RIP Walter Swinburn

Really sad news
Agree with gus that he was a master at Epsom. I was there in 1986 and he deserved enormous credit. His riding of Doyoun 2 years later, into 3rd, was also a supreme example of optimising everything.
A sad day
 
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Walter Swinburn rode the first 1000 Gns winner I ever backed - Hatoof.

He also rode the last 1000 Gns winner I ever backed - Hatoof.

I didn't know a good jockey from a bad one in those days (perhaps even now), but he always seemed like a nice fellow. RIP.
 
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Same as Gus, I was just getting into racing around the time of Shergar and Swinburn. Became a massive Stoute follower probably due to the great rides WS seemed to give such a lot of his horses. Only 2 years older than me too, way too young for such a talent to be lost. RIP
 
Cracking jockey and a nice guy even if he was a bit wild at times off course! I knew him when I lived in Newmarket first time round and a few of us would sometimes end up at his place after a meal out at the pub in Ashley (always paid for in a game of spoof which was more than a little nerve wracking given the size of the bill). Always had a laugh and I remember he got stalked by a fair few women - one in particular, Debbi who was married to a lad in our yard initially and later to ex-jockey Harry Ballantine (who she used to batter, poor guy). Anyway Debbi used to drive round Newmarket after Walter, flag him down and prostrate herself across his bonnet saying "take me I'm yours!" She was no looker and I'm afraid we did have a laugh at her expense. There were also the Horrenger Horrors - blonde twins who were "all teeth and no tits" They also used to turn up uninvited looking for action! Poor Walter but it made for amusing anecdotes!
 
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