Swinburn calls time on training career

Walter Swinburn is to quit the training ranks on 31 October.

The former jockey, who will forever be remembered for his association with Derby winner Shergar, won the blue riband Classic as a rider on two other occasions.

Swinburn took over a training licence from his father-in-law, Peter Harris, in November 2004, and has sent out over 260 winners from his yard in Tring, Herefordshire.

The 50-year-old landed one of the biggest victories of his training career earlier this season when Julienas won the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot.

But Swinburn has only registered 25 winners to date this season, with his decision to retire reportedly related to the current economic climate.

Stotsfold was a real flag-bearer for the yard before his death last year. The gelding won four times at Group Three level, including the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last May.

He had finished third in the Arlington Million in 2009 and was being prepared to go back to America when he died of colic last August. Stotsfold was owned, like a large proportion of Swinburn’s horses, by Harris.