RIP Walter Swinburn

Diamond Geezer

Diamond Geezer

Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
13,884
I know there's a separate thread for racing people but Walter, rider of Shergar, probably deserves one of his own.
 
Sad news. I know he had a lot of problems. He's at peace now, but gone far too young.

What a horrible year this has been for deaths.
 
Shocked.
A neighbour was in Rockwell with him and said he always had to win at sports and would be highly irritated by defeat.
as a jockey he got the kind of start William Buick did; all the right jobs in the correct order and his will to win was there for all to see.
As he matured his flair was something to behold; he could grab a race by the scruff of the neck and make the others look like boys.
His parents are among the nicest people you could wish to meet seemingly so it very tough on them and his own family.
Rest In Peace Walter.
 
That's awful news. Very sad for his family and parents.

RIP
 
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His time at the top coincided with me getting into racing, during a brief period when flat racing would have been my preferred code and I have people like him to thank for that.

To me he was real class and this is such a terrible shame for one so young.

RIP Walter and thanks for the happy memories.
 
Met him a couple of times, a gentle man.

Like a lot of top jockeys, never quite contented with life when not in the saddle
 
edgt said:
As he matured his flair was something to behold; he could grab a race by the scruff of the neck and make the others look like boys.
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Totally agree. He was the epitome of a "flair" jockey - lived for the big races and didn't always seem suited by the day to day grind.

I was at Epsom for Shergar in 1981 and Shahrastani in 1986 and at Longchamp for All Along in 1983. Anyone could have won on Shergar, of course, but he was inspired on All Along and his win on Shahrastani was a copybook Derby ride.

The weight problems clearly got him down and it was a relief when he retired.

Fifty five is no age and it's shocking news.
 
LUKE said:
He had an awful fall in Hong Kong-think he fractured his skull -for me he was never the same after that.
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Without wanting to speak ill of the dead if you were betting on cause of death I know what's the overriding favourite. No pun intended.
 
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RIP, Walter.
SMS isn't famous for employing duds, and it says much that Walter became stable jockey on his return from the wilderness.
 
Poor guy only 55 years of age. Other jockeys often praised him as the best out there in his hay day........never forget that babyface which made him look smaller than he was and wondering how can that little guy have so much dynamite in his make up..RIP
 
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