dermot Weld which saw him becoming the first jockey to win 100 races in an Irish Flat season (his final tally of 101 beat Johnny Roe's record of 87) in 1977. That was his second jockeys' title following his first the previous year.
He rode three Irish Classic winners; two 1,000 Guineas (Pidget 1972 and Princes Polly 1982) and an Irish Oaks (Blue Wind 1981). He was as also associated with another useful filly in Sookera, who won the Cheveley Park Stakes in 1977.
He rode three Irish Classic winners; two 1,000 Guineas (Pidget 1972 and Princes Polly 1982) and an Irish Oaks (Blue Wind 1981). He was as also associated with another useful filly in Sookera, who won the Cheveley Park Stakes in 1977.
Wally's first important success in England was By Thunder! in the Ebor. He won the Yorkshire the following year on the same colt.
Wally's first important success in England was By Thunder! in the Ebor. He won the Yorkshire the following year on the same colt.
He was associated with the Sussex Stakes winner, Romulus.
He was associated with the Sussex Stakes winner, Romulus.
His six winners at Royal Ascot were Martial (1958 Coventry Stakes), Sookera (1977 Chesham Stakes), Nanticious (1977 Ribblesdale Stakes), Sweet Mint (1978 Cork & Orrery Stakes), Sutton Place (1978 Coronation Stakes) and Day Is Done (1981 Norfolk Stakes).
His six winners at Royal Ascot were Martial (1958 Coventry Stakes), Sookera (1977 Chesham Stakes), Nanticious (1977 Ribblesdale Stakes), Sweet Mint (1978 Cork & Orrery Stakes), Sutton Place (1978 Coronation Stakes) and Day Is Done (1981 Norfolk Stakes).
Numerically, his best season in England was in 1961 with 39 winners
Numerically, his best season in England was in 1961 with 39 winners
Wally was a well-known and popular figure in India during the winter months where he rode a record number of Classic winners.
Wally was a well-known and popular figure in India during the winter months where he rode a record number of Classic winners.
Wally retired in 1982 and, after spending a year as assistant to Dermot Weld. bought the 125-acre Genesis Green Stud in Newmarket in 1984.
Wally retired in 1982 and, after spending a year as assistant to Dermot Weld. bought the 125-acre Genesis Green Stud in Newmarket in 1984.
His height was 5ft 7ins.
His height was 5ft 7ins.
Son Walter, who retired in April 2000, won every British and Irish Classic bar the Irish & the English St Legers, and was noted as a consummate big-race jockey.
Son Walter, who retired in April 2000, won every British and Irish Classic bar the Irish & the English St Legers, and was noted as a consummate big-race jockey.
Classic winners in Ireland:
Classic winners in Ireland:
Irish Oaks: Blue Wind (1981)
Irish Oaks: Blue Wind (1981)
Irish One Thousand Guineas: Pidget (1972), Princes Polly (1982)
Irish One Thousand Guineas: Pidget (1972), Princes Polly (1982)
Big race winners in Britain include:
Big race winners in Britain include:
1954: Ebor Handicap – By Thunder!
1954: Ebor Handicap – By Thunder!
1955: Winston Churchill Stakes – By Thunder!
1955: Winston Churchill Stakes – By Thunder!
1955: Yorkshire Cup – By Thunder!
1955: Yorkshire Cup – By Thunder!
1959: Coventry Stakes – Martial
1959: Coventry Stakes – Martial
1962: Greenham Stakes – Romulus
1962: Greenham Stakes – Romulus
1962: Sussex Stakes – Romulus
1962: Sussex Stakes – Romulus
1962: Hungerford Stakes – Romulus
1962: Hungerford Stakes – Romulus
1962: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Romulus
1962: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Romulus
1977: Ribblesdale Stakes – Nanticious
1977: Ribblesdale Stakes – Nanticious
1977: Chesham Stakes – Sookera
1977: Chesham Stakes – Sookera
1977: Cheveley Park Stakes – Sookera
1977: Cheveley Park Stakes – Sookera
1978: Coronation Stakes – Sutton Place
1978: Coronation Stakes – Sutton Place
1978: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Sweet Mint
1978: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Sweet Mint
1981: Norfolk Stakes – Day is Done
1981: Norfolk Stakes – Day is Done
In Ireland
In Ireland
1974: Beresford Stakes – Mark Anthony
1974: Beresford Stakes – Mark Anthony
1974: Anglesey Stakes – Mark Anthony
1974: Anglesey Stakes – Mark Anthony
1975: One Thousand Guineas Trial – Donna Cressida
1975: One Thousand Guineas Trial – Donna Cressida
1975: Derrinstown Derby Trial – Nuthatch
1975: Derrinstown Derby Trial – Nuthatch
1975: Tetrarch Stakes – Dempsey
1975: Tetrarch Stakes – Dempsey
1977: National Stakes – Diamonds Are Trumps
1977: National Stakes – Diamonds Are Trumps
1977: Blandford Stakes – Panamint
1977: Blandford Stakes – Panamint
1977: Whitehall Stakes – Aristocracy
1977: Whitehall Stakes – Aristocracy
1978: Phoenix Stakes – Kilijaro
1978: Phoenix Stakes – Kilijaro
1978: Blandford Stakes – Valley Forge
1978: Blandford Stakes – Valley Forge
1978: Anglesey Stakes – Dickens Hill
1978: Anglesey Stakes – Dickens Hill
1979: Phoenix Stakes – Smokey Lady
1979: Phoenix Stakes – Smokey Lady
1979: Tetrarch Stakes – Gerald Martin
1979: Tetrarch Stakes – Gerald Martin
1980: Derrinstown Derby Trial – Ramian
1980: Derrinstown Derby Trial – Ramian
1981: National Stakes – Day Is Done
1981: National Stakes – Day Is Done
1981: Tetrarch Stakes – Dance Bid
1981: Tetrarch Stakes – Dance Bid
1981: Phoenix Sprint – Runnett
1981: Phoenix Sprint – Runnett
1981: Silken Glider Stakes – Princes Polly
1981: Silken Glider Stakes – Princes Polly
1982: Pretty Polly Stakes – Princes Polly
1982: Pretty Polly Stakes – Princes Polly
In Italy
In Italy
1969: Premio Presidente della Republica – Light Wind
1969: Premio Presidente della Republica – Light Wind