Swinburn, a different kettle of fish

IN A dramatic decision taken at Kempton Park Race Course, Walter Swinburn announced his retirement from riding, his agent, John Hanmer confirmed on April 23.

Earlier this season, he had plans to take an eighteen month sabbatical, but, confounded critics by throwing in the towel, confiding that he lost the battle with the weight problem and conceded that he failed in his determination to stay on the course unscathed. Moreover, he appeared to have lost the will, ruffled rather blatantly with weight, food and alcohol problems that he could no longer go on immeasurably on the racing circuit.

It is understood that the 38-year old Swinburn told his fellow jockeys of the decision at Kempton last Saturday. ``He went into the weighing room and said: ``that's it...I am not riding again,'' and told me that he was packing up for good,'' said John Hanmer, and added, ``I think it is basically the weight. I was quite surprised but not totally as he has done it twice before. He has nothing planned for the time being,'' he concluded.

Swinburn, in his latest comeback this season, had ridden five winners from 40 rides and was riding for Sir Michael Stoute whenever Kieren Fallon was not available. Also, he was booked by Aidan O'Brien for the 2,000 Guineas. His father, Wally Sr, who runs a Stud farm in Newmarket said, ``His weight has been playing up and he has decided that there is more to life than riding....I noticed that he wasn't enjoying riding. I wish him well.''

The announcement of Walter Swinburn's (Jr) retirement brings to an end a career, which took off meteorically at the age of 19 when he won the Epsom Derby. The triple Derby winner made his name instantly and burst into fame in a sensational style when he guided Shergar, the horse later kidnapped and killed by the IRA, to a grand victory in the 1981 Derby. He became a household name within two years of starting out. The natural outcome of this instant success secured him a top job riding for Michael Stoute.

After winning the first Derby for Michael Stoute 1981, he went on to win the second Derby in 1986 on Shahrastani. In 1995 he won the Classic again on Lammtarra.

Swinburn had a flair for big occasions managing to win 112 winners in his most prolific season in 1990. His impressive Classic haul included the Oaks, the 1,000 Guineas (three times) and the Irish Derby twice.

However, his greatest victories were on All Along in the 1983 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and on Pilsudski and in the 1996 Breeders Cup Turf in America. Amidst all these successes, weight as it were, became his increasing problem. With an unusual height for a jockey, Swinburn at 5ft 7 inches (1.70m), faced irksome problems of keeping his weight down.

Swinburn, a popular and recognisable figure in sport, suffered severe head and chest injuries in February 1996 when his mount, Liffey River, crashed through the rail and had a bad fall at Sha Tin in Hong Kong and almost got killed. Fortunately, he survived but was out of saddle for six months.

Happily, recovering from his fall, he returned to the track that autumn vigorously, rejuvenating himself, to win the Breeders' Cup Turf on Pilsudski and renewed his association with Michael Stoute.

Swinburn, after this success, took a break in August 1998 on having recurring weight problems. But, returned to racing and looked like picking up his old form. And, at the start of this season, Swinburn said that he had taken some time off from racing in an attempt to regain his enthusiasm and zeal for the sport. In this direction, he badly needed motivation to get back to his usual self in jockeying. But, he then added, ``I love riding while I had to let go for a little while and basically to go back to the drawing board with my weight.'' Probably, this attitude of taking frequent breaks admittedly was not reassuring for his career to continue in competitive racing for long. Obviously, the bells were ringing for him to quit racing and the announcement of retirement was naturally round the corner.

According to racing fraternity, Swinburn hoped that he might get through the season, but it appears he has now decided the struggle was just too tough to keep on going and has admitted defeat in his long battle with his weight and to quit the sport gracefully.

Although, he was nick-named ``the Choirboy'' for his looks, in real life, he was a different kettle of fish. After the fall in Hong Kong in 1996, his career was in a muddle and his career graph was diving low rapidly.

In March 1997, he was fined œ500 and had to pay some œ600 in compensation after admitting assaulting a restaurant owner in Newmarket. From this humiliating consequences in court, it emerged that Swinburn had alcoholic problem in addition to his eating disorder. Pressure was mounting on him and he confessed that ``he had effectively lost control of his body and would not ride again until it was retrieved.''

After the fracas in Newmarket, six months later, he abruptly announced his second sabbatical. All these were pointing literally and immeasurably to one single and simple direction that his end was fast approaching to be sealed for good and that there will be no return to his glorious racing days.

Thus, the current and the abrupt announcement of his retirement from the sport was on the cards and was largely expected.

Swinburn, charismatically Irish in his temperament and character, was always joyful in his disposition, and it would be needless to endorse that he will be sadly missed in the racing circuit.

P. SUBRAMANYAM

London

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